Former presidential candidate and leader of the APP-Sobeyaa Party, Essa Mbye Faal, has denied any involvement in illegal land dealings amid allegations surrounding the controversial allocation of land near the Tanji Bird Reserve.

In a statement released on Friday, the APP-Sobeyaa Party dismissed claims made by some readers in response to an investigative article published by Malegan titled “Tanji Bird Reserve Carved Up for Sale.”

The party described attempts to implicate Faal as “false and misleading,” insisting that he acted lawfully and was never granted final possession of any land.

“Mr Faal acted lawfully and has no land to return,” the statement read. “He was never given final allocation or vacant possession of any site within the TDA or the Tanji Bird Reserve.”

Background to the Dispute

The dispute traces back to 2019 when Mr Faal applied to the Gambia Tourism Board (GTB) for a plot within the Tourism Development Area to build a mixed-use resort named The New Gambia Resort.

According to the statement, his application was encouraged by senior government officials, including Minister of Tourism Hamat Bah, and received strong endorsement from President Adama Barrow.

Faal paid a non-refundable development levy of USD 125,000 after receiving provisional approval but insisted on clarity over the exact site before proceeding.

He was later provisionally allocated a plot in the Sanneh Mentereng area, said to be outside the boundaries of the bird reserve.

However, when he applied for a construction permit, it was blocked by the Ministry of Lands after the Department of Parks and Wildlife claimed the area was part of the protected sanctuary.

The APP-Sobeyaa Party disputes this, stating that official maps and laws clearly show the bird reserve ends near Brufut Police Station and does not extend to the Sanneh Mentereng site.

“The Tanjie Bird Reserve is approximately 150 meters away from the area allocated to Mr Faal,” the party noted, adding that the alleged expansion of the sanctuary was never legally gazetted and would constitute an unlawful act.

The statement also addressed the political dimension of the controversy, suggesting the issue became politicised following Mr Faal’s decision to run for president in 2021.

The party claims that President Barrow publicly referenced the land allocation during the campaign, framing Faal’s candidacy as disloyal.

Despite declaring the provisional land allocation in his candidate disclosures to the Independent Electoral Commission, Faal received a warning from the GTB not to describe the site as his property because the process was not finalised. The APP-Sobeyaa Party said this reflected Faal’s commitment to transparency.

Call for Justice and Accountability
More than three years later, Mr Faal has neither been allowed to develop the land nor received a refund of his payment. The party insists the dispute stems from internal contradictions within the government rather than any wrongdoing by Faal.

“This is a dispute between government institutions — not a case of misconduct by Mr Faal,” the statement added. “He followed due process from start to finish.”

The APP-Sobeyaa Party reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability, transparency, and rule of law, warning against “defamatory tactics” aimed at tarnishing Faal’s reputation.