A video has gone viral across Facebook on Saturday, 3rd October, 2026. The video, which was obtained by Info-Checked and flagged, is regarding the National Assembly Member for Lower Saloum, Hon. Sainey Jawara.
His comments were made during a rally in Kaur Wharf Town, Lower Saloum, Central River Region (CRR) North, as part of the ongoing “Meet The People Tour” by the president, Adama Barrow. While standing at the podium, he delivered dangerous ethnic rhetoric and also endorsed the tribal remarks made by the Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs during his speech at the NPP rally in Farafenni, Upper Badibbou District, NBR.
In the video, which was widely captured by media platforms and reshared by social media users, he (Hon. Sainey Jawara) made mafia comments directed to opposition politicians, dangerous and hateful ethnic rhetoric while endorsing the same narrative previously made by a member of their group. He highlighted what Hamat Bah said about the United Democratic Party (UDP) taking only Fulas and Wolof to the revising courts, and the Lebanese saying that they will not give the country to them. The National Assembly Member is flagged for hate speech and dangerous ethnic remarks.
His comments came under serious backlash and widespread condemnation. He was criticized for fanning and supporting ethnic remarks by the public, a cross-section of social media users, as well as rights activists.
The one-hour, 58-minute, 17-second video, timestamped at 1:08:07 – 1:11:30 minutes (archived here), claims that the statements that were made by Hamat N.K. Bah about UDP and the Lebanese are true.
What exactly did “Hon. Sainey Jawara” say?
Info-Checked transcribed the audio and broke it into sections.
Speaking in Mandinka, Hon. Sainey Jawara said:
“This country, nobody will govern it here. Your Excellency, I will tell you that what Honourable Hamat N.K. Bah said, to say that the Wolof and the Fulas are tried is true. Your Excellency, I will tell you that is the UDP the only party in this country? Your Excellency, I will tell you that Gambians are not sleeping. Your Excellency, I will tell you that what Hamat said about the Lebanese, that is the truth. This country, we will not give it to the Lebanese. Your Excellency, I will tell you that we are not “good for nothing” people.
Your Excellency, I will tell you that we are behind you. People of NPP, great alliance people, why are you scared? Why are you scared? Opposition cannot govern this country. They want to destroy this country. They have nothing; they want to give this country to “mafias”; we will not allow them to give this country to mafias.
Your Excellency, I will tell you that this country, those that they call, I don’t know, those “useless” people, I will tell the youths that, the youths that go out in the country, they want to burn down this country; don’t accept it. If they are crying about electricity and your home doesn’t have electricity, they lack electricity for 2 hours, you say you are going to the State House, we refuse, we won’t do it. What you’re saying, if it’s true, you will do it everywhere. What you are saying is not the truth today and tomorrow. I will tell my people that our youths, no single person, is going out for protest.
Your Excellency, I will tell you that in 2026, let the IEC Chairman declare, by force, this country; you will govern it.
Your Excellency, I will tell you that what you have done in this country, even someone asleep, who passed away in the 90s, if you wake the person and tell him here is Gambia, he will tell you it is not true.
Useless people will not destroy our country. Your Excellency, anybody who goes to protest, you don’t want this country; you want destruction. Your Excellency, I will tell you that this country we will not give it to “mafias.” Your Excellency, all these people that are looking for this country are all mafias.”
Why Hon. Sainey Jawara’s comments are flagged as hateful and divisive
In flagging Sainey’s comments as hate, divisive, and dangerous speech, we consider the following points from his remarks during the meeting.
Endorsing and supporting ethnic remarks directed to a particular tribe and fanning the divisive commentary against the UDP and accusing them of taking only Wolof and Fulas to the revising courts. Equally labelling opposition parties as “mafias.”
Sainey’s Status: Hon. Sainey Jawara is a sitting member of the National Assembly (MP). He is the elected parliamentarian for Lower Saloum. His status is as someone who presides over proceedings on issues of national interest, enacts laws, approves budgets, and provides oversight of the executive branch. His comments could carry weight as someone within one of the three arms of the government. His comments came at a time when the country is a few months away from the presidential election, especially with the growing trend of misinformation, ethnic remarks, and hate speeches that could pose serious threats in the country.
Conclusion
Hon. Sainey Jawara’s comments are dangerous and hateful. His comments followed recent ethnic remarks, which have the potential to incite discrimination against individuals. As the country is heading to the polls on December 5, 2026,
According to the United Nations, hate speech is any offensive statement that targets a group or individuals based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender and has the potential to threaten social peace.
By Momodou Janneh