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Army announces pre-deployment training for GAMCOY 23 which will involve troops engaging in firing

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The military on Friday announced it will conduct the final phase of a pre-deployment training for GAMCOY 23 starting on Sunday August 23.

In a statement shared with The Fatu Network, the military said a live firing exercise will take place at the Lance Corporal Bojang’s Range in Brikama as part of the training. It will culminate in troops moving to the forward operating base in Yundum.

“However, while at the Forward Operating Base in Yundum, the use of blank ammunition during the exercise will be done. Therefore, the general public especially residents living around Brikama, Yundum, Banjulinding, Sinchu, Jabang, Jambur and other satellite villages are urged not to panic and are urged to go about their normal businesses,” the army said.

GAMCOY 23 is being readied for deployment to Dafur.

Sabach Sanjal and her Greats Sons in Gambian Politics

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Sabach Sanjal is one of the most popular and well-known constituencies in the North Bank Region of the Gambia, it has a combination of Fifty-Seven Villages (57) and a diversity of ethnic tribes. 

It is a Wolof dominated constituency constituting a total of Thirty-Three (33) Wollof villages,  Fulas with Thirteen (13) Villages and Eleven (11) Mandinka Villages. In terms of population, the Wolof sit on top of the strata and constitute the highest proportion of inhabitants, followed by the Mandinka and the Fulas. Albeit,  the Fulas have more villages than the Mandinka it is not a reflection of population dominance in this context.  However, there exists a unique tribal cohesion amongst the existing groups and this paradigm is translated towards promoting development and unity within Sabach Sanjal.

Sabach Sanjal as a constituency has some very unique and distinctive features that make it a stand out community in North Bank and The Gambia at large.  

Given the brief political trajectory of Sabach Sanjal, It has always been a political hub in both pre and post-independence Gambia in North Bank Region, although it shared the same administrative jurisdiction with the rest of the constituencies in the 1960s. 

That is to say, the first National Assembly Member of Sabach Sanjal, between 1960 to 1966 was Sheriff Mustapha Dibba from Sallikeni in Central Badibou. During his political representation,  Badibou was represented as one constituency with Sabach Sanjal and Kerewan both inclusive. He was succeeded by Yusupha Samba from 1966 to 1971 a native of Kani Kunda Village currently within  Sabach Sanjal’s vicinity.

The last National Assembly Member of Sabach Sanjal under the PPP regime was Saikou Sabally from a village called Kataba from 1972 to 1994. He held numerous portfolios serving one-time as Vice President, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Finance and Defence Minister of the Gambia.  Saikou is considered a political icon for the people of Sabach Sanjal whose love and adoration for Saikou Sabally remains increasingly palpable.

Entering the second phase of Gambia’s political history which marked the dawn of military dictatorship in 1994, political participation for the people of Sabach has never dwindled. 

The first Member of Parliament in the Second Republic was Hon. Kebba Lang Camara of Sara Kunda, he served two terms in office from 1997 to 2006 under the banner of the ruling party Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC). His closest opponent during the 1997 Parliamentary election came from the United Democratic Party. It was set to be a stiff contest for Lang in his native Village of Sarra Kunda because he shared the same grandparent with his arch-rival during the election named Yankuba Camara.

Kebba Lang won the election that year as a result of his hard work and years of services for the people of Sabach Sanjal. However, Kebba would go on to contest  the 2001 election unopposed for his second term representing Sabach Sanjal in the National Assembly. He was trusted and loved by former president Yahya Jammeh and many other prominent Gambians within the political spectrum. 

Kebba Lang was succeeded by  Ousman Bah,  a native of Farato village, who served from 2007 until the change of government in 2017. Currently, Ousman Touray who ran under the National Reconciliation Party serves as the National Assembly member for Sabach Sanjal Constituency, he has already served four years of his first five-year term in office. 

It is without contestation that Sabach Sanjal is renowned for supporting incumbents  and this syndrome has been its political adventure for decades in Gambian politics. The trajectory is understood to be a declaration prayer made by a respected Marabou (Woliyoo) that political victory is only for those in support of the ruling party. Since then records have substantiated the fact that incumbent political parties enjoyed a tremendous record of winning elections in the constituency over the years. 

However, it is uncertain, with the current saturation of the political space that this phenomenon will continue to define politics in Sabach Sanjal, but what is likely is that the art of politicking will dramatically change from the previous arrangement and that elective position is expected to be highly contested.

Since independence a lot of people from Sabach were instrumental and their personas are glorified nationwide. To start,  Mr Momodou Sabally is a son of Kataba Village who has served at a very young age in high-level government positions in the Gambia, previously serving as Secretary-General, Head of Civil Service and Minister for Presidential affairs, and Secretary General of the APRC. He is a dynamic young leader who has contributed immensely to uplifting a lot of young people in the Gambia. 

Another prominent politician from Sabach Sanjal is Mr Malang Saibo Camara, Mr Camara has been a teacher for many years before he contested and won elections to become the Chairman of Janjangbureh Area Council from 2002 to 2007. He also served as Deputy Governor of Central River Region from 2010 to 2017. 

Omar Saibo Camara

A native of Sanjal Sara kunda

Political Science, UTG

Social Researcher.

President Barrow and his fellow Ecowas leaders discuss Mali at emergency summit

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President Adama Barrow and fellow Ecowas leaders on Thursday held an emergency summit over Mali.

Mali has been thrown into political uncertainty following the sacking of Ibrahim Boubacarr Keita by the army.

Ecowas as a bloc has condemned the military takeover and a number of Ecowas leaders including President Macky Sall of Senegal have spoken out against the army’s action.

The virtual meeting of Ecowas heads of state and government has ended.

Lovette Jallow claps back at the government by branding claims she’s tarnishing the image of the government as ‘untrue’

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By Fatou Camara II

Lovette Jallow the woman helping Gambian women in Lebanon home has reacted to claims she is tarnishing the image of the government.

Lovette had accused the government of shutting its door to her over the issue of the women.

Gambian women in Lebanon on Thursday protested outside the Gambian consulate in Beirut in their desperate push to return home. Some that took part in the protest told The Fatu Network the consul said he had been directed not to speak to Lovette because she was tarnishing the government’s image.

Lovette Jallow in a rejoinder however told The Fatu Network: “This has been ongoing for nine months with no progress. I only joined in a week ago when I was contacted by the women. So I am not the problem am i?

“I stand ready with my bank account to pay for the tickets. I am not asking for anything from the government but their emergency papers.

“To allege that I am tarnishing the government is untrue. I film and record all my conversations so you all can make your own decisions.

“If it was not for Covid I would be in Beirut right now. Instead I keep in touch daily with the women.

“The consulate doesnt want to get in contact with me because I know the real truth behind all this even if I dont speak it out loud. And because I know what many of you dont I want my people out of Lebanon as soon as possible.”

‘We don’t need Mr Khalid’: ‘About 40’ Gambian girls in Beirut call for consul’s head as they hold protest in front Gambian consulate over their demand to return home

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By Fatou Camara II

About 40 Gambian girls in Beirut on Thursday held a protest in front of the Gambian consulate in the Lebanese capital demanding assistance from the government in returning home.

One of the protester women told The Fatu Network. “We come out because we want to come home regardless of who is helping us but Mr Khalid the consul said he cannot do any transaction with the only woman who is trying in us coming back.

“He said that this is because he received directions from the Gambia government that he should not speak to Lovette because she is tarnishing the name of the government and that Lovette is gaining money out of this.

“But we told him that we are not interested about what Lovette Jallow gain or not gain all we know is that she is helping us come back home and that’s the only thing we are interested in.”

The protest comes as the ministry of foreign affairs confirmed to The Fatu Network 36 emergency passports have been prepared ahead of a plan to evacuate the girls.

36 emergency passports are prepared as government finally swings into action in getting Gambian women in Lebanon evacuated

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By Fatou Camara II

The Gambia government has swung into action in getting distressed Gambian women in Lebanon evacuated.

Dozens of Gambian women working in Lebanon have asked the government to help them return home as they continue to face difficulty surviving in the country.

The women who are in groups and often crowded in small rooms had earlier this month told The Fatu Network the coronavirus pandemic coupled with a massive explosion a few weeks ago which killed 135 people have compounded matters for them in the country.

“The consul isn’t telling us anything clear. We’re here suffering and don’t have anything to eat. We’re here crowded in one room. We want to come home. It’s a lot of us and we’re in groups. In our group we’re seven,” Mariama, 30, who is one of the women had told The Fatu Network earlier this month.

On Thursday, the women staged a protest outside the Gambian consul’s office in Beirut demanding assistance.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Saikou Ceesay told The Fatu Network efforts were at an ‘advanced’ stage for the women to be evacuated.

“Efforts are underway and are at an advanced stage to repatriate the girls, for them reunite with their families and loved ones,” Mr Ceesay said.

He quickly added: “As at now, 36 emergency passports have been prepared and ready, working on their repatriation in due course but I cannot give you any specific timeline as of when we can expect them in the country.”

Macky Sall blasts Colonel Goita’s coup by saying act is a violation of Ecowas’ protocol on democracy and good governance

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Senegal leader Macky Sall has blasted a coup in Mali saying it is a violation of Ecowas’s protocol on democracy and good governance.

“The coup de force against a democratically elected President is a violation of ECOWAS’s protocol on democracy and good governance. We strongly condemned him,” Mr Sall insisted on his official Facebook page on Thursday.

The Senegalese president added: “We must act with responsibility and speed to prevent Mali from falling into an institutional vacuum and a political deadlock.”

Covid-19 cases hit 2,400 after 113 fresh cases are seen

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One hundred and thirteen new cases of coronavirus have been registered taking the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 2,401.

According to health ministry on Thursday, 309 people have been newly tested out of which 113 people tested positive

The median age of the new cases is 37 years (range: 1 to 91 years), the health ministry said.

Coronavirus: Deaths now at 81 as four die

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Four new COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded bringing the total number of deaths to 81, according to the ministry of health on Thursday.

“Samples from all 4 deceased cases (3 males and 1 female) were collected posthumously,” the health ministry said.

It added: “Out of the 6 posthumous sample results received, 1 returned positive, 3 tested inconclusive and 2 were negative for COVID-19.”

IBK’s nemesis shows himself: Colonel Assimi Goita emerges as head of Mali junta

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Army colonel Assimi Goita has been introduced as Mali’s new military strongman after a mutiny forced President Boubacar Keita out of power.

“Let me introduce myself, I am Colonel Assimi Goita, chairman of the National Committee for the salvation of the People,” he said Wednesday.

He led the coup that ousted the president.

There’s still no word on what will happen to Mr Keita going forward.

Coup leaders in Mali faced mounting international pressure on Wednesday, a day after they ousted Mr Keita following months of protests.

The African Union (AU) suspended Mali and joined Europe and the US in demanding the new-born junta free the 75-year-old president, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other leaders taken captive.

The coup chiefs, meanwhile, called on the public to return to normal life, warned against acts of “vandalism” and threatened to punish any soldier found guilty of extortion. (Agency Report)

The Jawara Administration was a Moonwalk: shall we tell Papa Njie?

It is logically incoherent to argue that politicians will only be noble if they stop seeing power as a reason for their politics. As head of a political party, PPP’s Papa Njie, must understand that any political movement, whether noble or ignoble, needs ambition, and power, to make a practical change! This is why I was shocked when I saw the PPP leader’s statement on today’s issue of the Standard: “Only Jawara’s Legacy can Save The Gambia.”

In his attempt to glorify his party’s founding father, Sir Dawda Jawara: “someone who will not want to harm anybody” Mr. Njie exposed how Sir Dawda was comfortable and never wanted to disrupt the status quo; a corrupt political class, a sclerotic bureaucracy, a heartless economy, a divided and distracted public that had gone untreated for more than two decades. Our people had learned to live, uncomfortably, with the manipulative political equation of the Jawara Administration.

Jawara’s Legacy cannot save the Gambia, he left a bad political tradition; with the advantages of incumbency; he had state resources at his disposal, using government vehicles for campaigning purposes, and his unflinching encouragement of traditional authorities to exert pressure on electorates to support his administration.

How can a legacy of political correctness, economic downturn, and deliberate control of the state media save a country? This was a government that used libel lawsuits to oppress prominent journalists sending many to Mile 2 central prisons.

President Jawara’s original intent was not to be a “unifier” as Popa Njie suggested!

No! Jawara’s style of politics was based on coalitions, because he thought he needed to form alliances with the urban Wollofs and Aku who dominated the bureaucracy. He sought to please these people and coax them to be on his side because, otherwise, their administrative skills could used to undermine his crumbling government. It was political.

It’s a glaring fact that under Jawara’s Administration the poor majority of Gambians were forced to make the choice to sell their voters’ cards in exchange for resources needed for daily sustenance. Voter – buying became a booming business for politicians, in the Gambia.

Jawara’s administration was a moon-walk; it gave an impression that things were moving forward, when they were actually getting backward. We don’t need that legacy to salvage us! We need a serious leader with impeccable moral standing, intellectual apptitude, and a blueprint that suits our downright realities, to save our country!

Bub S Njie,

Research Assistant,

Centre for Research and Policy Development.

On Scholastic Aptitude and Natural Wit: Tribute to Imam Tafsir Gaye

It was the great poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who famously penned this reassuring truth:

“Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time;”

This is the truth about all great men, but more so for those who took the decision to work and contribute to human progress through the profession of teaching. The late Imam Tafsirr Gaye has surely left his own footprints on the sands of our times and many of us will continue to see his brilliant footprints as guiding lighthouses and beacons of hope as we take our own paths towards self-actualisation and service to humanity.

The late Imam, a graduate of the prestigious Al-Ahzar University in Egypt, was a teacher of Islamic studies at many institutions, including, the famous Saint Augustine’s High School where his path crossed with that of my good friend Ebou Ndure (currently serving as Imam in Ireland).

Ebou and I met through a mutual friend, Omar Mbowe, while we both did our Advanced level studies in Banjul. At the time my desire for further Quranic studies was being kindled as I compared the effort I put into my regular academic studies against time spent on religious studies. I arrived at the conclusion that investing a maximum of 10 percent of the time and energy I devoted to school into the study of the Holy Quran would yield immeasurable dividend. My firenship with Ebou Ndure became the catalyst for me to embark on that Journey.

At the time, Ebou was very close to Imam Gaye and he was part of a group that would converge at the Imam’s house on weekly basis on Thursdays and Fridays in the evening at the Imam’s residence in Banjul, Lancaster street. I lived at Boxbar road and having finished my 6th form at Gambia High, I became a regular visitor for these sessions of studies and lectures with the Imam. Thursdays were for studying the Quran, especially for novices like myself; and on Fridays we would gather and the Imam would do a lecture-cum-sermon.

There were senior ‘talibes’ (students) there as well. Ustass Abdourahman Sowe was one of them; he was specifically assigned by the late Imam to give me intensive lessons in Arabic phonics so that I could speed up my learning of the Quran. By this time I had had many forays into Quranic studies but all such studies were on part time, mainly during weekends and evenings after school on week days. I had the privilege of studying with such luminaries like the late Pa Ablie of Primet Street, the late Ustass Babacarr Njone, and the master of the traditional Quranic school in Lamin, the late Jamanty Jammeh. May Allah grant them all His eternal Grace and Mercy.

My studies with Imam Tafsir Gaye became a huge catalyst for the life-long Quranic studies I was to embark on. After a few weeks, I had grasped a good mastery of the Arabic phonics and with encouragement and consistent support from my friend Imam Ebou Ndure I gradually became quite well efficient with recitation of the Holy Quran in the original Arabic text.

It was a blessing to sit before Imam Tafsir Gaye and listen to him preach about Islam. His understanding of the religion, coupled with his eloquence and peerless wit was awe-inspiring. He always had a unique way of explaining the deeper meanings of the Quranic verses. His insight into current issues were also enlightening. Throughout those lesssons, his love of the late Imam Ratib Abdoulie Jobe always manifested itself.

Anytime I listened to Imam Gaye make a speech, my respect and admiration for his intellectual dexterity increased. He always rose to the occasion with the perfect witty aphorisms to match the situation being addressed. And thus I was as much amazed by what he said as I was curious about how much more wisdom I could still tap from his inexorable intellectual endowment.

This morning, I went into my electronic archives to retrieve the video of my graduation from the Gambia’s first ever university programme. Imam Tafsirr Gaye was the one to have had the honour to bless that occasion. Clad in a gown, he delivered a beautiful prayer that would touch even those of us who could not understand the Arabic language. He had a gift of oratory; his words came out with a unique cadence.

My first encounter with the late Imam was an occasion about the Quran; my own reinvented journey with the Greatest Book of all times. My last encounter with him was also about the Quran. We had converged at the residence of the late legendary football hero Biri to recite the Quran as part of the rites of his demise. Let me clarify here that the late Imam was properly clad with a protective mask and the gathering was not a big one.

I took several pictures of him from a distance. It was a pleasure to see him hold the Quran, reading it. And he was granted the honour of reciting the prayer that caps off the recitation of the ‘Qamil’ called the ‘khatm’; at the end of the ceremony the Imam Ratib of Banjul, Imam Cherno Kah, gave some words of advice concerning the need for unity in the country as he decried inflammatory and derogatory speeches in our current political debates. He then asked Imam Gaye to also give some words of advice regarding that matter.

I was all ears when Imam Tafsir Gaye started speaking. And surely I was not disappointed. He reiterated the Imam Ratib’s admonition and then made reference to verses 13-14 of the 17th chapter of the Quran: “And We have made every man’s actions to cling to his neck, and We will bring forth to him on the resurrection day a book which he will find wide open: Read your book; your own self is sufficient as a reckoner against you this day.”

You just had to hear the late Imam’s inspiring enunciation of the foregoing pair of verses in Arabic to be able to fully appreciate what he was saying. Yet his explanation of the first verse in Wolof was equally amazing. He warned us that the modern microphones that media practitioners would clip to our shirts close to our necks is quite emblematic of the statement “And We have made every man’s actions to cling to his neck…” he then advised that people should speak words of truth with decency and respect.

His speech was so touching and profound that I wanted to write an essay about it. My reverence and love for the Quran would not allow me to jump into such an assignment without some more research. I went home and recited the full Chapter (Surah Isra) from which the late Imam quoted that verse just to have a better appreciation. I shared the relevant verse on social media and I kept meditating about it but never got to have enough time to write an essay.

As the late Imam Tafsir Gaye begins his journey into the next world, his Quranic quotations and witty statements will continue to reecho in my mind and heart, inshaa Allah.

They will continue to be useful gems in my mission of education and inspiring young people around the world. Hopefully, those youths would make good use of the little I was able to gather from the immense reservoir of knowledge that was Imam Tafsir Gaye. I would continue to use some of these guiding principles in my own affairs. And that is the beauty of having been blessed with the company of enlightened beings like Imam Gaye. May Allah illuminate his path with the light of the Quran and grant him blissful repose in Jannatul Firdaus.

Truly he did his work and we shall continue to pray for Allah to shower him with His Grace and Mercy as we take inspiration from the footprints he left behind; in the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

“Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.”

Amen.

Momodou Sabally

Ebrima Sanneh escapes being seized as a group of unidentified men allegedly attacks him while leaving his friend’s house

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Fatou Camara II

The man who allegedly got hit on his private part with a hoe by top police officer Gorgi Mboob has allegedly escaped the clutches of a group of unidentified men.

Twenty-six-year-old Ebrima Sanneh was returning home from friend singer ST’s house when a small car allegedly appeared in front of his car. The incident allegedly happened on Tuesday at around 7:50pm in Bijilo 2Ray’s Junction.

Ebrima told The Fatu Network: “I was just from ST’s house with a friend, as I get to the highway, there comes this car intercepting me. [It’s] a small vehicle with tinted glasses. [It’s a] Mazda, to be specific dark ash coloured. [It] suddenly hits the brake, all doors were opened and these tough muscular men approached me saying, ‘hey boy dont move’.

“They are about five to six men who rushed towards me and one of them managed to open my driving side door trying to grab my arm. But I hit my acceleration and drove off very fast. I was pursued for a while but I managed to escape.”

Police spokesman Suprintendent Lamin Njie told The Fatu Network the police did not receive any official complaint of the incident.

“We did not get any official report about the incident yet but if you get in contact with him please tell him to report to the nearest police station so that we can dig into the issue really and see what is going on,” the police spokesman said.

Ebrima’s friend could not be immediately reached for comment on what he saw.

Coronavirus cases go up further as health ministry discovers 172 new cases after testing 524 people

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The ministry of health has discovered a fresh 172 new cases of coronavirus after testing 524 people.

According to the ministry the development represents a 33% test positivity rate (172 out of 524 total tests performed).

The median age of the new cases is 36 years (range: 2 months to 94 years), the ministry added.

The nation’s cases of the disease now stands at 2,288.

13 men and one woman are latest to die of coronavirus taking fatalities to 77

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Fourteen people have newly died from coronavirus, according to the ministry of health on Wednesday.

In national situation report No. 122, the health ministry said “not all the said deaths occurred on a single day as sampling dates spanned from the 14th to the 17th August (14th- 6 samples; and 4 samples apiece for the 15th and 17th)”.

“Samples of all 14(13 males and 1 female) were collected posthumously. The median age, at death, of the cases (12 positives and 2 indeterminates) is 61 years (range: 26 to 90 years),” the health ministry said.

Family seek help in finding man after their father can’t find peace after taking his money

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A Vellingara, Casamance family is seeking help in finding a man as their father fights for his life after taking money from him.

Ablie Amat Sey, 70, took Sanna Sonko’s money early this year and left for Vellingara, a town near Tambacounda in Casamance.

His 32-year-old son told The Fatu Network the incident happened some six months ago.

“My father returned to Vellingara in February this year but he has been sick and has been calling the man’s name; that he wants to apologise to him but also return his money,” the son said.

He added: “The man’s name is Sanna Sonko and he used to live at Bundung near the school which is right around the car park. My dad said he was working for a betting company in Gambia.

“I just returned from Gambia yesterday and couldn’t find the man. I looked everywhere, I asked everywhere and people say he moved out of the house he was living in in Bundung and they don’t know where he is now.”

Anyone with knowledge about Sanna Sonko’s whereabouts can contact 2184870 or 00221764280511.

 

Senegal: Man goes to media house to fight as his marriage collapses following an interview

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SeneNews came under attack from a man following an interview that caused his wife to leave him, according to Senego.

Senego reported on Tuesday a man simply referred to as Mbissane had gone to SeneNews offices following an interview that tragically ended with his marriage getting ruined.

Mbissane had agreed to be interviewed alongside his wife on SeneNews’s show Influence but caused himself all manner of marital problems after he confessed he had slept with his wife’s friend. His wife then left him following a shock husband-wife fight that started live on air.

Mbissane blames the outlet for his woes and has gone to its office to fight the staff, according to Senego.

After sensationally taking IBK apart, Mali coup leaders announce ‘civilian’ political transition plan

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Mali’s new military rulers have promised “a civilian political transition” that will lead to a general election after a “reasonable time”.

In a short televised statement on Wednesday morning, the soldiers who are now in charge of the country after a military coup on Tuesday said they were “not interested in power but in the health of the nation” but had intervened because of growing “chaos, insecurity and anarchy”.

In the name of the National Committee for the WellBeing of the People, Col Maj Ismaël Wagué promised polls to “give Mali strong institutions capable of better managing our everyday lives and restoring confidence between the governed and the governors”.

The intervention on national media came at the end of a fast-moving and chaotic day, which had started with reports of a minor mutiny and ended with the deposition of the president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

At about midnight, Keïta, whose second term in office had a further three years to run, announced his resignation, as well as the dissolution of the government and the national assembly. (Guardian)

Breaking news: IBK wilts before army’s furnace: Keita announces his resignation as Mali President hours after his arrest

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Ibrahim Boubacarr Keita has announced his resignation as president of Mali hours after his arrest by the army.

Mr Keita speaking on state television ORTM late Tuesday said he was resigning in the interest of peace. He said he doesn’t want bloodshed.

GTU rails at Bwiam Ecomig checkpoint but group also issues warning it will react if government doesn’t give them their seized trucks

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Gambia Transport Union said on Tuesday drivers in the country are encountering pain over an Ecomig checkpoint in Bwiam.

The union’s president Omar Ceesay told journalists the checkpoint was causing accidents – as he called on the government to look into it.

“The location of the checkpoint is totally bad. The number of accidents that happened there is more than 10 accidents,” Mr Ceesay said.

He added: “Government gave us assurance they will do something about it but still nothing has been done. We cannot sit while the properties of our members are being destroyed. We cannot swallow this.”

The Gambia Transport Union also expressed frustration over 19 of their trucks that have been seized while conveying timber.

Mr Ceesay said: “Over three months, Senegalese soldiers had the trucks unlawfully. They were not taken to court. And then we discussed with the authorities and the matter was put before the courts.

“They were found guilty and on July 16, the [Brikama Magistrates] Court made an order for the vehicles to be released while the matter of the timber continues before the court. But since 16 July to today, those vehicles are in custody.

“We cannot continue to swallow this. We want the Gambia government to release our vehicles as soon as possible or we will react against them.”

 

 

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