The secretary general at the Office of the President, Salimatou Touray, is leading a high-level investigation team in Cuba to probe reports of economic malfeasance and an alleged fracas between Ambassador Sheikh Tijan Hydara and his deputy, Vincent Mendy.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on January 25 in the ambassador’s office in Havana, involved heated altercations that escalated into a physical tussle. Both officials have been recalled but are yet to return to Banjul.
The news was first reported by online portal What’s On Gambia and has since been widely covered by various media outlets in the country.
A source confirmed to The Standard that the investigation team is particularly focused on the alleged financial maladministration, following a tip-off from the embassy’s bank in Cuba regarding certain suspicious transactions from the embassy’s account to personal accounts.
In the current setup at Gambian missions, ambassadors are not signatories to accounts. However, deputy ambassadors, financial attachés, and first secretaries are authorized signatories. It remains unclear which officials are involved and the extent of their involvement.
The investigative team in Havana includes senior government officials such as Lang Yabou, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Alhagie Jallow from the Accountant General’s Office; and auditors Bernard Mendy and Haddy Sanneh.
When contacted for comment, PS Yabou stated, “We are trying to put the pieces together regarding the issue to be able to understand what exactly happened,” but declined to provide further details.
