The Gambia’s health minister Dr Ahmadou Samateh was escorted by US police officers after he got into a brutal confrontation with a small group of Gambians protesters in New York.

Dr Samateh is among Gambian delegates who are attending the UN General Assembly meeting. 

But he was dramatically confronted yesterday by a group of Gambian activists who are opposed to the current state of affairs in the Gambia. 

In a widely shared video of the encounter, the US-based Gambians could be heard howling slur remarks at the health minister. 

As the situation turned tense, three US police officers had to come and provide security for Dr Samateh and his team.

“You are a thief and you steal from our country. You should resign, you’re a baby killer. Runaway you baby killer. Our children are dying every single day, there are no drugs in our hospitals. You are a shame,” the angry Gambians confronting the health minister are heard in the video saying.

Dr Samateh is the second government minister to be harassed by US-based Gambian activists after Dr Ismail Ceesay, the minister of information, was given similar treatment on Wednesday. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba