Five people have been arrested in an alkaloship brawl in Kombo Manduar which raised a nationwide concern as December polls edge closer.

Police had to fire teargas to disperse the angry villagers as fighting broke out between the two factions. 

The fight is believed to have been sparked by a rift over voter registration.  

“The IEC had designated a voter registration centre for Manduar. This centre is based at the Manduar Mandinka Kunda. But there is the other side which is Manduar Touba who have their own alkalo and this alkalo is a legally appointed alkalo also.

“So, the IEC realised that since they are both alkalos and there is one registration centre, they suggested that the two alkalos can come at the registration centre or maybe they can all be designated as people can give attestation in case there is anybody who needs attestation,” the police spokesman Lamin Njie said.

“But the people in the Mandinka area said that is not possible because the only recognised alkalo is their own alkalo, the other alkalo cannot participate in that process. 

“So, I understand that the other alkalo came with his table and stuff and they (Manduar Mandinka) came and disrupted the whole process and even instigated violence.

“This was why the police decided to intervene and deploy officers there and control the situation. So, in that process, five people have been arrested for obstruction related issues and their matters are under investigation,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba