A video of a man has emerged on social media app TikTok complaining of the consequences of recent clashes between Senegalese soldiers and MFDC rebels on the lives of Gambia’s border villages.

The man who introduced himself as the son of Babili Mansa [Yahya Jammeh] blamed Senegalese soldiers for starting the forest fire that burnt down their cashew farms where they depend for their livelihood.

“I am Babili Mansa’s son and I am right now in Kampant forest and between me and the main highway is about 150 kilometres. 

“And as you can see the forest is burning and burned by Senegalese soldiers after they launched an attack on the rebels in Casamance,” the man said.

He added: “But this has now affected us seriously because our animals do not have any food left in the forest and our cashew farms where we depend on for living have all been burnt now.”

In January clashes between Senegalese soldiers and MFDC rebels left three soldiers dead and seven captured but later released.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba