Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Families of the three men arrested alongside fugitive former Gambian soldier Sanna Manjang have denied that their relatives had any hostile intentions toward The Gambia, insisting the trio were simple villagers involved in illegal charcoal-related activities, not rebellion.
The three detainees, identified as siblings Modou Badji (alias Gassama), Famara Badji, and Ansoumana Badji, were arrested in Senegal’s Casamance region last week with Manjang, a former member of the Gambia Armed Forces implicated in Yahya Jammeh-era abuses.
A sister of the men, who spoke to The Gambia Journal on condition of anonymity, said the family initially believed the trio had been detained for cutting timber and burning it into charcoal, an illegal practice under Senegalese law.
“Although our village is in a turbulent zone of the Casamance conflict, our brothers never joined the MFDC, nor do they have any ill intention against The Gambia,” she said, stressing that the Badji brothers had “always remained in Bassène” and lived ordinary lives with their families.
She explained that the three only met Sanna Manjang through the trade in logs and charcoal. “Sanna was just a partner in business,” she said, dismissing any suggestion of political or armed collaboration. She added that her brothers were unaware of Manjang’s past as a Gambian soldier and alleged hitman for former president Yahya Jammeh.
According to the family, Senegalese security forces informed them that the three siblings and Manjang had all been handed over to Gambian authorities. The claim was echoed by APRC diaspora activist Sulayman Shyngle Nyassi in an audio message posted on YouTube.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Abubacarr Sulayman Jeng told The Standard that those arrested with Manjang are “not of interest to The Gambia,” aligning with the family’s account.
However Mr. Jeng did not confirm that Sanna Manjang is currently under Gambian custody but instead said his “extradition process is currently being finalized.”
Despite the conflicting statements about the exact whereabouts of their relatives, members of the Badji family have travelled from Casamance to The Gambia to plead their case directly to authorities, insisting the three arrested men are neither rebels nor a threat to The Gambia’s national security.
