Gambia gets new homeland security minister after Fatty sacking

December 04, 2017

By Kebba Jeffang

[caption id="attachment_42070" align="alignleft" width="309"] Mai Fatty[/caption]

The Gambian President Adama Barrow has appointed a replacement for a key coalition member Mai Ahmad Fatty as Interior Minister following his unexplained sacking in November.

The new Minister was officially disclosed on Monday, December 4^th as Habib Saihou Drammeh. With no background in security as per the content of the statement from the presidency, Drammeh becomes the first replacement as a minister for Barrow’s administration that just celebrated one year last Saturday.

He is due to take oath of office on December 6^th to officially commence carrying out his responsibility.

Barrow after dismissing Fatty told journalists that the decision was in the best interest of the country. However, he refused to tell why he took the decision.

Mai is the first Minister to be relieved as a cabinet member by the President. He too has been quiet about his removal.

This was one of the most criticized decisions of Mr. Barrow by the Gambians with many describing it a ‘betrayal’ towards one of the key members of the coalition government.

While serving as Interior Minister, Fatty suspended the issuance of National Identity Cards as well as the production of non-ECOWAS Passport. He is undoubtedly one of the most controversial ministers in the cabinet.