By Adama Makasuba
A group of concerned Gambians has initiated a petition to oppose the nomination of Dr. Momodou Tangara, the current foreign minister, for the role of Commonwealth Secretary General.
The group aims to gather 500 signatures and has already secured 320. Once completed, the petition will be submitted to the Chair-in-Office of CHOGM, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and relevant Commonwealth authorities. Their primary objective is to thwart Dr. Tangara’s nomination.
The group is unwavering in its belief that its opposition to Dr. Tangara’s candidacy is hindering his appointment and holding public officials accountable for their actions. They emphasize that the ultimate power lies with the people, and their voices will not be ignored.
In their petition, the group has outlined that Dr. Tangara is unsuitable for the role, citing his involvement in misrepresenting human rights abuses during The Gambia’s dictatorship while serving as the Foreign Minister and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the United Nations.
Madi Jobarteh, the spokesperson for the petitioners, expressed that there are better candidates than Tangara to represent The Gambia as the Commonwealth Secretary-General, as he does not embody Commonwealth values. During The Gambia’s oppressive regime, Tangara defended the dictatorship in international forums, presenting it as the voice and image of The Gambia to the world. The group is steadfast in its commitment to upholding these values in its efforts against his nomination.
