The lands minister made this allegation during the visit of Banjul Muslim elders to the president during the Koriteh feast. In reaction, Mr Jallow said he quite agreed with the comment for the other countries but not for The Gambia.
After hearing the comment of the Lands minister, livestock farmers in the country through NALOA consulted each other and concluded that “The Gambia does not fall into that category”, saying: “Gambia herdsmen do not deserve to be attributed to Jihadists nor terrorists; rather, they are countrymen of Gambia herdsmen, with law-abiding citizens who work very closely with the Government of the Gambia through the Ministry of Lands, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Interior for the stability of The Gambia.”
According to Mr Jallow, who spoke on behalf of the Gambia livestock value chain, the Lands Minister’s statement did not go down well with the Gambia livestock farmers.
“We are calling on the Lands minister to withdraw his statement on the Gambia livestock farmers,” he appealed, saying the statement is worrying to livestock dealers in The Gambia.
He also said that over the years since the establishment of NALOA in 2025, livestock farmers in the country have been working with the FAO, the Government of the Gambia through agricultural projects, the Ministry of Interior and other authorities at district level trying to sensitise the farmers on conflict management resolution to avoid conflict in their environment.
“Over the years, NALOA, which is the apex body of the livestock value chain in The Gambia, has been working very closely with regional governors and heads of villages sensitizing all on conflict management, which has yielded positive dividend,” Mr Jallow said.
He seized the opportunity to thank the Government of the Gambia for their cordial collaboration and cooperation in the maintenance of peace and stability.
“Livestock dealers will continue to be law-abiding and support government in the maintenance of peace and harmony in this country. Gambia herdsmen are not Jihadists or terrorists. We as livestock dealers will continue to play our role to the best of our ability in the best interest of The Gambia,” Mr Jallow said.
