On October 3, 2025, Baba Jah, a prominent supporter of the National People’s Party (NPP), addressed a group of Gambians in Spain during an NPP Diaspora fundraising event.

In a three-minute speech captured in a TikTok video that has since garnered over 95 shares, Mr. Jah’s remarks turned into tribal rhetoric.

What Did Mr. Jah Say?

Speaking in Mandinka, and translated by Malagen, Mr. Jah said:

“The UDP supporters are very angry, and who are they angry at? You the Sarahullehs. They are angry because President Adama is related to the Sarahullehs.”

Why This Matters

Such remarks risk deepening tribal and political divisions in The Gambia. By portraying supporters of one political party as being angry at a particular tribe, the statement fuels mistrust and resentment among communities.

This kind of rhetoric is dangerous, particularly as the country heads toward the 2026 presidential election, where emotions and political loyalties are already high. When tribal sentiments are introduced into political discussions, they can influence people to vote along tribal lines instead of focusing on national issues and leadership qualities.

Analysts and civil society actors have repeatedly warned about the growing use of ethnic identity for political gain. Such speech echoes the pattern of hate and dangerous rhetoric that marred the 2021 elections and now appears to be resurfacing.

The National Human Rights Commission’s recent survey on hate speech also confirms that political figures and their supporters are among the main perpetrators of hate and dangerous speech in the country.

According to the survey, political figureheads are responsible for about 86 per cent of all recorded hate speech incidents in The Gambia, making them the leading perpetrators nationwide. 

Conclusion

Mr. Jah’s comments are not only divisive but potentially incite one tribe against another, particularly between the Sarahulleh and other ethnic groups. Given his large following and influence online, his words carry significant weight.

The NPP leadership should take steps to caution Mr. Jah and other supporters against using such rhetoric. Interestingly, the NPP leadership including its Deputy Spokesperson Seedy Njie, who also doubles as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly were seated right behind Baba Jah while making his speech without making any attempt to caution or stop him. Silence or inaction could be seen as endorsement, which risks normalizing hate and deepening tribal polarization ahead of the 2026 elections.

Malagen calls on all political actors to promote unity and responsible speech as part of efforts to safeguard The Gambia’s peace and social cohesion.

About Malagen Media Monitoring

Malagen’s media monitoring project tracks and counters misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and dangerous speech to ensure that political discourse remains respectful, inclusive, and fact-based.

For more information, read our report on Hate Speech in The Gambia (2021–2023), produced with the support of UNESCO, which provides an in-depth analysis of hate and dangerous speech during past electoral cycles.

Report to Us:

 If you come across hate speech, misinformation, or disinformation, please contact us at editor.malagen@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp 6061301.