The Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has said its office is under siege by security forces.

Mayor Bensouda is in a standoff with the Ministry of Lands and Local Government over the suspension of the council’s chief executive Mrs Sainabou Martin Sonko following corruption allegations.

The ministry has ordered that the KMC CEO returns to work while the corruption allegations are investigated.

But the mayor maintained that the order contravenes the council’s decision to suspend her. 

The ministry seems to have lost patience and resorted to the use of force to implement its order. 

A unit of security forces from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) were deployed to council offices this morning (August 9).

The mayor took to social media to protest the deployment.

“The PIU who are good partners to the council have communicated that they are under directive from the Executive Branch to install the CEO in her office who has been put on leave via council resolution after confessing to her crimes …  this attempt is to install the CEO by the use of force therefore Usurping the decision of the council,” Mayor Bensouda wrote on Facebook.

“This is a new low in our country and demonstrates why councils cannot function and how the Minister of Local Government continues to undermine councils autonomy. 

“Sections of the law allow for dispute resolution between local and central government however this demonstration of brute force is an example of a dysfunctional society where rule of law doesn’t prevail.”

Mayor Bensouda added: “Today for the first time in history I saw national police shove and push against Municpal Police. A great shame orchestrated by the Executive.

“We have called an emergency general council this morning however we will continue to exercise our powers which are directly drawn from the mandate of the people.

“I call on the President of the republic who is head of the executive Branch to withdraw the police from council grounds and respect the decision of the council. 

“I will continue to keep all updated as the matter unravels. I urge all residents of KM to continue to keep calm as the council tries to resolve the situation amicably.”