Mai Ahmad Fatty, the former minister of Interior, has dismissed claims he defended Tourism minister Hamat Bah over ‘rat’ comment.

Mr. Fatty’s reaction comes after a local newspaper reported that he defended Hamat Bah’s comment many seen as “inflammatory”. 

“I did not defend Hamat. I defended my views on Hamat’s perceived offensive statement. My politics is based on facts, principle and the truth. Just because many people adopted the position that “dirimo” or rat refers to Mandingkas, that doesn’t mean I have to slavishly follow the bandwagon. 

“Everyone is entitled to his or her views. Based on the video that I watched, and the context within which the impugned statement was uttered by Hamat, I have a different interpretation on the matter,” the leader of The Gambia Moral Congress said.

“Hamat’s statement may be offensive but, in my view, it would be wrong to say “dirimo” referred to the Mandingka tribe. It was a generic reference for the opposition. I condemn the inappropriate expression. 

“Yet, we Mandingkas should not appropriate this word as our own. No one is more Mandingka than me, and I will not encourage anyone to insult my tribe or other tribes.”

“Hamat did not specifically insult Mandingkas with the dirimo comment. He mentioned Fulas, Wollofs from Senegal, Sarahulays from Mali and Mandingkas from Kolda and Guinea Bissau, on the ID card saga. Interpreting it within context, to me “dirimo” meant the opposition. Mandingkas are not the only opposition leaders,” Mr. Fatty added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba