GALA Spokesperson Omar Saibo Talk To Eye Africa —

[00:00:01]Afric headines.

[00:00:37]Unfortunately, first spokesperson 19th June on 15 things will back to normal.

[00:01:20]Go ahead protest one year 12 months of allegations again and for the first time. Dr. Africa [clears throat] Africa Africa. My new can be my new important [clears throat] issues around this country probably my journey and and how I get to and I look forward to a truthful discussion right Now, they are similar.

[00:03:16]Okay.

[00:03:36]Every now and then the same policy. Well, um Mhm.

[00:03:49]Give up because Interpret conference. Press conference.

[00:04:29]and the criminal press conference.

[00:04:38]So the same charges only assembly act common. Why? So what lawful assembly means party law means activism activist I civil society I movement because I'm a guru accountability, there's transparency. So I'm not a criminal simply because you will still go out on the streets anytime you feel like we need to hold the government accountable. So we are okay. We are really okay.

[00:06:21]>> All right. Um relationship disrespect policy respect Gambia police force whatland Gambia police force Gambia police force is a law enforcement institution respect law respect the laws of this country disrespect police respect policy traffic. Follow police respect policy on innocent citizens.

[00:07:47]only crime exercise they are fundamentally human rights understand outside police we have friends in the police even though our slogan is we don't we are not the police officers outside our work we we we had smooth relationship policy politicize the Gambia police force against innocent citizens protest ground or other activities that they interpret as protest because they approach then they approach with so much disrespect, so much disregard and then we do it. We give them bad for start brutalize and we going to retaliate. We going to fight back. Understand? So they disrespect police policy policy.

[00:09:17]All right.

[00:09:42]corporate arrest is unlawful because Because A, B and C, you have to say the reason for the arrest. So and also resistance to police arrest especially case itself is a protest against the police and against the state. Soist the act of arresting him all the time especially if you are protesting or we are gathering somewhere itself is unlawful. So he cannot succumb to an unlawful arrest and order. So resist and then resistance is one of the powers we have as activists either in the field or behind. We have to resist anything that is directly threat to our human rights and in you know to to our fundamental rights. So you know >> resisting police arrest is that lawful?

[00:10:53]>> It's it's lawful. There's nothing wrong with resisting >> an unlawful arrest.

[00:11:06]Why? If the police come, let's say for example, they don't even tell us why we arrested.

[00:11:21]So if you resist that arrest, you have all the right to resist that arrest because that arrest in the first place is unlawful and is against the the premises of the law. They did not quote any law we are unlawfully gathering there is they will start charging us for unlawful assembly and all their unlawful common nuisance charges. Why? On the ground they pick up. So if you resist that itself is resistant against an unlawful order, an unlawful act and it's valid, it's legal, it's lawful against corruption, injustice, central government, central government, local private institution reveal again injustice.

[00:12:49]Well, local government July 23rd protest bay. We have written to the the Gala uh that is the the body um you know the association of local government councils allegations.

[00:13:34]We have made um a promise that if the local government council because There are certain um allegations from local councils are mayor um allegations is different from protest against the central commun and then you know individually we write about allegations is on a concrete reason. So protest in 23rd July. We only petition cases that have already been investigated either by a commission or parliamentary inquiries or audit report confirm that these things have been investigated. They confirm then corruption scandal injustice move. We go against those cases. So local local council we're going to hold them accountable if we come out to see um confirmations from the local local government commission A and B and C more the report have been submitted to the president we are waiting for the president to to to to make a stand on the report and we're going to comment we are not selective >> we are not selective with our account call for accountability we're not selective with our call for transparency and injustice then we'll go after you either individually or collectively members individually we have called out um individual they not even we don't call them as institutions but as individuals we have seen those cases so we are not selective right but also we need to understand that the central government is the biggest government institution or government entity and government branch and therefore the amount of allegations and confirmation of corruption scandals and corrupt um corruption cases is higher than the local council. So we go after that.

[00:15:23]>> Yeah.

[00:15:26]National Assembly constituency development fundable.

[00:15:44]Honorable football against corruption government local government Well, so um they're just testifying.

[00:16:24]They don't testify >> the the final decision.

[00:16:30]Step in and call for accountability and transparency and you know anything.

[00:16:42]Now the commission have to do their further investigation to establish. So you know we cannot be calling people out on that. So the cases that are coming up with a movement and we have already discussed court case. I was talking to the CIC the supreme leader and then we going to sit down.

[00:17:06]We will sit down and then assess those cases. They're coming up right you know we normally central committee have a central committee meeting out cases and say case A and B and C this is the evidence available from last week we are on it we are following we are following and we're going to come out very soon.

[00:17:49]>> Apply permit apply. We are applying for permit but we are notifying the police notify police but not applying forvermit.

[00:18:17][clears throat] We just notify you.

[00:18:28]Yes.

[00:18:32]Is a unique case through whole the anniversary.

[00:18:39]>> Okay.

[00:18:40]>> Because the youth monument um is a public private entity public employees under a local government council where it is is monetized. So any space that is monetized is is private because you pay access.

[00:18:58]So um okay we give them the benefit of the doubt. Well, I don't apply for permit because we don't need a permit because they can provide security because the monment is in a youth is in a public ground. Um, Westfield is very busy. So, they need to provide security. That was the excuse. So, apply a notification provide security. Why? Beyond that, um, the law is very clear apply for permit. So if there apply for you apply for permit even though that clause amen is is um still >> still existing we can you can we can apply for permit then you apply for permit if they need be and then we going to follow the because we disagree with the public order act theor is a bad law it's a colonial establishment what call a this time in 2026 21st century is still using that is against old standards and principles and values of human rights and democracy. However, it's still the law if it is necessary to apply for so we don't we don't disregard the law. What we disregard is forcefully cracking down on us and going against the very law that they're supposed to enforce. So that they apply for permit if they need be. In fact they they have responded to our our notification.

[00:20:35]They have sent a letter. We don't know what what is in the letter. We have been called headquarters. So from this so you know let's see what happens.

[00:20:47]>> All right. Um, one year.

[00:21:09]Okay.

[00:21:11]12 months achievement this and this and this.

[00:21:17]Wow. Um, governance, me accountability, me transparency more like Monica, the sales and disposal of the assets police inquiry.

[00:22:17]Parliament extraordinary for 10 years history of this country.

[00:23:05][cough and clears throat] Sorry.

[00:23:09]you know. So police involve government family support system discharge and acquainted from the court by police protest the whole day at biggest achievement That is what a mass movement look like.

[00:24:32]The people's movement trust between you and the people from May 825. So you have done a lot of achievement on camera.

[00:25:05]So that alone is a big achievement for a social justice and anti-corruption movement like Gala because a lot of protest individually probably we'll come to that if I'm talking about my individual Achievement, Facebook after 23rd July protest.

[00:26:07]That's very true.

[00:26:17]Not just that comment on your Facebook, your social media handles.

[00:26:54]So, I can tell you this for free.

[00:27:06]December 5th elections. [clears throat] I can tell you this for free. So, Of course.

[00:27:20][laughter] [clears throat] So, All right.

[00:27:53]He's one of your biggest critics on a TVate [snorts] Africa.

[00:28:16]Omar not as the capacity of spokesperson of Gala but Facebook because of spok personal.

[00:29:00]So we are not immune to criticism.

[00:29:18]That's their fundamental human right.

[00:29:41]movement is political.

[00:29:45]Politics activism exists in the first place because politics.

[00:30:06]You are political.

[00:30:08]Uh the distinction the difference why they are political activism like you talk about politics that's why you exist.

[00:30:29]So now you people are becoming political.

[00:30:35]Of course we are political. Well, you people are attention seekers.

[00:30:40]Activism is attention seeking.

[00:30:42]If you don't want to seek attention, why are you an activist?

[00:30:46]Because so you need attention.

[00:30:53]So those phrases I'm a proud attention seeker because only through attention seeking I can get to the people and I can get to the government. I can get to anybody.

[00:31:13]So activism is attention seeking. So they understand it can criticize but let them base it on on something that they understand. We are political and we are attention seekers. Proud attention seekers because it's through attention seeking people can listen to us.

[00:31:34]What is the purpose of activism? So we need people's attention. So we seek their attention. So we are seekers of course and that's the beauty of activism.

[00:31:41]>> So so but he challenged you on a TV debate.

[00:31:43]>> Did I'm not debating with anybody.

[00:31:45]>> All right. Um is transparent calling for accountability fighting against injustice as an institution organization whatever. Yeah, of course we are transparent. We are we are crowdfunded you know that's our biggest what we have anytime you spend we do financial report we are a mass movement we don't have particular members to go to a general meetings and so that so by we have been publishing and then last activity you know we are already working on the financial statement and then go we are very transparent with our with our dealings because we are an anti-corruption movement. So transparency after protest after all the monies we had we released a financial statement and after that we did again for the third time after this. So we tell the public [clears throat] whoever because WhatsApp and there are people that don't want their details to be sold and anybody feel like you want to further investigate rees and other things you get to us and we will publish them to you.

[00:33:24]>> We are very open to to that. Of course.

[00:33:27]Um on the 19th June for another protest, the electricity crisis protest the situation.

[00:33:50]They working on it. They doing everything possible.

[00:33:54]electricity back to normal at the end of the month. We say we look and see if working on that. So I not comment on that for public interest. uh the grace period June >> everything will be stable and mid June could we can say mid June could start from the 12th to the 15 to the 16 to the 17 and that's why we are giving them the benefit of the doubt mid June on the 12th All right.

[00:34:53]>> And on this 18ole because what can be 2026 21st century Gambia population is 2.6 million less than 3 million. Um we are less than 500 5,000 m 500 kilometers at most. It's going to be 5 500 550 kilometers for the the length and breadth of this country from Bjul from Kon to Kina in the first place. What time?

[00:35:39]Because these are basic necessities.

[00:35:44]1965 up to 2026 2 hours 2 hours per day to deliver effective and efficient service to the people. Why are we crying about electricity in the 21st century in 2016 16 2026?

[00:36:14]So hell is negligence, incompetence, lack of transparency and accountability and lack of respect for the plight of the citizens.

[00:36:40]>> [clears throat] >> for the past weeks.

[00:37:11]Wow. We'll work on it.

[00:37:13]There's nothing working fine. Everything is work in progress. From 1965 to today, work in progress. 10 years into government, work in progress.

[00:37:26]services that is whose salary is less than a 5,000 can you increase hospital bills why increasing salaries Imagine those who are supposed to be on oxygen those who are supposed to be in emergencies that need constant electricity deliver is not a fable. It's not free.

[00:38:02]It's an obligation. The Gambians are pay so fair that you're supposed to get an efficient and effective service back.

[00:38:23]For two good years the electricity was stable problem and then because that's the job of a propagandist uh in a in in an eye For propagandist, anything that happens is a little thing that can be fixed. While this have been a consistent problem countless times before he joined government and is a minor issue to an ordinary Gambian is a major issue and that's what matters to us. A minister who cannot tell us the severity of he's suffering like media because he's trying to paint a particular picture.

[00:39:37]If a if a businessman in market right or a farmer in this issue is a minister paid almost um 300,000 have a pra driving he doesn't even care about the pride of a Gambian cannot tell me the severity of the case so I don't have I don't have to say anything about Dr. I don't respond to propagandist because that's their job. They will do it anyways.

[00:40:14]Another Gambian minister is a young a little case. Let them fix it. A little case cannot be fixed for 3 weeks.

[00:40:23]>> No. A little case >> cannot be fixed for 3 weeks.

[00:40:34]improvement number.

[00:40:39]>> It is getting worse.

[00:40:42]I've seen more than three post on Facebook.

[00:40:45]It has been 3 days.

[00:40:48]3 days. It's getting worse because it was a jumping light. While it is permanent, there are places 72 hours.

[00:41:14]Okay.

[00:41:21]>> [snorts] >> and we hopefully the IG will give us a permit. Um um last time police headquarters we had a very truthful discussion with go to protest.

[00:41:46]>> All right. Um then protest without a per for a permit.

[00:41:55]>> No. So >> so but we apply for a permit.

[00:42:00]>> Yes.

[00:42:01]>> Because that's what the law asks for >> right.

[00:42:04]>> So if you deny us permit now we are you also deny us our fundamental human rights. So there is a balance.

[00:42:12]>> You're going to apply for permit because that what the law said >> and you supposed to give us the permit.

[00:42:16]Now if you don't give us the permit we protest against in fact you're not giving us permit we go ahead anytime you protest without permit we are protesting for two things we in fact protesting that why do we need to stick for permit and get denied in the first place maybe The police is not the police are not supposed to deny you permit.

[00:42:56]>> No, because we cannot the the problem is that protest and peaceful demonstrations are fundamental human rights.

[00:43:02]>> Yes.

[00:43:02]>> Right. And this is backed by the supreme law of the Gambia even though it's subjected to bylaws and all of that.

[00:43:10]Right. So we apply for permit we are respecting a bad law and giving the police the benefit of the doubt right. If they refuse to give us a permit we strategize because the the seeking for the permit in fact is this for a public procession and the use of a pay system. If they deny us permit we go and gather at now gate gathering at one place without procession without the use of public order act is not a violation of the law.

[00:43:44]everything.

[00:43:49]It's not good protest that day.

[00:43:58]Okay, let's see.

[00:44:01]No, normally they don't deny permit based on some of those things.

[00:44:07]Because you're not going to affect anything. We know that >> and that is why we in fact seek for permit in the first place so that they provide security.

[00:44:20]>> Okay.

[00:44:20]>> To ensure that the protest goes as planned and it doesn't infringe into the right of the the the the rest. They provide security. They ensure that there security clearance and they provide enough security and then we go ahead with the plat. So there's no excuse on the timing. But this time peri you have notified the police. No. No.

[00:44:42]These are two different cases.

[00:44:44]>> We are calling for a protest this time around that. No, we are calling for your secretary general.

[00:44:53]We have notified the police protest on the 19th June. Yes.

[00:45:02]Apply. So which is which they can apply or you mean the the this one? No, we we we send a notification to the police.

[00:45:10][clears throat] >> Notification. So apply. But what is what is application is to not police.

[00:45:18]Sorry.

[00:45:25]Wow.

[00:45:30]Now let's let's see how the police interpret the Okay. the letter. Okay.

[00:45:49]Okay.

[00:45:58]you have seen the letter to the police.

[00:46:00]So [clears throat] you know receive letter back then you notify but we will talk about that of there's nothing extraordinary.

[00:46:50]So of course statement they apologize.

[00:47:26]National they get back to you.

[00:47:30]Well, uh, National Assembly um been letter >> and respondents in part there is um issues I think um section one 23 or one 122 or 1 to three I'm not sure of the public uh of the standing orders >> uh in admitting a petition um and then what they highlighted get a petition to the national assembly you have to seek other means of remedy >> and then authorities. So you know we have responded to them actually because we we we find out that that is irrelevant. We have done that because public condemnation and also public calling >> uh we have calling people have called on the president we have called on sir himself to resign. People have publicly called the national assembly to take actions. So if a petition follow on that I think the the the the section on the on the um standing orders that they have that they have um quoted for us is is is not relevant to their response. So we have we are we have already written our letter responding back to them highlighting that we have exhausted um old means to end so that the authorities take up the case and they did not and that's why we resort to to a petition of the national assembly. So send the letter to the national assembly and we listen to them again. All right.

[00:48:50]burger.

[00:48:51]>> Of course, we want them to investigate >> uh the allegations. There were there allegations before >> to investigate and and so appropriate actions are taken against >> for abuse of office for tribal sentiments and for so that um there is no reoccurrence of public official of magnitude tribalism because through denity, promotion, job and all of that. So that's that's what we want to ensure that there is accountability, there is the point we have seen is it an apology statement or something procedures have to follow. So ble infor the if the if the petition is admitted the petitions committee and the national assembly should be able to summon sung and then you know have a dialogue and conversation with him and investigate that confirm and we go by what the law says and so that there appropriate actions taken against him to end so that those things you know because dangerous to not just to our peace and security but also for job security you know for for transparency for accountability because is dangerous and this is healthy then you want to make sure it doesn't happen again. So we look forward to continue this petition with the national assembly.

[00:50:36]>> So his public apology is not enough. I don't think uh a public apology will remedy the damage caused to the people involved in his allegations. Um will he promote us?

[00:50:51]>> Will he promote will he bring will he bring back to?

[00:50:58]So the problem is no he can decide No influence influence of National Assembly after president forcing I get it.

[00:51:58]Okay.

[00:52:17]Okay. Um2 MP NP's ticket run for for an MP.

[00:52:42]So on the PP ticket contest for National Assembly elections, the independent ticket contest a couple of friends.

[00:53:22]I still have intentions because I once talked to my dad about it. May his soul continue to rest in peace.

[00:53:30]um upper floor will have 32 or 33 villages.

[00:53:34]I told all those villages under PP.

[00:53:51]I had no intentions from that time. So I was surprised some of the MP regional we talking to them.

[00:54:15]I went to all of these places.

[00:54:18]gender guru like the normal tradition way them meet alos then meet chief B you know everyone else as an independent candidate Benon might remember I think was Jordan or somewhere around that end of most one of his trusted political ally um political um friends gel boy you know was my father's campaign manager Yeah, when he was contesting for um elections in 2020 2001 or 200 the local government 2002 was very small campaign manager. So was still was still arrive and I went there. So it was going to be right contest for MP and I did it. I'm not going to do it.

[00:55:19]Understand? You know I insisted but you know this is the biggest mistake I made but also you know the the journey have been 10 years so nobody can perfectly go without making certain mistakes right >> so insist all what they're doing is they knew the force I had I told them they will not select me one and all what they know they knew the kind of person I am if I lose the primary which I'm going to do I'm not going go for independent candidate again because I'm already been forced to go against my principle understand why I tell it sometimes these are not excuses but say I could I could cry I could still remember that my mom was crying that for two weeks understand I went to the private I know him he's a by UDP since 2017 primaries UDP as succeeded he crossed to MP from that year waiting for that day to come so he has done everything they were not going to take me I wasn't even interested of course I went to the MPP primaries to satisfy the I don't know the the the need of those people because of being elderly and respect and all of that but I've never gotten to and they were more PP if I told I went to that prime minister because MP I would have continue they have offered me after that and they continue to do a couple of times ministers have called me to their office and they they asked me to join them they offer me even recently they were very close when I the first person we spoke and he gave me reasons why he I should come and work in in in government. I should come and get work.

[00:57:33]I'm not interested. So come truly me going to that primaries was because MP of course I would have been in M PP I got the qualifications I can get an excuse and I got masters they can give me any position that I want.

[00:57:47]I'm I wasn't interested to join an MPP government. I wasn't interested to go join M PP. I will not justify that case.

[00:57:54]It just came out of respect for people that have been supporting me and then they decide that we need to do this as a team. I did it, you know. But that's the biggest regret I ever have. No justifications for it. No excuses for it. I hold myself accountable for it.

[00:58:06]I'm not above accountability. But if I wanted to continue, I would have. Okay.

[00:58:13]Congress because for Omar as the spokesperson of Gala for Hakim as the supreme leader of Gala. Yeah, of course.

[00:58:38]headline.

[00:58:39]I would have made a very beautiful headline, but unfortunately invite as individual personal because Wow. Wow. Wow. So, so then [clears throat] you invite us as as gala even though we had a disagreement whether we are supposed to go or not. But you know it's normal through political parties and movements >> to invite civil society and nonpartisan movements to attend their their their congress that is supposed to be very normal. So it was okay UDP, [clears throat] MP, NRP, it was okay that um civil societies are normally invited to to to political [clears throat] not political rather but congresses. Congress are supposed to be auxiliary bodies as well.

[00:59:38]You can go there and then acknowledge and then attend and all of that you know. So I've seen the [clears throat and cough] people there have been a huge debate online. No, you're a movement. You're not supposed to go. You should stay um out of political parties. Of course, people have opinions, but it's okay to go.

[01:00:01]I'm not support.

[01:00:28]Wow. So that after that appearance sir you know we have gone back to the drawing board and then we're going to stay from political party activities as a movement you know because will always come out of what the public think of us.

[01:00:50]going to political congresses and all party congress and all of that. So heroes would be after make this one pro withdraw the nomination of I'm not going to talk about it again.

[01:01:30]>> I'm not going to talk about it.

[01:01:31]>> Good.

[01:01:38]government officials.

[01:01:47]The president [clears throat] because of the institution I'm very assertive person.

[01:02:22]So sometimes that is me, you know that is that is something in me and even though sometimes I work on it to calm down because I work with the public sometimes respect the president. I don't disrespect the president calling for accountability president of the republic on the come minister why in line of our work is I'm very confrontational Because sometimes as disrespect of instead of seeing it as accountability as disrespect because they want to protect the president, they want to defend the president. Why not disrespect against the president? All right.

[01:04:18]lecturing position.

[01:04:26]Well, um >> because I was 75% going to go back graduate and I'm going to live in Europe and look for jobs there and continue to stay there. Well, after um the formation of Gala, I think that I owe the people of this country an obligation to come back home >> because all the time I want to use my education to impact directly the lives and livelihood of the Gambians.

[01:05:00]Of course, I apply for a position at the University of the Gambia as a political science lecturer to the vice chancellor and I think it has been processed.

[01:05:18]and they were allocating courses. So he gave me courses. I think among the courses was international law and constitutional administrative law. I can teach those. I said of course these are areas that I've you know done in my masters and also under my undergraduate and all of that.

[01:05:37]We'll get back to you. So I know from time when the time table came out because apply and I check in the time table I saw that those courses were allocated to another person no causes was given to me I tried to call that is the one that dr is because of financial constraints and they decide to reduce the number of lecturers. Well, after Lulu, um, somebody a lecturer from the university called me.

[01:06:27]Wow. Wow.

[01:06:32]Because I am lecturer introduce university students into protest.

[01:06:40]uh university students will start saying free our lecturer like the way free our lecturer in 2017 of course never why after because Dr. of information now is very related to them. We had a discussion on a project that was the last September semester.

[01:07:23]Mhm.

[01:07:35]Calm down.

[01:07:46]I think university was going to be more voluntary is 15 16,000 the whole semester every day. So but it's it's law for country that I wanted to teach at the university not to get money because they were not going to take me for that semester as full time he was going to get me into the university. state ministerian Gambian Gambian.

[01:08:37]So this is serious.

[01:08:38]>> Yeah, this is this is serious. So um I reflect a victim.

[01:08:51]I'm the victim, but I don't want to talk about influencing what happened in that department. He's still influencing what happened in that department. Why? That is it, man. I I I I did not want to look for favorables. I got the qualifications at least, you know, I got my master's degree. I got a higher profile experience both national and international. I have worked for both national organiz civil society organizations. I have worked for government of course and I have worked for national assembly. you know, I've worked for international organizations.

[01:09:32]You know, I have I've attended one of the the best schools and one of the courses that are that are highly highly respected and then recognized globally.

[01:09:40]So, I don't worry. It's a loss for the Gambian. It's a loss for the UTG. Of course, you know activism started in 2017 2018 you know 2016 must go we part of the small boys that went to the force conference and Gambia has decided and we pick it up because justice process thanks to um I remember in 2018 when ICDJ start operating in the Gambia and they wanted to form a a youth movement >> um a trans not just a youth movement and then set was the consultant or something and then he brought me in manova start and then I started getting and I get into the activism space >> and I also started studying political science and you know some we not in good terms but thanks Dr. C as well because man when I started university I I started with English language and you know meeting Dr. C you know and then having a conversation with him you know you know change my direction to get into political science and convince my dad to study political science so and you know with Dr. with Mati we started talking about issues human rights democracy and you know what happens here for 22 years and then you know never again While I was going to school, you know, did you know but even time activism was at the college level where I remember join a a group called outlaws college and what we do is was we going to we don't protest about issues about the administration about the student union so good school. So every Thursday, every Tuesday I think school what the outlaw have for for the students today. So for start you know and came to the university and started activism. I remember my first protest I co-organized was um occupy national assembly that was in 2018.

[01:12:15]Um what what after the physical budget for a year after the budget for a physical year is submitted the ministry the minister of finance is supposed to submit a supplementary appropriation bill and according to the consumer I think should not pass 1% of the total budget for that for that fiscal year and I think was the minister then and then submit the budget that was above that that test and you know knew all the protest I remember our good sister I think now she has left the is Yamalen Jan >> was a very um assertive activist as well. One of the young girls that was um you know um doing very well I think he was part of the um occupy Westfield as well. We created WhatsApp group and we co-organized that protest and that was in 2018. And then in 2019 I led uh individually but collectively with people as well you know one of the biggest protest um that is not partisan that is not 3 years just now or 5 years just now and so by held that was the protest against deportation and that was in 2019 I think May March March 9th or March 9th or and you know that was another one >> and you know we we gathered at Westfield we transported people across this country and that has led to the first re uh MOU and memorandum on the stop of deportation and of Gambians from Germany and until 2022 2023 it started again. So from there I continue being vocal. I continue joining protest that are organized by me or other colleagues but 2022 December and then I led another protest for the call and the release of Mong Sabi. You know you remember in December 2022 and that was the first time I got uh physically assaulted >> uh by the Gambia police force. I was beating and then bes on my mouth and all of that but I did not stop. So me my journey have been activism academics all my life and you know those who knew my ham from primary school to junior school will be surprised that I'm not a police officer you know I used to be a very good scout you know I play instrument and all of that so when I finished uni and before I finished uni for flat um whilst I was in the activism I created the the fact check center the Gambia I co-ounded it now info check and I've been working there professionally from from 2020 2021 um August to now >> and in between I left to do my masters um in transnational governance in in Florence in Italy and you know that's it. So it has been an interesting hard journey for me. A lot have been jumbling together but thank God. Um you know yes >> um finally in 2027 maybe as an independent plan. My plan um my plan is to go out to do my PhD after one year after graduation because I I I made that plan.

[01:15:26]I I I have not had a break in my school career from junior school to high school, high school to college, college to university. So university direct to when I finished my undergrad, I finished in March and you know by September I started my masters. So when I finished my masters last year, I was like I need a one year break. So the one year break finishes tomorrow. I graduated last year the 13th of June from my master's program. So it's one year um >> so after Lulu I will decide what to do but for now I am going for a PhD. I don't think I have any interest to run for political office for now.

[01:15:58]>> So of course contest you have right to contest Gala as a as a movement is not contesting but individually everybody have a right to contest for political office. So of course whoever want to contact just feel free to contact >> because everybody's problem everybody's affected you knowing in the 21st century.

[01:16:52]University of the Gambia, American International lost profit on the 19 even let's call for accountability economy.

[01:17:48]Let's call for transparency because you take politics against the state and against product is one tool to use to ensure that accountability and transparency and then service delivery are effective.

[01:18:18]anywhere.

[01:18:22]Thank you.

[01:18:27]The spokesperson of Anyway, so happy birthday.

[01:19:09]Who are