Halifa Sallah, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has expressed concern over the recent meeting between President Adama Barrow, his Cabinet, and Banjul Muslim elders. Sallah questioned the appropriateness of using a traditional religious gathering as a forum for political messaging.
Sallah acknowledged that both political leaders and religious figures are entitled to express their views. However, he stressed that the meeting deviated from its intended purpose by blurring the lines between religious tradition and political discourse. He noted that the practice of Banjul Muslim elders visiting the head of state following Eid prayers dates back to colonial times when citizens had little influence over their governance.
Since the democratic transition in 2016, Sallah argued, such meetings should focus on listening to public concerns and addressing national issues rather than being used to settle political scores. He recommended that religious and civic groups coordinate their messages before engaging with the executive, ensuring a clear and unified dialogue.
Sallah also suggested that the tradition could be modernized by incorporating interfaith dialogue, for example by inviting Christian representatives. He called for future interactions between the state and religious groups to be carefully planned and structured to promote national unity and constructive engagement.
