After eight months of bitter row over the vacant alkalo post in Latrikunda Yiringana, the residents are now to decide for themselves the candidate they want to lead the community.

This comes after failed mediation efforts by the Kanifing Municipal Council couldn’t over the successor of the late alkalo Alhagie Amadou Faal who passed away in March. The municipality ordered residents of the community to decide for themselves by signatures.

KMC chief mediator and director of compliance, Dembo Sanneh told journalists after the close door meeting: “the outcome of the meeting is that both parties were given all the privileges to go and sit in camera and discuss how to give to one another. But unfortunately, none of them wanted to give to the other one.”

“Now our final discussion is that to give each one them a form to be endorsed by the community of Latrikunda. Whoever emerge, the number of yard owners will be available to come, it’s not an election. They should be endorsed by the yard owners,” he added.

Meanwhile, according to Mr Sanneh, the two parties are given a week to come back to the municipality with their results before the Ministry of Local Government will intervene in approving the winner.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba