Yaya Menteng Sanyang, the National Assembly Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, has threatened legal action against the Gambian ambassador to South Africa, Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, over a leaked audio recording in which she allegedly insulted members of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Ms. Jahumpa Ceesay has since apologised for her remarks, stating that she did not intend to hurt or disrespect UDP members.

However, the lawmaker for Latrikunda Sabiji rejected her apology, asserting that diplomats and public officials must conduct themselves within the rule of law and with decorum.

He referenced a law that prohibits insults against state officials and political elites, saying they intend to use that law as a basis for legal action against Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay.

“As I said before, we are going to pursue legal action against her. That is the only thing we can do. Because if you can remember, a law was recently enacted prohibiting insults against the political class in the execution of their duties,” he stated.

“I told her that this is not going to be easy, and we are not going to take this lightly. We will pursue all legal avenues available,” he added.

He expressed his disappointment in Jahumpa Ceesay, noting that he never imagined she would stoop so low as to insult an entire political party in the name of politics.

“Fatoumatta Jahumpa is someone I have been very close to. For her to go behind the scenes and insult all UDP members, both in The Gambia and in the diaspora, as a National Assembly Member, I cannot recover from the shock and disappointment, knowing the relationship I have with her. But that is not going to stop anything. We have quite a lot of options on the table right now,” he concluded.

By Adama Makasuba