Casamance rebel leader Salif Sadio has said he has said time and again he did not have a child outside Casamance or even when he was there.
The Gambian army has in recent weeks made headlines after the dismissal of Omar Sarjo regained national focus. The army said Sarjo was removed from the military because of fake documents but government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh sparked a huge row when he named Omar Sarjo as one of the non-Gambians who was removed from the army. Omar Sarjo had long been accused of being Casamance rebel chief Salif Sadio’s son.
But speaking on the issue in a video that has emerged online, Mr Sadio said: “Salif never had a child outside and when I was here, I didn’t have a child. Everyone should here that. I have said it again and again.”
Mr Sadio suggested it was external forces who were behind schemes meant to bring tribalism in The Gambia.
“This politics you have brought to say this is Salif’s son… It’s not good,” Mr Sadio said.
“They want to bring tribalism for you. Since he is a Jola, so [they said] ‘let’s say it like that’. In our Casamance as soon as you say you’re Jola, they will say you’re a rebel. That’s what the people of Senegal say. Gambians should not accept that.”
