By Landing Ceesay
His Excellency Sheikh Omar Faye, the Gambian Ambassador in Mauritania, has instructed his Deputy Ambassador, Jerreh Jammeh, to transfer authority to Hon. Saikouba Jarjou as his successor.
In a letter dated April 23, 2024, addressed to Deputy Ambassador Jerreh Jammeh and obtained by Kerr Fatou, Ambassador Sheikh Omar Faye requested that Jerreh Jammeh limit his activities at the Gambian Embassy in Mauritania.
The letter emphasized the need for a smooth transition of responsibilities to Saikouba Jarjou, who has been appointed as the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Chancery at the Gambia Embassy in Nouakchott. The handover process is expected to be completed by Friday, April 26, 2024. Ambassador Faye expressed gratitude for Jerreh Jammeh’s service and extended well wishes to him and his family upon their return home.
“Further to the Notice of Recall referenced MEA/P/1004430(60-AEB) dated 2nd February 2024, and Recall Letter referenced MEA/P 1004430 (69) dated 23rd April 2024, I am urging you to wine down your activities at the Embassy and successfully handover to Saikouba Jarjou now appointed as Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Chancery of the Gambia Embassy in Nouakchott.
“In this regard, you are requested to successfully hand over and transfer all files and keys of the office of the Deputy Head of Mission to Saikouba Jarjou. Please be informed that handing over is to be completed on Friday 26th April 2024. On behalf of the staff and on my own behalf we thank you for your service and wish you and your family a safe return home,” Ambassador Faye wrote to his Deputy Jerreh Jammeh.
Additionally, Kerr Fatou obtained another letter addressed to Deputy Ambassador Jerreh Jammeh, this time from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad. Dated April 23, 2024, this letter ordered Jerreh Jammeh to return to the Gambia by April 30, 2024. The Foreign Affairs Ministry referenced an earlier recall letter (MEA P004430/(65-AEB)) from February 2, 2024, which mandated Jerreh Jammeh’s immediate return to home service. The letter requested details of Jerreh Jammeh’s dependents for travel arrangements to report to headquarters.
“With reference to the Ministry’s letter MEA/P004430/(65-AEB) of 2nd February 2024, regarding the decision to recall you to home service with immediate effect, you are kindly requested once again to submít details of your dependents for travel arrangements to report to Headquarters latest 30th April 2024. Your cooperation on this matter is highly solicited,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry ordered Deputy Ambassador Jerreh Jammeh.
These two letters were dispatched to Deputy Ambassador Jerreh Jammeh within 24 hours of Kerr Fatou’s publication about the turmoil at the Gambian Embassy in Mauritania.
Furthermore, an insider at the Gambian Embassy revealed that Hon. Saikouba Jarjou, a former National Assembly Member for Busumbala Constituency, is allegedly collaborating with Ambassador Sheikh Omar Faye (former Minister of Defense) to remove Jerreh Jammeh from his position as Deputy Ambassador.
Hon. Saikouba Jarjou, who suffered defeat in the 2022 Parliamentary Elections, had previously been appointed as the First Secretary at the Gambian Embassy in Mauritania by His Excellency Adama Barrow on August 22, 2022.
During the investigation into the chaos at the Gambian Embassy, our reporter obtained a recall letter addressed to Deputy Ambassador Jerreh Jammeh from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad. This recall letter, dated February 2, 2024, informed Jerreh Jammeh of the decision to recall him for home service from his tour of duty in Mauritania.
The letter instructed him to wind up his activities at the duty post and make necessary arrangements for his return to Banjul. Jerreh Jammeh was also asked to provide quotations for air tickets, repatriation of family members, and transportation of personal effects. The Ministry expressed gratitude for his service and conveyed their highest consideration.
“This is to inform you of the decision to recall you for home service from your tour of duty as Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Chancery at the Gambian Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania with immediate effect. You are therefore requested to immediately wind up your activities at your duty post with a view to returning to Banjul.
“In the interim, you are to immediately provide Headquarters with three (3) quotations for the procurement of air tickets for your return, the repatriation of your family, and for the transportation of your personal effects. I, therefore, take this opportunity on behalf of the Hon. Minister and the entire staff of this Ministry to thank you for the service rendered to the state while on tour of duty and to renew to your esteemed person. the assurances of our highest consideration,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a letter.