Sergeant Modou Saine, a former personal assistant to ex Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Mamat O. Cham, has levelled a new allegation against his former boss, this time, a controversial sale of coconut seedlings worth hundreds of thousands of dalasis.
Saine claimed that more than 400 coconut seedlings were sold to the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for about GMD 475,000. The seedlings were allegedly supplied for landscaping and beautification works carried out ahead of the 2025 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit.
According to Saine, the transaction was presented as an official supply by the Gambia Armed Forces. He alleged, however, that the seedlings originated from former President Yahya Jammeh’s coconut plantation and were obtained from the Wadner Beach nursery, which was being managed by the GAF Agricultural Task Force.
Saine further claimed that the sale was processed using documents issued in the name of a retired Staff Sergeant, identified as Kinteh. Although Kinteh now reportedly works as a flower vendor at the Abuko Nature Reserve, Saine alleged that he was used as the vendor in the transaction with the Civil Aviation Authority.
The former aide said Kinteh and General Cham had known each other for many years, dating back to their time in Kartong during the First Republic. He alleged that Kinteh’s paperwork was used to invoice the GCAA for the seedlings.
Saine also detailed how the proceeds were allegedly distributed. He claimed he was instructed to hand GMD 22,000 to Kinteh and deliver GMD 50,000 to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Abubacarr Jeng. He said he was not told the purpose of the latter payment.
In addition, Saine alleged that GMD 275,000 was deposited into a bank account belonging to General Cham, while the remaining funds were allegedly shared among members of the former CDS’s family.
The allegations have not been independently verified. At the time of publication, Lieutenant General Cham, the Gambia Armed Forces, and the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority had not publicly responded to the claims.
The latest allegations come as Saine has made a number of accusations in recent weeks, fueling public debate on accountability, procurement practices and oversight within the country’s security institutions.
