By: Dawda Baldeh

The Secretary-General and leader of the Gambia Action Party (GAP), Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prioritize the interests of its member states over personal agendas.

He emphasized the need for ECOWAS to act firmly and impartially to preserve democracy and the rule of law amidst ongoing geopolitical crises within the region.

Batchilly highlighted that transparency, accountability, cooperation, and unity should be core principles of ECOWAS.

He urged the organization to promote a collective approach to regional challenges by fostering a sense of shared identity and common goals among member states.

He also stressed the importance of engaging with and listening to the voices of the youth, as they represent the future and should have a significant role in decision-making processes.

Furthermore, Batchilly argued that ECOWAS should reduce its dependence on former colonial powers and prioritize the genuine development and well-being of its member states.

He called for the pursuit of economic policies that promote self-sufficiency and sustainable socio-economic growth, ensuring that the region’s resources are utilized for the benefit of its people rather than for appeasing external actors.

Batchilly also urged ECOWAS to address specific instances where leaders within the region disregard democratic principles.

He cited the example of President Macky Sall of Senegal and his postponement of elections, which undermines democracy and sets a dangerous precedent.

He also expressed disappointment in leaders like President Tinubu of Nigeria, who he believes are influenced by external powers and fail to uphold the values of truth, democracy, and the rule of law.

To maintain credibility, Batchilly called on ECOWAS to take a strong stance against leaders who deviate from democratic principles.

He emphasized the need for the regional body to actively monitor and address instances of leaders being influenced by personal agendas or external pressures to protect democracy and the rule of law within member states.

In conclusion, the GAP leader stated that for ECOWAS to preserve democracy and the rule of law, it must prioritize transparency, accountability, unity, and youth engagement.

“By doing so, the organization can discourage self-centered actions, protect the interests of its member states, and promote genuine development and prosperity for all,” he concluded.

By Alieu Jallow

The High Court of The Gambia in Banjul, presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, has issued an order to Detective Ebou Sowe of the Police Anti-Crime Unit to provide the information diary for September 13th, 2023, following an application by defense counsel LK Mboge for the second accused person in the ongoing voir dire (preliminary trial).

The allegation pertains to the first accused person, Ousainou Bojang, who was allegedly beaten and drugged while in police detention.

During the cross-examination, Counsel LK asked the witness if the first accused person’s interactions with the panel of investigators were recorded.

In response, PW1 Ebou Sowe stated that he couldn’t confirm or deny whether the interactions were recorded or not. This contentious question sparked an objection from the Director of Public Prosecution, AM Yusuf, who appeared for the state.

He argued that the witness had already answered the question. However, Justice Jaiteh overruled the objection, stating that the witness was obliged to answer the question.

Justice Jaiteh also noted that the question was straightforward and that the state prosecution should not avoid addressing the matter.

“I don’t know whether it was recorded or not,” Sowe answered.

“Are you telling this court that throughout the interactions, you didn’t know what happened?” Counsel Mboge asked.

“I never said that. All I’m saying is, I do not know whether it was recorded or not,” Sowe responded.

During the trial, Counsel LK Mboge asked the witness if they could produce the information diary of the recording that took place on September 13th, 2023.

The witness confirmed that they would be able to produce it. However, senior counsel Lamin J Darboe, who was defending the first accused person, argued that during their client’s detention at the Anti-Crime Unit and up until their transfer to Mile Central Prison, no part of the interrogation process was recorded either via audio or video.

Detective Sowe confirmed that they had never personally recorded anything either via audio or video.

“I am putting to you that on that night, 14th September 2023, you offered coffee in a paper bag and in that coffee, there was a sense of drug that sent him to sleep within 5 minutes,” Counsel Darboe said.

Counsel J Darboe argued that the purpose of an independent witness was for transparency, but the police did not follow this procedure. Instead, they used their own agents to act as witnesses. However, the witness refuted the allegation that the police had ready-made independent witnesses and emphasized that this had never happened.

During the cross-examination, the state prosecution withdrew the cautionary statement that was dated September 14th, 2023. The case will resume on February 7th, 2024, in order for the witness to submit either the information diary or the station diary of the Police anti-crime unit that is dated September 13th, 2024.

By Alieu Jallow

The Family members of a man who was allegedly assaulted on Friday by two people in Sare Masong until he collapsed and became unconscious, leading to his death upon arriving at the Basse Health Centre, have called on the authorities to take stringent measures to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice.

According to his family, Bakary Sabally, who left two children behind, went shopping in Basse as part of the preparation for his daughter’s naming ceremony and it was during this event that he had some misunderstanding with the Chef De Garage.

During the back and forth, one of the drivers at the garage, according to the family account, hit him with an iron bar which led him to collapse, and was rushed to Basse Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead.

Dawda Sabally, the cousin of Bakary, expressed shock at the untimely death of his cousin. He described his cousin as a peaceful, adorable, and hardworking man. He called on the authorities to take stringent measures against the perpetrators as they seek justice for their Bakary.

“We are seeking justice. Only justice [because] forgiveness is out of the . If at all he was hit by a vehicle, one could call it an accident, but this [was intentional].

“It will be very difficult for us to bear this [Bakary death] without justice, so we want to see the normal procedure followed and the perpetrators sent to prison for the rest of their lives,” he said.

Makam Sabally, the Alkalo of Sare Manson, told The Fatu Network that his late brother was a hardworking and pious Muslim. He said they can’t bear to see the people responsible for his death walking scot-free.

“The young man left behind two young kids and livestock. His firstborn isn’t 10 years of age. So, are we appealing to the government to take the necessary steps to try and sentence them because we can’t watch them [walking free] without taking the law into our own hands?”

Police PRO Cadet ASP Binta Njie told The Fatu Network that the suspects are a 21-year-old man from Samba Kokeh and a 42-year-old man from Samba Tacko. She said that the case is with the CID for further investigation.

“The victim Momodou Sabally of Sare Mansong was said to have been jointly assaulted by 2 suspects who fell and became unconscious. He was later rushed to Basse Health Center where he was confirmed dead” police PRO said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

27-year-old Gibbie Barry is a school dropout who resides in Sinchu Kundu in the Niamina East District of The Gambia, approximately 400 kilometers from Banjul.

He is seeking support to install a borehole in his garden.

Young Gibbie embarked on his gardening journey in 2020 after discontinuing his education due to various challenges.

Despite possessing a deep passion for agriculture, Gibbie is encountering difficulties in turning his dream into reality.

Currently utilizing a large space behind his father’s house in the village for his gardening project, Gibbie faces obstacles that hinder the realization of his aspirations.

When The Fatu Network contacted him about his journey and the challenges he is facing, Gibbie wasted no time expressing that he only requires a borehole to make his dream a reality.

“I have never planned to abandon gardening even though the challenges are significant. I am planning to take a break from gardening if I don’t have the support to pursue a side hustle. When I raise the money to drill a borehole, I will come back to my garden. I want my garden to be my office, and with support, people will see different things…” he promised.

Gibbie’s dream is to have a functioning borehole in his garden to facilitate his daily watering activities. Additionally, he utilizes the vegetables from his garden to feed his family and sometimes provides them to friends free of charge.

More details to come…

Anyone willing to support Gibbie in obtaining a borehole can contact him at +220 261 0969 or reach out to The Fatu Network at +220 3341268.

By Sainabou Gassama

Five National Assembly Members from Foni, West Coast Region (WCR), are demanding that the Senegalese government repatriate the body of a Gambian national named Duwa Badji, who was reportedly shot and killed by Senegalese forces stationed in the Cassamance Region, according to the Point Newspaper.

These NAMs are Hon. Amie Colley, Foni Brefet Constituency, Hon. Bakary K Badjie, Foni Bintang Constituency, Hon. Kebba T Sanneh, Foni Jarrol Constituency, Hon. Pa Dembo Sanneh, Foni Bondali Constituency, Hon. Almameh Gibba, Foni Kansala Constituency.

Duwa Badjie, a native of Jilanfari village in the Foni Bintang, while returning from Funtang village in the Foni Kansala District was reportedly shot by the Senegalese Forces on the outskirts of their village.

The five Gambian lawmakers have urged the Senegalese government to repatriate the body for proper burial while proposing an independent investigation into the death of Mr. Badjie.

Almameh Gibba, the National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala District, has confirmed that Duwa Badjie has died, and his body is currently at the mortuary of a hospital in Ziguinchor.

He emphasized that it’s unacceptable for Gambian people to be killed by foreign forces on Gambian soil and the government which is supposed to protect its citizens is keeping mute and doing nothing about it.

Gibba further stressed that he is going to make a follow-up together with the deceased’s family to know the whereabouts of the late Duwa Badjie’s body after one month and ten days since he was reportedly killed by the Senegalese forces.