The Hydara family geography in The Gambia and President Jammeh.
Understanding President Jammeh's styles and approaches means one should be methodical and observant. About two to three months back I wrote a story on the rivalry between Harry Sambou and Hydara the new Director of Jammeh's Intelligence agency. Of course we also predicted this ie if Jammeh were to have a problem with Harry Sambou it could as well be Hydara who will stay to replace him. Harry's worse enemy at the NIA was Hydara,at least that is what Harry believed in his head. He used that believe then sidelined Hydara and was working on every dirty scheme to frame the man. Hydara is the husband of Fatou Njie protocol officer attached to the first lady Zeinab Suma Jammeh. Life is so interesting. Today Hydara has been elevated. His predecessor hated him so much because of him being so close to the first lady through his wife Fatou Njie which we reported months back...Earlier on after having revealed this deep secret,there were sceptics. Hasn't the latest develpoment shown us the real picture? Then where do these sceptics place "Bulfaaleh' now? Of course I knew exactly what was waiting for Harry Sambou. Everything was and is still the plain truth because I work with President Jammeh everyday. I know what is happening on the ground. I am working with him not because I like what he is doing. Not all. I am working with him because that is the most ideal way for anyone to be able to gather more evidence within state house or The Gambia at large.
Where President Jammeh is playing with family blood. Or are they playing with themselves?
When one looks very closely at what President Jammeh is doing,what comes into mind? Sometimes what we see and hear is totally unthinkable,absurd,paradoxical and or completely crazy. Taking the case of the Hydaras as an example is most appropriate for the time being. President Jammeh has to be reminded that the Hydara family geography in The Gambia is not huge. However they are well known because of the stories linking them to the prophet of Islam.
We in Senegal and The Gambia believe that the Hydara are direct descendants of the Prophet therefore they can be easily located within our territory. There are Hydaras in Brikama,Brufut,Kerewan Baddibu,George Town or McCarthy Island and those in Darsilami Casamance. Locally they are known to be people who speak Mandingo but in appearnance they look exactly like the berbers from Mauritania. Over the years they have of course changed because of inter marriages.
This is why colour does not matter in Hydara-Kunda anymore.
President Jammeh is Shifting from one Hydara Kabilo to the other-why?
Locally Gambians who visit the Hydara marabouts know that in most cases there are bitter fights amongst these so-called grandsons and grand daughters of the Prophet. Usually the Shirif Kunda suffers from what Mandingos call..'Faadinyaa'. This is a bitter fact but is true.
President Jammeh capitalises on that when he picks and chooses from their family. First he had Sadibu Hydara a former military council member who died in jail as a result of severe torture. Next he appointed Sheikh Tijan Hydara from Brufut who was fired,rehired and then fired again. There are two Hydaras at the NIA. Mbemba Hydara from Kerewan and then now we have Hydara his cousin or uncle leading the NIA. Mbemba Hydara is different from the head of the NIA.
This means these Hydaras are fighting amongst themselves therefore using Jammeh as a tool or they are simply pretending to hate one another but underneath they are consolidating their family ties around Jammeh.
Hydara-operations around President Jammeh.
It is something we forget but should not leave unturned. Former Attorney General Sheikh Tijan Hydara crept behind the scenes and then married Lally Diab who is a former girl friend of President Jammeh. Why did he do so other than getting closer to Jammeh?
The new director of NIA Hydara also crept behind the scenes and got married to Fatou Njie protocol officer attached to the first lady. Why did he do other than getting closer to the big man?
The first in-laws of President Jammeh were the Hydaras because they claimed to be the parents of Tuti Faal. A lady who never wanted to get married to President Jammeh during his days as a poor soldier in depot.
Tuti was convinced by uncles and aunts to accept Jammeh,however love cannot be bought therefore she and Jammeh could not just be couples. He finally let her go. After Tuti's departure Jammeh hated everything Hydara-Kunda.
Years later ie in march 2006 he was still harbouring those grudges therefore wanted to capture and kill one of their uncles from Wassadou Foni,Shirifo Dino Hydara. He accused Dino Hydara of being the witch doctor of those who wanted to over throw him from power.
I think this will help people make something out of President Jammeh's puzzle within Hydara Kunda.