A group of Gambian soldiers imprisoned by President Adama Barrow since 2017 haS been released after nearly five years of unlawful arrest and detention. The soldiers are Sgt. Babucar Sanneh, Corporal Abba Badgie, Sgt. Malick Bojang, and Lance Corporal Mbemba Camara. 

They were released from notorious Mile II Tuesday, May 18th 2021. The group dubbed, “Whatsapp Group” was imprisoned for setting up a Whatsapp chat group. But the timid Barrow administration known for its anti-Jola and anti-Foni sentiments seized these family bread-winners, threw them in prison for almost half a decade.

At the time of their arrest, any group as little as two to three men of Foni or Jola background was always perceived as a threat to the Barrow government even without proof of any seditious bent.

Now that Barrow lacks the support of UDP, he tried counting on APRC, the base of which unfortunately for him, has the very people he has been persecuting since coming to power. He has become so desperate these days, trying to pander to the same APRC base at the eleventh hour.

Three of the purported Whatsapp group soldiers were released earlier by the appeals court when the government couldn’t back up its case. The same anti-Jola sentiment and ethnic persecution has led to the dismissal of Omar Sarjo of Kabekel, another Jola son who has been accused of being son to Cassamance rebel leader salif Sadio. 

Salif Sadio has never been married in his life, so far, and has not had a child anywhere. But the Jola persecution by the Barrow gov’t proceeds even without proof against Omar Sarjo who was kicked out of the army. 

In 2019, Ismaila Tamba, another Jola and a commercial driver was shot by occupying forces at a checkpoint in Foni Kanilai. No investigation, again, was launched into the shooting.

In June 2017, Haruna Jatta of Kanilai was shot and killed by Senegalese forces in Foni for simply protesting peacefully. Haruna never harmed or destroyed anything during his march. No investigation was mounted, nor any arrests made.

In August 2020, another son of Foni, Ebou Camara was attacked, his house broken by hostile Senegalese forces in Foni. Camara had to flee into the forest to seek refuge at a Gambian police station later. The Barrow gov’t in collaboration with Macky Sall set up checkpoints in Foni, causing recurring accidents.

Local women of Foni and cattle owners suffer in the hands of hostile Senegalese soldiers who steal their animals. At some point, an old man searched for his cow only to find it being slaughtered by the occupying Senegalese forces.

When the old man asked questions, they detained and punished him with a “monkey dance.” As recent as the mass uprising days in Senegal, Senegalese soldiers, last March again, showed their unjustified anger at the people of Foni by opening fire in their community.

Foni has become like Palestine for Senegal and Adama Barrow where not only people were killed and still shot at close range, but also oppressed, persecuted, harassed, or their lands taken to create Senegalese military camps.

Dear Foni sons and daughters, this coming election is your biggest opportunity to regain your freedom from persecution and oppression. VOTE BARROW OUT! VOTE BARROW OUT! VOTE BARROW OUT! DON’T FOLLOW ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU TO RALLY BEHIND BARROW!