Essa Faal, the lead counsel of the TRRC, had a bitter row with former Chief of Defence Staff Lang Tombong Tamba at yesterday’s TRRC hearing. 

The row which started over the tribal composition of The Gambia Armed Forces during the Jammeh regime rapidly escalated after Mr Faal questioned the meteoric rise of the former army chief.

“You can say so but in military, there are certain occasions where people are awarded for their hard work. 

“And during my tenure in the Gambia Armed forces and during the period that you have mentioned when I was promoted from Brigadier General, Major General to Lieutenant General, I think the records are there to speak for themselves,” Tamba told the Commission.

Mr Tamba went on to explain in detail the workings of the Gambia army but Mr Faal interrupted to say that was not necessary for the hearing. 

“Counsel, I do not understand you because I feel the purpose of this Commission is to reveal the truth. So if I am seated here, wanting to explain the issue you’re talking about so that the Commission can better understand it and you say it’s not necessary. So what is [the purpose] of my being here then? I want to be guided,” Mr Tamba angrily retorted

Essa Faal refused to back down. 

“Mr Tamba, I have just guided you and clearly what you have just done is to refuse to understand. But okay, let’s do it the way you want it, let’s spend here two days and we explain everything. That is what you want.

“Because what you want is absolutely unnecessary but I will give you this opportunity because I don’t want you to see it that I don’t want to give you the opportunity. 

“We would spend here two days and discuss a subject that is absolutely unnecessary. But go ahead and explained it.” 

Mr Tamba, who refused to budge, said: “Counsel, if you can sit there and say those issues are absolutely unnecessary then my coming here should not be necessary too. Because I am here to explain for you people to understand how the armed forces were working. So if you can say it’s absolutely unnecessary then my coming here should be unnecessary too.”

“No, Tamba you’re getting it absolutely wrong,” Mr Faal said.

“You heard from the other witnesses that where here. I was at the helm of things. I have the opportunity to lead the Commission understand how things were working but if you say it is not necessary for me to explain how the promotions came about.

“Because I heard some of them say it was based on tribal lines. So if they make allegations that promotions in the armed forces was based on tribal lines and I was at the helm of things I have the opportunity to shed light so that it will help the Commission. But if you say it’s unnecessary, fine, we can move on,” Mr Tamba said.

Mr Faal said he will not be dictated to, adding “No I refuse to move on. Because of what you have said. And Iet me question you on the issues that you just talked about. 

“Tell us about the intelligence service: isn’t it the intelligence service supposed to be an institution comprising of some of the most qualified people in this country?”

“Counsel, I am sorry. I cannot talk on behalf of the NIA,” Tamba replied.

“I am not asking you to talk on behalf of the NIA, I’m asking you a question. You were CDS of the armed forces, the chief of intelligence in the army should be somebody of very high level of intelligence and academic qualifications correct?” 

“Yes true,” Mr Tamba replied.

Mr Faal continued: “Do you believe that somebody with just Ordinary Level certificate is qualified to be director of Intelligence in the Gambia National Army or in any army for that matter?”

“In our own context, in our Gambian context, yes I believe in that,” Mr Tamba replied.

“And you believe that our own context, we should have mediocres and people with no academic achievements… That’s your belief?” Mr Faal queried.

“It is sad that you’re calling those people mediocres and these were people who were carrying [out] their functions fully, to the best of their ability. That is very sad. I don’t expect that kind of description to come from you counsel,” Mr Tamba said.

“I deplore that attitude, I do not for a moment embrace this attitude where you trying to pit me against other people and that is most unfair to come from you. That is not a nice thing to do,” Essa Faal told the former army chief.

The Commission’s chairman suspended the hearing as the row escalated.