By: Binta Jaiteh
The Youth President of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Hajie Suwaneh, has responded to comments by the Minister of Agriculture, Demba Sabally, accusing the opposition party of politicizing the death of Solo Sandeng.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice Newspaper, Mr. Suwaneh said the UDP would continue to honor Solo Sandeng, stating that he died for the country’s democratic cause.
“This is a spirit that is in us. Even though Solo is not with us physically, the journey he started is still ongoing. We believe there must be comprehensive reforms in the constitution and the laws surrounding these issues,” he said.
He urged the minister to focus on his duties in the agriculture sector rather than commenting on opposition party activities.
According to Mr. Suwaneh, agriculture should be a key pillar of the national economy, but he said the sector is currently facing serious challenges.
“If the government was serious, a lot of issues would be addressed in a small country like ours,” he said.
He added that farmers are facing difficulties, particularly regarding the cost of fertiliser and other inputs. “Farmers are crying because of the cost of fertiliser and other issues. As a serious ministry, these are the matters the minister should address instead of engaging in social media exchanges. The economy is sinking, and people in rural areas are suffering,” he said.
Mr. Suwaneh further said there has been no meaningful transformation in the agricultural sector, adding that the ministry is failing to address key challenges.
He also said the government should ensure that Solo Sandeng’s memorial is officially observed, describing it as a national responsibility.
“He was tortured to death. Gambians achieved change in 2016 because of Solo’s blood. The government should acknowledge that rather than treating it as a political issue,” he said, adding that democratic and electoral reforms remain incomplete.
Mr. Suwaneh further claimed that recent electoral reforms fall short of expectations, saying they do not reflect the changes Solo Sandeng and others advocated for.
He urged citizens to vote wisely as the country approaches future elections.
