Fulbe Africa condemns Hamat Bah’s statement against herdsmen in totality.
FULBE AFRICA'S STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION AGAINST THE UTTERANCE OF HAMAT BAH
Fulbe Africa Organisation condemns in the strongest terms a recent statement made by Hon. Hamat NK Bah (Minister for Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs), on Sunday 30th, March, during the Banjul Muslim Elder’s Meeting at State House.
During this meeting, Hon. Hamat Bah made a dangerous statement attributing livestock herdsmen to the cause of violence and jihadist attacks within the sub region.
This statement is not only false and irresponsible to have come from a State Minster, but it is a statement capable of negativity stereotyping decent herdsmen/Fulbe people in The Gambia and West Africa at large. The Hon. Minister’s statement is misleading and very dangerous, as it unfairly stigmatizes the fulbe herdsmen and puts Fulɓe people and communities at risk of potential attack and resentment.
Furthermore, It is our believe that when leaders speak they should inspire hope and not to cause uncertainty and despair within the country. Hon. Bah’s statement is not backed by any credible report, evidence or intelligence linking fulbe herdsmen to the cause of unrest and violence in the sub region.
Fulbe people are known to be peaceful and law abiding while they continue to live in a peaceful cohabitation within themselves and with other ethnic groups. And contributing to the national economy and food nutrition through their livestock husbandry.
However it is noteworthy that today, the land that used to be for traditional livestock grazing is frequently being cleared for crop cultivation and settlement purposes across the country. Land available to livestock grazing is diminishing rapidly, leaving hundreds of thousands herd of cattle and small ruminants in starvation and death.
We therefore call on the ministry of lands and other responsible government departments to designate grazing lands all over the country to ease tension between different land users.
By this missive, we condemned in totality the statement made by Hon. Hamat NK Bah and calls for every peace loving individual to do the same.
Fulbe Africa Organization calls for the Hon. Minister to withdraw his dangerous statement and offer a public apology for his utterly false, misleading, and disappointing message against hardworking Gambians.
We, call on the Government of The Gambia to dissociate itself with the dangerous statement made by Hamat NK Bah and to urge him to openly apologize for his affront on fulbe.
“Pullo Fof Ko Pullo”
FULBE AFRICA
