Former Chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mamat O. A. Cham, has responded to allegations made by his former personal assistant, Sergeant Modou Saine, dismissing claims of misconduct, financial irregularities and abuse of office as “misrepresented” accounts of internal administrative matters that took place before his resignation.

Speaking on the allegations, Lieutenant General Cham said the issues raised by Sergeant Saine stemmed from routine personnel and disciplinary procedures within his office and were later taken out of context.

He said the matter began when Sergeant Saine reportedly failed to report for parade duties and later indicated a desire to leave his post.

“When I got back from parade to the office, I saw a letter that he was requested to be transferred from my office,” Cham said, adding that he initially treated the situation as a normal administrative issue.

He explained that he attempted to resolve the matter internally, involving senior officers and family discussions in line with what he described as common military practice for handling personnel disputes.

“I called him and said he didn’t take my phone. Out of consideration, because in Gambian society, when somebody is close to you, the family comes and says we entrust him to you,” he said.

Lieutenant General Cham said efforts were made to reintegrate Sergeant Saine into normal duties, but claimed the officer later failed to comply.

“Then they asked him to just get back to normal soldier and behave himself. But after that he never turns up,” he said.

He added that Sergeant Saine was eventually reassigned back to Army Headquarters and later discharged following what he described as standard military procedures, noting that his service period was nearing completion.

Cham also addressed allegations relating to naval assets, particularly claims involving the sale of boats, insisting that all actions taken were done through official channels.

“At one point the chief wrote a letter to me to see whether I can allow them to sell the boats,” he said. “I authorised and said let us set up a committee under the Chief of Naval Staff so that those boats that are no longer useful can be sold.”

He further clarified claims of personal involvement in boat transactions, saying he independently acquired a vessel from Tangier, Morocco, which he paid for in instalments with family assistance.

“I have never seen the boat in question in any improper arrangement,” he said, adding that fishermen were later engaged to operate the boats under a profit-sharing arrangement.

The former CDS said he initially ignored public allegations made after his departure from office, describing them as unfounded.

“I never paid heed to those things until unfortunately they had that panel… alleging so many unfounded accusations against me,” he said.

The allegations by Sergeant Modou Saine have not been independently verified, and the Gambia Armed Forces has not issued a formal statement on the matter.

By Adama Makasuba