Malagen has flagged a potential case of hate speech involving a United Democratic Party (UDP) supporter identified as Omar Fatty. A 13-minute WhatsApp audio clip in the Mandinka language, which has since gone viral, was translated by Malagen’s Media Monitoring.

What Was Said

 In the audio, Mr. Fatty states:

“I do not hate Talib; what I hate is that he is a Narr . You know they have bad attitudes and are very useless people because I lived with them for seven years.”

He further advocates for the removal of Arabs from Africa and specifically from The Gambia, describing them as “useless” and warning that people should not allow them near Gambians.

The nomenclature ‘Narr’ is a local reference to North Africans and Middle Easterners including Arabs and Lebanese among others.

Why This Matters

Mr. Fatty’s remarks bear the hallmarks of hate speech, as they demean people of North African and Middle Eastern origin collectively and question the legitimacy of an individual based on ethnic identity. 

This type of rhetoric is particularly concerning as The Gambia approaches the 2026 presidential election, when political tensions and emotions are already high.

Introducing ethnic hatred into political discourse can encourage voters to make decisions along tribal lines rather than focusing on national issues and leadership qualities. Such statements also risk inciting violence against Arab residents in The Gambia, especially during sensitive election periods.

Analysts and civil society actors have repeatedly warned about the increasing use of ethnic identity for political gain, noting that such rhetoric can heighten tensions during elections.

These comments align with findings from a survey by the National Human Rights Commission, which found that political figures and their supporters are the leading perpetrators of hate speech in the country, accounting for over 86 per cent of reported cases.

Conclusion

This incident reflects a troubling pattern. Last year, Malagen flagged other prominent UDP supporters, as well as members of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), for engaging in similar rhetoric.

Given the UDP’s position as the largest opposition party in The Gambia, statements by its supporters have the potential to influence public opinion and exacerbate ethnic tensions.

Political parties should actively warn their members against using such rhetoric. Additionally, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) could consider developing formal guidelines for political parties on hate speech to safeguard national cohesion and protect vulnerable communities.