A Gambian soldier who gained attention on social media for commenting on the country’s economic struggles has spoken out about his detention and subsequent dismissal from the military.
Corporal Ebrima Jammeh, whose viral TikTok video addressed economic difficulties, revealed in an interview that he was held at Fajara Barracks for two weeks before being dismissed without any benefits.
According to Jammeh, his superiors expressed disappointment over his video and summoned him to the barracks, where he was immediately detained by military police on orders from higher authorities. He remained in custody from February 17 until March 1, after which he was instructed to report back to the military police.
During his detention, Jammeh’s mother fell ill, but he was unable to visit her due to restrictions. He said fellow soldiers acknowledged that his statements were truthful but criticized him for making the video while in uniform. He explained that he did not realize speaking on national issues while in military attire could lead to such severe consequences.
After his release, he was informed by Sergeant Barrow that he had been dismissed from the army and needed to report back to work until March 3. Days later, he received his official dismissal letter.
Jammeh, who served in the military for 18 years, expressed shock and disappointment at losing his position without compensation. As a married man with five school-aged children, he described his current situation as desperate, saying he was struggling to support his family.
