Gambiaj.com – (Ziguinchor, Senegal) – Omar Baitullah Sanneh, a prominent supporter of the APRC breakaway faction and vocal defender of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, has been detained in Senegal for over six weeks, sources report. Sanneh, known for his hardline social media commentary, was reportedly arrested by Senegalese military border patrol in the southern region of Ziguinchor.
Sanneh’s arrest has sparked surprise and concern among his faction’s supporters. Speaking in a WhatsApp group, an ally of the faction loyal to Jammeh remarked, “It’s been six weeks or so since Baitulai was arrested by a Senegalese military border patrol team, taken to Diouloulou, and then to Ziguinchor, where he is currently awaiting his fate.”
The precise reasons for Sanneh’s detention remain undisclosed. However, just hours before his arrest, he released controversial audio recordings accusing Yaya Tamba’s faction of incompetence and deception in their efforts to unify Jammeh’s supporters.
This is not Sanneh’s first run-in with Senegalese authorities. In June 2023, he was detained for allegedly making inflammatory statements against the governments of Gambian President Adama Barrow and Senegalese President Macky Sall. He was charged with espionage, conspiracy, threatening Senegal’s territorial integrity, and spreading false news before being released under undisclosed conditions.
Sanneh’s arrest highlights ongoing tensions within the APRC breakaway faction. The group, which split from the main APRC party following Jammeh’s 2017 exile to Equatorial Guinea, has fractured further into two antagonistic camps: one loyal to Yaya Tamba and another supporting the dismissed second deputy leader, Habib Secka.
While it remains unclear which faction Sanneh aligns with, the Yaya Tamba camp has downplayed Omar Baitullah Sanneh’s arrest, stating it would not affect their operations. Meanwhile, Sanneh’s supporters are reportedly raising funds to cover his legal expenses.
Sanneh’s prolonged detention underscores the heightened scrutiny faced by Jammeh loyalists in Senegal. As a staunch defender of the former president, Sanneh has used social media to amplify his views, often targeting political opponents and calling for unwavering allegiance to Jammeh.
Observers note that the arrest reflects broader regional sensitivities about political activism that could destabilize Senegal, which shares a porous border with The Gambia.
As Sanneh remains in custody, his legal fate hangs in the balance. For now, his supporters await clarity on the charges and outcomes of his detention, while tensions within the APRC breakaway factions continue to simmer.
