The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council has elected Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe as president amid the ongoing row with breakaway Rawdatul Majilis, a group claiming to represent the nation’s Muslim union.

Imam Darboe won 89 votes out of the total 105 delegates who voted at the council’s congress on Sunday. 

He replaces the long serving Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray.

“It’s a big pleasure for me to run the council with my team. Thank you very much for that. We know that the candidates are one body,” Imam Darboe said.

“So Alhamdoullilah we are one, we have one vision, that is to work for the sake of Allah and to unify Muslims of this country. I thank the Almighty Allah and InshaAllah we will do our able best to establish unity as the principles of Supreme Islamic Council.”

Rawdatul Majilis a breakaway group is in bitter feud  with SIC officials over who should represent the interests of Muslims in The Gambia. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba