The Gambia government has reacted to a WhatsApp audio of a looming ‘coup plot’ being allegedly hatched by senior government officials as “totally false orchestrated by detractors”.

A WhatsApp audio on Sunday which went viral alleged that several high profile government officials including TRRC prosecutor Essa Faal, Justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou, TRRC chairman Lamin Sise and army spokesman Major Lamin Sanyang were behind the plot.

But the government said in a statement on Monday signed by spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh that: “In the wake of malicious and subversive audio messages circulating on social media warning The Gambia Government of a looming coup plot allegedly being hatched by some private citizens, senior government and military officials, the public is hereby informed that these are outrageous and baseless allegations.

“In total, all these audio messages being circulated are orchestrated by detractors and agent provocateurs who do not in any way wish The Gambia well contrary to what they claim in their audios.

“Their intention is to inject fear, panic general apprehension and discord in public and within government circles.”

The statement added:”Therefore, no sooner had the audios hit the airwaves yesterday than the various security and intelligence services—SIS, Police, Military and ECOMIG, conducted joint investigations to establish their veracity across the country.

“The Government is pleased to announce that the totality of these tapes is false; they constitute fake news calculated to destabilise our fledgling democracy.

“Unlike the past dispensation where such wild allegations could have landed innocent citizens in unwarranted arrests and other forms of trouble, The Gambia Government exercised utmost maturity in handling these potentially incriminating recordings.

“As such, not a single officer or civilian was questioned, arrested or interrogated as the audios had intended the Government to do. Also, no weapons were found nor the vehicle they claimed carried the cache of weapons for the imaginary coup operation.”

“Preliminary investigations have established that two Gambians, Omar F.S. Sanneh aka Baitulah and Momodou Marong are complicit in the recording and subsequent dissemination of these provocative audios that have succeeded in sending fear and general apprehension among some Gambians both at home and abroad.

“Omar F.S. Sanneh (alias Baitulah), is an ex-soldier who in 2018, reportedly jumped bail after he was accused of ‘communicating threats’ via WhatsApp and fled to Cassamance, where he is now believed to be a resident fugitive from justice.

“Like Sanneh, his colleague, Momodou Marong is believed to have left The Gambia using illegal migration routes and currently lives in Italy from where he too, has been involved in the prolific production of malicious and subversive audios.

“Accordingly, members of the public, the Consular and Diplomatic Corps are urged to go about their normal businesses as there is no cause for fear or alarm over these malicious audio messages intended to undermine The Gambia’s peace and security,” it concluded.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba