Gambiaj.com – (Basse, The Gambia) – Mama Salieu Jallow has been elected unopposed as the new Chairperson of the Upper River Regional (URR) Youth Committee, following a turbulent and delayed elective congress marked by procedural disputes, a police intervention, and the arrest of a delegate.

Jallow, who previously served as the Committee’s Treasurer for four years, was elevated to the top post during an elective congress held in Basse on Saturday. Alongside him, Kumba Jallow was elected Vice Chairperson, Saikou Omar Khan as Treasurer, and Sarja Dampha as Public Relations Officer — all unopposed.

Despite the apparent consensus in the final outcome, the road to these results was anything but smooth. Scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM, the congress did not commence until after 5:00 PM due to serious allegations of electoral malpractice and organizational lapses.

Tensions erupted early in the day as delegates clashed over the legitimacy of the registration process. A central point of contention was the role of the outgoing Chairperson, Bubacarr Sidibeh, in admitting delegates into the congress hall — a task many believed should have been solely undertaken by representatives of the National Youth Council (NYC).

In a heated exchange, NYC Chairperson Ida Sambou was questioned by disgruntled delegates demanding clarity on how representatives were accredited. Sambou made it clear that the Council would no longer accept receipts issued by the outgoing committee as proof of renewed organizational status.

Instead, verification would be conducted against the NYC’s internal list of recognized youth organizations. She further revealed troubling signs of irregularities, including certificates with her forged signature.

As tensions escalated, all attendees were asked to vacate the hall for a fresh registration process to ensure transparency. This decision paved the way for previously disputed organizations to be properly vetted and allowed to participate.

However, the situation worsened when a delegate, Omar Drammeh, was arrested following disruptions during the adoption of the congress agenda. Drammeh allegedly demanded the removal of voters he considered ineligible and continued his disruptive conduct during a briefing by the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) commander. He was eventually escorted out of the venue and taken into custody.

The crisis reached a resolution at 17:11 GMT, when Deputy Governor Lamin Jaiteh concluded a closed-door meeting with NYC representatives, the Regional Youth Coordinator, and the outgoing Committee leadership. The meeting allowed the congress to finally proceed with the elections in a more orderly fashion.

While the day ended with uncontested elections and new leadership, the events of the congress laid bare deep-rooted issues in the administration and credibility of regional youth structures.

The National Youth Council’s assertion of stricter controls and vetting processes may mark the beginning of overdue reforms — but the incident also highlights the urgent need for transparent, rule-based systems to avoid political instability within youth bodies.

Meanwhile, Omar Drammeh, has been released on bail and plans to sue the Inspector General of Police for the brutal torture he suffered.

As Mama Salieu Jallow takes the helm of the URR Youth Committee, his leadership will likely be tested by the very fractures that surfaced during his election. Whether his tenure will bring unity and reform or further division remains to be seen.