Political Party, Rights Group Demand Accountability Over Imam Baba Leigh’s Tribal Remarks

Dawda Baldeh

Opposition leader Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly of the Gambia Action Party and civil society organisation the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice have demanded accountability over alleged tribal remarks made by Islamic cleric Imam Baba Leigh.

The opposition party and rights group warned that divisive rhetoric threatens national cohesion, insisting that public condemnation alone is insufficient to address growing ethnic friction in the country.

Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, Secretary General and party leader of the Gambia Action Party (GAP), strongly denounced the comments and urged immediate action against the cleric, who serves on the National Human Rights Commission.

“GAP condemns such barbaric and dangerous utterances that risk igniting violence,” Batchilly said, adding that no single ethnic group should be viewed as superior to another. “Imam Baba Leigh must issue an apology, and as a member of the National Human Rights Commission, he should be censured for his remarks.”

Meanwhile, the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFCRJ), headed by prominent human rights activist Madi Jobarteh, emphasized in a statement that the controversy points to a broader structural issue within Gambian politics and public discourse.

“The despicable tribal remarks by Imam Baba Leigh are not an isolated incident. Rather, they are a symptom of a deep, systemic fracture in The Gambia’s body politic and society,” the EFCRJ stated.

The organisation warned against the manipulation of ethnicity for political leverage, observing that tribal identity is increasingly being weaponised to gain access to power, privilege, and influence.

“The time for a tough, honest, and sincere national conversation is now,” the rights group declared, pointing to a historical pattern of controversial ethnic rhetoric by politicians and former President Yahya Jammeh. The centre also referenced a 2025 survey on hate speech, which identified Mandinkas as the most targeted ethnic group in the country.

Urging citizens to reject divisive rhetoric, the EFCRJ cautioned against public apathy. “We cannot just complain, give up, or become reactionary. We need a serious national conversation to rescue ourselves before it is too late,” the group added.