Ousainou Darboe has said he was “delighted” to hear the recent statement by a Senegalese MP that the residents of Casamance in Senegal have Gambia national identity cards. 

The leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party said the claim by the Senegalese MP vindicated his post-election statement last year that Barrow’s re-election to the presidency was achieved by voter fraud.

On Wednesday a Senegalese MP Oumar Cisse caused alarm after making the politically charged statement during a debate at Senegal’s parliament. 

“I am from Casamance, we are at The Gambian border. Our entire community have Gambian identity card. The Gambian ID card is so cheap to get during election period. You just need to bring two witnesses and get an ID card,” Mr Cisse said. 

Reacting to the claim, Mr Darboe said: “I thanked God when I listened to the video that I am vindicated about the issue I was fighting about during the 2021 presidential election which was rigged by malpractices. 

“I believe the MP is part of President Macky Sall party because he was thanking Macky. 

“If that MP can stand in the Senegalese parliament to say that a good number of people from where he comes from in Senegal hold Gambian national identity cards and that many of these people acquired the national documents during the presidential election because it is too cheap to get Gambian documents.”

Mr Darboe continued: “This is something very sad and scary. These are Senegalese who voted in our presidential election. 

“So, then we have a president who is not voted in office by Gambians. We have a president who was voted in office by none-Gambians living in the country and outside the country. 

I thanked God that a Senegalese member of national parliament has vindicated me on why I rejected the last presidential election.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba