Speaking in a video shared on her Facebook timeline on Friday, Mrs. Sock clarified that one has to be a Gambian citizen exclusively to be a presidential candidate required under The Gambia law.
“To meet this requirement, I contacted the American Embassy in the Gambia last year, and again this year on several occasions for the purpose of renouncing my American citizenship. I appealed to a senior US Embassy official to accept my renunciation, to begin the process. However, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Embassy was not conducting any services except in emergency cases.”
She explained that she contacted the Embassy again as she felt her situation was qualified as an emergency case but was told that the Embassy was undergoing renovations and they couldn’t grant her request.
“They did not consider the matter a priority. I have been asking for further updates without any resolution. I have not been able to arrange a meeting for some reason. The officials at the embassy were not available to grant me a meeting.”
“Regrettably, today 5th November 2021, is the definite deadline by which all candidates need to have produced their documentation to the IEC. Legally until a renunciation is completed, I do not meet the requirement to continue my Presidential Campaign. I understand the deadline cannot be extended since there have been no exceptional circumstances under which an extension can be granted.”
