By: Dawda Baldeh

On the deportation of Gambian citizens from Europe, Yahya Sonko, a prominent Gambian migration activist residing in Germany has called out Gambian Government for what he called “careless leadership” over the deportation issue.

Sonko made these remarks in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network on 15^th July 2023.

The migration activist challenged the government to point out a single example of where they made efforts to help address the plight of Gambian migrants facing deportation in the diaspora.

“They are careless. I challenge the government to point out a single example of where they made efforts in addressing the issue of deportation.

Years back, they denied signing the agreement and now is the time they are talking about it. They are sending immigration officials to the EU to help identify Gambians for deportation,” Sonko alleged.

When asked about the possibility of the government revising the said agreement, Sonko wasted no time in saying he is not hopeful.

“The government has betrayed the citizens. Years ago, President Adama Barrow was in Germany in search of greener pastures. He was deported and he never relent.

He tried and went to England where he established himself and then come back home to start a business. No youth will wish to stay in Euro forever. They are here to establish themselves because there is no hope at home,” he told this medium.

Mr. Sonko further explained that he will continue to work with partners in helping Gambians reintegrate into Germany.

He claimed that when the EU imposed a visa ban on the Gambia for not accepting the deportation of the citizens, the government acted swiftly because they [the government] were affected directly.

“They were concerned because they were not given visas to travel to Europe. If you see they are silent about the issues is because none of their families are affected.

The only people affected are the poor families and government is not interested in helping them…,” Sonko added.

The young migrant activist noted that the deportation will further lead to insecurity in the country, citing several murder incidents that were committed by deportees due to mental health problems.

“This deportation will increase the country’s insecurity. We all remember the man who killed his father in Brikama. He was a deportee with mental illness, and the Bakau incident that led to the vandalism of the Bakau police station was also committed by a deportee; just to name but a few,” he mentioned.

From January to date, over one hundred and sixty-five Gambians have been deported back from EU countries particularly Germany; while twenty-five more are expected to arrived in Banjul on 26^th July 2023.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Momodou MC Cham Jr, former campaign manager for the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has joined main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) after resigning from GDC in March of this year.

Confirming his political defection with The Fatu Network, Mr. Cham described the decision as “the best” in his political career.

Many had predicted that the young politician would join the main opposition due to his attendance and support of UDP programs since he left the GDC party.

“After years of advocating for the development of our nation in the name of democracy, human rights, equity and fairness, I have come to a momentous decision in the next phase of my political career.

After much consultation and reflection, and after considering my conversations with Ousainou A. N. M Darboe, I’m convinced that I’m making the right decision today by pledging my allegiance and full support to the United Democratic Party and committing to its principles and values,” he disclosed.

It could be recalled that, in early March of this year, MC Cham resigned from his party and has since been supporting the UDP, particularly in the recent local government elections.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Chairman of the Brikama Area Council (BAC), Yankuba Darboe, has rejected the councillorship nomination of Baboucarr Sambou, who was nominated by the West Coast Region Youth Committee over supposed ‘fears’ he would oppose his ideas and plans.

According to a source close to the Council, the Chairman is planning to impose another young person, believed to be a United Democratic Party supporter and a leader in their party’s Youth Wing in the position, or the youth risk losing representation in the council.

Yesterday, July 24, several youth leaders in the region expressed their concerns and worries regarding the whole process when a group of young people paid a courtesy call to the chairman’s office and informed him of their plans to organize a youth summer camp.

A youth leader, who requested anonymity, said that Chairman Darboe firmly told them that unless the youths agree with his nomination, the region would not have a youth representative in the Brikama Area Council.

A youth leader present at the meeting in the chairman’s office shared that the chairman is resolute and will not discuss the matter further with the youth leaders.

“After he has failed in his efforts to impose his candidate for us to accept, he angrily went on to say that he doesn’t need any youth rep at the council. He asserted that there is no need to engage him in the subject because he had made up his mind,” an insider revealed to The Fatu Network.

This medium reached out to the chairman of the West Coast Region Youth Committee, Lamin Sanneh for further inquiry and he confirmed that indeed, there is a disagreement between Chairman Yankuba Darboe and the youths of the West Coast over youth representation in the council.

Who Does Yankuba Want As Youth Councilor?

The Fatu Network made several attempts to interview Yankuba Darboe, but as has been the case, he avoided speaking to this medium. However, a source close to him revealed to TFN who Darboe chose and why.

“Darboe has already selected Binta Senghore, the Deputy Youth President of the United Democratic Party. As long as Yankuba is the chairman, he will ensure that UDP members are honest in the opportunity to hold positions in the Council. He made this clear to the West Coast Youth Committee, but they thought it was just a word,” the source revealed to this medium.

Yankuba has reportedly explained that the UDP youth wing, where Binta Senghore is, is an independent group from the UDP regional group.

It is not apparent why Yankuba Darboe rejected the nomination of Baboucarr Sambou. Some claim he does not trust Sambou to support his agenda, while others believe that Sambou is over 35 years old, which supposedly disqualifies him from holding the position. According to a source close to the Chairman’s office, Yankuba prefers a female nominee from the UDP party.

The Fatu Network will continue to make efforts to speak to Yankuba Darboe.

By: Dawda Baldeh

In the thick of the continuous massive deportation of Gambians from across European countries, Anja, a German citizen residing in Stuttgart, has urged Gambians home and abroad to unanimously stand against deportation.

She described deportation as “inhuman”, saying it has to be stopped as soon as possible.

Anja, who has had family ties to the Gambia for ages told The Fatu Network that her love for the Gambia and its people makes her speak out as the deportation process continues.

“I know and love Gambia and its people. For years I have been trying to support migrants from Gambia in particular, by accompanying them to offices, translating letters, and trying to help and advise them on everyday problems,” she explained.

The German national added that it’s time for concerned citizens from both countries to speak up against deportations.

“I too have lost several friends and acquaintances through deportation,” she added.

Speaking further on the deportation issue, Anja described the agreement Gambia had with the EU as unfavourable, saying it should be reversed as soon as possible.

She added that if the Gambia government is not interested in stopping the deportations, Gambians should protest against it and let it stop like other countries are doing.

“A group of great people, Germans and Gambians, are trying to organize demonstrations and information events, to wake people up, to stand up and fight for their rights.

Deportations are inhumane and must stop. Politics on both sides must be involved. Solutions have to be found,” she mentioned.

Expressing her concerns about the ongoing deportation of Gambian citizens from the EU particularly Germany, Anja said they want to work together with the people in Gambia so that their voices can finally be heard, because…

“Whoever fights can lose, whoever doesn’t fight has already lost…,” she emphasized.

However, Anja expressed disappointment over how some Gambians are silenced about the massive deportation of their citizens.

“We do organize protests against the deportation of Gambians but only a few will turn up which is also disappointing…,” she noted.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, has said the Gambian Government is still concerned about a missing boat carrying two hundred migrants, including thirty-nine Gambians, that left the shores of Gunjur on 8th November 2021.

Minister Tangara made these remarks on Monday 24^th July 2023 at the Ministry’s press briefing regarding deportation of Gambians into the country.

“An unfortunate situation that is still a worry to this Ministry and government is the missing boat that left the shores of Gunjur on 8th November 2021.

The boat carrying two hundred migrants, including thirty-nine from Gunjur, left the shores of Gunjur into the Mediterranean Sea for Europe,” he explained.

He told journalists that the whereabouts of those migrants cannot be established still.

“When the information came to the attention of the Foreign Ministry, we engaged our Missions in Mauritania, Morrocco, Spain, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Spanish Border Guards on a search mission. But, until today, their trace could not be found,” Dr. Tangara said.

The Foreign Minister revealed that his ministry has been engaging with the community of Gunjur which claims the migrants were intercepted in Mauritania.

“In December 2022, The Ministry facilitated and escorted three youths from Gunjur to Mauritania on a fact-finding mission where all the prisons and immigration detention centers were visited but none of the missing migrants could be found,” he told journalists.

The Gambian diplomat reiterated that they have developed a coherent policy for managing irregular migration as enshrined in the National Migration Policy (2020-2030).

“It is the government’s responsibility to discourage the youths from embarking on irregular journeys to Europe,” he stated.

On the deportations that have raised eyebrows of many Gambians, Tangara reiterated that the government has not and will not arrange or facilitate the return of anyone without due process.

“We have no interest in facilitating the return of our nationals from Europe considering the support given to their families through remittance,” he claimed.

He further claimed that comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnerships on migration with the European Union and member states are underway.

The Foreign Affairs head added that they have been engaging the European Union to consider the plight of Gambians that are currently within the EU Jurisdiction and have been law-abiding to be considered for integration.

He said the cabinet has met over the matter and the government will soon negotiate with the Federal Republic of Germany bilaterally to explore the new law on residence permits that came into effect on 1st January 2023.

This law is expected to allow migrants who have already lived in Germany for at least five years by 31st October 2022, to apply for a temporary German residence permit, according to Tangara.

“This temporary permit will allow holders time (18 months) to further regularize their statuses whilst in Germany, to become holders of the “regular” German residence permit,” he explained.

Additionally, he said Gambian migrants in Germany are qualified for a residence permit under these new arrangements.

“Some have already been successful in obtaining permits after applying under the new system. The requirements include having committed no crime and acquiring proficiency in the German Language,” he concluded.

By News Desk

Professor Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, a renowned Ghanaian Naturopathic Professor, who is currently studying for the Barrister at Law course at the Gambia Law School, has published a groundbreaking book titled “Regulatory Framework of Traditional and Alternative Medicine in the Gambia.”

The book investigates the constitutional and other statutory provisions on traditional medicines in the Gambia and their recognitions. The author reviewed several legal documents in the Gambia to evaluate their justifications for traditional and complementary medicine recognition and the need for legislation.

The author reasoned that the Constitution of the Gambia recognizes the customs of the people as part of the laws. The Evidence Act 1994 of the Gambia further notes that custom is admissible in evidence. Hence, traditional medicine is part of the customs of the people of the Gambia, and thus they need to be accorded the needed recognition in the healthcare system. Besides, a profession that is not regulated poses a danger to public health.

The author further emphasizes that if the customs of the people are recognized by the Constitution and the Evidence Act, then, the trade or businesses of the people are also recognized. It is therefore prudent for the medical business of traditional medicine to be given full recognition in healthcare to improve the lives of the people.

Hence, in this book, the author justifies the need for legislation on Traditional, Complementary, and integrative Medicines Practices in the Gambia. The book is structured into six chapters with an interesting regulatory framework discussed with 111 pages and published by Generis Publishing, Republic of Moldova. The book is currently being sold for 37.99 € on the online platform Liberoterra and is edited by Anna Rothman.

Prof. Nyarkotey has been pushing for better healthcare for all in the Gambia with traditional and complementary medicine legislation.

The author has other two books yet to be published in the course of his legal education at the Gambia Law School. He has also published 10 scholarly papers as a student of the law in the Gambia.  The book was dedicated to the National Traditional Healers Association of The Gambia (TRAHASS). He was recently honoured for his tremendous contributions to the traditional healthcare industry in the Gambia with “The Trailblazer & Father of Modern Naturopathy Development Award in the Gambia.”

By: Dawda Baldeh

Mamadou Gassama, WHO Health Promotion Officer, has revealed that the African continent is losing about 10.7 billion dollars annually due to tobacco use while spending more than 10.4 billion on tobacco cultivation.

Mr. Gassama made these revelations at a day-long orientation for journalists organized by RAID The Gambia in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ministry of Health on the implementation of the 2016 Tobacco Control Act which aimed at eliminating the use of tobacco products in the country.

The objective was to build the capacity of journalists on Tobacco Control Activities in the Gambia such as prevalence, rate, health and economic implications and the government response towards tobacco control.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Mr. Gassama outlined the negative effects of tobacco use and how it has become a leading global health threat killing more than other diseases.

He told journalists that about 57 million deaths are registered of all cases, and from that 41 million are due to non-communicable diseases.

“Tobacco alone kills 8 million people of which 7 million die as a result of direct use of tobacco while 1.2 million died as a result of secondhand smoke,” he revealed.

“Africa is spending 10.4 billion dollars on yearly bases and it loses about 10.7 billion as a result of tobacco use. There is nothing that we are gaining from tobacco.

“We are losing our loved ones as a result of tobacco and the world is losing about 22 billion tons of water as a result of cultivating tobacco which is an environmental hazard,” Gassama added.

Mr. Gassama revealed that 80 billions of carbon dioxide are being released into the air due to tobacco smoke, which is increasing global warming, adding that the world also loses about 22 billion tons of water due to cultivating tobacco.

Tobacco which is categorized as a non-communicable disease has been ranked as the world’s biggest problem that causes cardiovascular diseases, and infertility in both men and women among other diseases.

“NCD kills about 77% annually and there is no safe level of tobacco smoke. Tobacco is deadly. About 1.3 billion smokers are registered in the world and the majority are young people. The world is losing 1.4 trillion dollars because of tobacco use annually,” he explained.

Sambujang Conteh, the Executive Director of RAID, outlined some of the activities they have been engaging in since inception.

Mr. Conteh told journalists that they have been advocating the elimination of tobacco, implementation of the laws that prohibit public smoking, and awareness campaigns towards the fight against tobacco.

“This engagement is important because you are key partners for us to achieve our goals in eliminating tobacco use which is deadly. You can help to spread the message so that people can be aware of the risk they are exposed to by smoking.

We have participated in the process of drafting the tobacco control act 2016 which was accepted by President Yahya Jammeh,” he said.

Muhammed S. Bah, the President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), thanked RAID the Gambia, WHO and the Ministry of Health for involving journalists towards the elimination of tobacco used in the Gambia.

“Media is not about reporting on speeches, it goes beyond that. The information and analysis shared by the experts are facts and not just mere political statements. I urged you all to take the task and report on these issues because it is a global threat,” he said.

MS. Bah further called on journalists to help in spreading awareness to the public in making sure that the risk of tobacco is well communicated.

The GPU president further recommended continuously partnering with the media to create more awareness of tobacco use. Bah, also called on RAID the Gambia, WHO and the government to help simplify the laws and translate them into the local languages for people to easily understand them.

Omar Badjie, NCD Program Manager & National Focal Person for Tobacco Control said the dangers of tobacco smoke are beyond imagination and has devastating effects on people.

“Smoking damages tissues throughout the body, clogs arteries cause blood clots/bleeding. Inhalation of smoke from tobacco products increases the risk of asthma attacks, risk of respiratory infection among others,” he said.

Different speakers buttress the need for the elimination of tobacco use in the country as the WHO warned that in a few years, tobacco smoke will be a leading cause of death in the world and countries globally are doing all it takes to eliminate the use of tobacco.

A press release from Gambia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry indicates that over 200 Gambian migrants are set to return to the country following interventions by the Gambian government and partners.

“Following the unfortunate development concerning the situation of Gambian migrants in Tunisia, The Gambia Government wishes to update the public that it has deployed two officials of its Embassy in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco to the Tunisia-Algeria border to provide consular services to the stranded citizens.

With the instruction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation & Gambians Abroad, the deployed team is closely working with the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Country Office in Tunisia on the evacuation of the affected Gambians,” the press release explains.

The release discloses that: “So far, fourteen (14) Gambians have been identified, provided with hotel accommodation in Tunis and issued emergency travel documents for eventual repatriation to The Gambia by the 27th of July, 2023.  Furthermore, twenty-seven (27) Gambians in Mednine, and five (5) in Zarzis have been processed by the Embassy’s staff and will be joining the flight on the 27th of July 2023 to reunite with their families”.

For those coming from Libya, the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirms that: “165 Gambians in Libya are voluntarily returning home through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IOM, and the Gambian Association in Tripoli. The evacuation flight of the voluntary returnees is expected at the Banjul International Airport on Wednesday 26th July, 2023.”

The Ministry assures that it will continue to monitor developments concerning Gambian migrants in Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Niger.

Popular Gambian analyst, Musa Jeng, has reacted to comments on National Assembly Members (NAMs) acquiring brand new vehicles.

Jeng said such reactions are hypocritical as most of those condemning the assembly members would have acted the same way. He added that Gambians are not interested in electing to parliament people with honesty and integrity but rather corrupt individuals that lack the necessary skills to represent them in parliament.

“This is nothing more than hypocrisy 101; in fact, most of us are just like the NAMS and would have acted the same way. We voted for these NAMS, and if elections were to be held tomorrow, most of them would be sent back to the Assembly. Bu len nyu sonal. We are not interested in sending honest representation to the people’s house. We like to send people that are just like us: corrupt, no integrity and lack the necessary skills to be a law maker,” analyst Jeng explains.

He named former lawmakers whom he said would not have been part of acquiring the vehicles; but reiterated that many Gambians don’t prefer such representation.

“Reading DA Jawo’s piece this morning, highlighting that if Halifa Sallah,  Sedia Jatta and Ousman Sillah were in the Assembly, it is certain that they would not be part of this scandal. Interestingly, there is not a single Gambian who doesn’t know that. But, we are not interested in that kind of representation. We would like people like us, lack integrity, serious character flaw and not even have the capacity or competence as law makers. We all have our own rationalization why we voted for these folks, but clearly character, competence and ultimately the interest of the Gambian people were not the criteria used when we had to make a choice,” he narrated.

Jeng went further to question the electoral choice of the people of Wuli rejecting Sedia Jatta for someone he called “that fellow” and also the people of Banjul North voting against Ousman Sillah whom he said had always been in the Assembly working for in the interest of the people of Banjul North.

He noted that the decision making for representation in the country is still driven by “patronage, party affiliation, ethnicity, and less on finding the best representation”.

“To borrow from Alh Saidy Barrow, “dictator is us”, I would say our problem is us. And again, hiding behind political awareness or lack thereof has nothing to do with it. Vote for the right representation and we will not be dealing with these kind of problems,” Jeng concluded.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Fansu Bojang, the former Gambian ambassador to the United Arab Emirate (UAE), who is now the Director General of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) appeared before the National Assembly Public Petitions Commission yesterday 19th July 2023 to respond to a petition that was filed to his office in 2020 by a group of Gambians who claimed to have been representing stranded Gambians in the UAE during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking before the committee led by the Honourable Suwaibou Touray of the Wuli East Constituency, Mr. Bojang said his office had done all it took to help repatriate Gambians who were stranded in the UAE and wanted to return.

The petition was filed by a group of individuals namely, Mansour Faye, Muhammed Kijera, Kinta Kinteh, Ousman Jallow, Assan Jallow, Omar Manneh, Demba Badjie and Delam Yuri Bah.

Mr. Bojang told the committee that the said petition was made at a time when the government of the UAE was dealing with the whole world to facilitate the return of people to their respective countries.

“Our case was a different one because we were asking for support at a time when there was panic and wanted to return to their countries.

“Things weren’t fast because we can only send emails and make calls for follow-up because everyone was working from home,” he said while responding to questions on what led to the delay in repatriating Gambians from the UAE.

He told the committee that his office came to be aware of a petition after they saw a reporter presenting a claim online in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Banjul claiming to be representing a group of Gambians stranded in the UAE.

“The ministry contacted us and on the 10th of June 2020 we received the letter from the said group address to the embassy, but it was more of seeking support than complaint,” he said.

The committee chairperson told the witness that the petition was written to the National Assembly to look into complaints of the Gambians in the UAE who were seeking assistance from the embassy.

“Before the petition, the embassy had already written to the UAE authorities for support at the height of the pandemic to help transport Gambians that were caught up by the pandemic and wanted to return.

Flights were suspended commercially. Citizens from all over the world wanted to leave the UAE but it was difficult. About 80% of the UAE are all foreigners. Their population is little over nine million people and the citizens are less than a million,” he added.

The witness told the committee that even states that had their national flights were charging their citizens repatriated at an exorbitant price.

“Gambia was not part of those countries that had their national flights. We depended on support to help the citizens return.

We approached the UAE government for assistance, and they asked us to collect details of our citizens who want to return.

We created a platform and invited the association representing the Gambian community in the UAE and discussed it with them.

Every detail was shared on the platform, so people don’t need to make formal arrangements to meet the embassy. They can channel their concerns using the platform and the embassy will pick it from there,” Bojang explained.

According to him, only 58 people submitted their passports who wanted to return at the time but before they could secure air tickets for them, only 9 ended up showing interest to return who were given the tickets with support from the UAE authorities.

He noted that flights were very expensive and looking at the situation of some of the citizens they could not pay for it.

“This group of people claiming to have been representing Gambians in the UAE is not known to us. Only one name in their signatory is familiar (Mansour Faye) whose name was in the list of those who first submitted their names to return,” he told the committee.

Despite denying knowing the group, Bojang admitted that they have the right to be represented by the embassy but noted that it happened at a time when the office had engaged the UAE authorities in a process that took them about five to six months for the stranded Gambians to be repatriated.

Mr. Bojang told the committee that his office has been doing all it takes to bring Gambians in the UAE together for familiarization by holding a national day celebration together and hosting a religious feast with the Gambian community.

“We do organize a football tournament for the Gambians in the UAE and after the tournament, we hold formal discussions. The association was publicized enough for every Gambian that has the interest to register with the embassy and have had the opportunity to know about it,” he explained.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The leader of the opposition Gambia Action Party (GAP), Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, has warned people against homosexuality in the Gambia while calling on the government to implement anti-homosexual laws in the country.

Batchilly made these comments while reacting to a viral video of a man identified as Victor Vickish Wilson, a Sierra Leonean who was dragged out of a car a few days ago around Senegambia by a group of people including women for dressing like a woman.

He said a government led by GAP will accord zero tolerance to homosexuality and enforce maximum punishment to individuals found wanting.

In the video, Victor could be heard saying “I am not gay, I am a crossdresser.” While the attackers continued yelling at him, he tried to explain but the group weren’t interested in what he wanted to say. He added: “Why are you doing this to me?”

Mr. Batchilly also condemned the act while blaming the government led by President Adama Barrow for not enforcing laws that protect the cultural values in the country.

He said the video has triggered the violation of human rights cognizant of the fact that the majority of the Gambians are Muslims.

“All religious doctrines in the world abnegate this inhumane act.; the Gambia should not be an exception. The government has failed to protect the cultural rights and values of our nation since President Barrow ascended power due to selfish reasons,” he claimed.

Commenting further, the GAP leader promised to criminalize same-gender marriage or affairs to ensure that people with religious identities continually worship their beliefs without being dirty or filthy.

“Our government will accord zero tolerance towards these barbarians hiding under the covers of so-called freedom and democracy,” Batchilly said.

The Gambia has zero tolerance towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The criminal code states that any person who has or attempts to have ‘carnal knowledge’ of any person ‘against the order of nature’ is guilty of a crime and could face 14 years imprisonment. The criminal code was amended in October 2014 to include a section (144A) entitled Aggravated Homosexuality.

World Bank Board has approved $4.5 million additional financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to improve quality and utilization of essential health services and strengthen the national system for public health preparedness in The Gambia. The Board previously approved US$50 million to the Gambia Essential Health Services Strengthening Project. Further, in June 2023 a grant of US$4.33 million was also approved by the World Bank Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program.

The additional financing will support the construction of a National Food and Drug Quality Control Laboratory (NFDQCL) and capacity building to prevent and detect health emergencies including establishing an electronic case-based surveillance system to facilitate immediate reporting of priority diseases and events.

Highlighting the significance of this financing Feyi Boroffice, World Bank Resident Representative, said: “This additional financing will play a vital role in strengthening The Gambia national system for public health preparedness.”

The Task Team leader Dr. Samuel Lantei Mills also emphasized the positive impact of the additional financing. “These investments will contribute to the Government’s effort in testing medicines imported into the country, ensuring improved quality of healthcare for all Gambians,” he said.

The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Established in 1960, it provides grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa.

IDA resources help effect positive change in the lives of the 1.6 billion people living in the countries that are eligible for its assistance. Since its inception, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments are constantly on the rise and have averaged $21 billion over the past three years, with about 61% going to Africa.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Lamin Sonko is a young man from Bakoteh in the Kanifing Municipality. In the search for greener pastures, teenager Lamin in October 2015 left his family together with young friends to embarked on a perilous journey to Europe. In the said journey, Sonko experienced traumatic situations which he did not imagine would befall him.

Lamin Sonko is now a 24-year-old young man. He authored a book titled “The Journey” in which he explores the terrifying experience of his journey to Europe with his girlfriend Elena Ramon.

Like many others, Sonko left the country for Europe in search of greener pastures. He said he wanted to help his family, noting that chances were very limited back home.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, Sonko said his inspiration to write the book was drawn from his experience during the perilous journey. He further noted that he decided to put such experience on paper as a learning tool for others.

At first, Sonko’s book was used as a project in a designing school, and after getting impressive and motivational feedback from the school, he then decided to go ahead and print it.

“I have seen many innocent souls wasted for no reason in the journey. From Senegal to Libya, I have been into some terrifying situations such as kidnaping and imprisonment.

I have seen dead bodies, I witnessed people killing people. I was imprisoned for two months. These are things I never imagined in my life,” Sonko told TFN.

He said his experience triggered his spirit to write the book to share his life experiences so that people back home will know what their brothers and sisters are facing in the journey trying to reach Europe.

The book contained designs and symbols representing different meanings. The illustration was done by Sonko’s girlfriend Elena Ramon.

“After encountering many challenges on my journey, I decided to write a book so that others will learn from it and know the reality on the ground,” the author said.

When asked about the challenges he faced in the process of writing the book, Sonko said, “I don’t have much difficulties apart from the printing because that cost a lot of money and required a long process.”

‘The Journey’ is a book written in different languages including English, Spanish and Catalan. The author said plans are underway to have the book in Italian too.

“The book has gained some momentum because people see themselves in it. I have sold many copies,” Sonko added.

The young Gambian migrant mentioned that his aim is to make sure the book reaches a wider coverage so that others will learn.

“When the book was printed, my girlfriend presented it to a library called Pan Africanism in Barcelona, Spain. They promised to make many copies but due to some reasons, the library was later closed,” he narrated.

Lamin Sonko is an irregular migrant who started his journey to Europe at the age of 16 and he now works as an intercultural mediator.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Faye Njie, a 30-year-old Finnish-born Gambian Judoka, who has been into judo for over two decades, has told The Fatu Network that he will work hard to win the gold medal this year in the forthcoming African Judo Championships scheduled to take place in September in Casablanca, Morocco.

The young Judoka, whose name has been written in history for his outstanding performance in Judo, is hoping for another excellent performance at the continent’s biggest Judo championship.

“I have many good memories from African championships. But the gold is still missing; so, I am working hard to finally win it this year,” Faye Njie told this medium.

Over the years, Njie has won several medals in different international competitions including one bronze medal (2019) and two silver medals from which he secured his latest qualification spot in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

However, Njie, who is yet to win any gold medal, said he is working hard to get the golden medal for his country.

When asked further about the support he is getting from the Gambia government he responded, “I am enjoying the support of the National Olympic Committee; they have supported my participation in various events and I’m also benefitting from the Olympic solidarity support that allows me to train more professionally.”

Njie, who has been in active in training ahead of the championships, confirmed not having challenges.

“I have got good sparring partners and the overall level of the recent training camps have been good. That has allowed me to get the best preparation towards the African Championships,” he added.

He further told TFN that in the last few weeks, he has done international training camps in Spain and Italy to get the best preparation for the upcoming African Championships to be held at the beginning of September.

“It’s always an honor to represent the country at events like these; and I always want to make the best results and bring a medal home,” he said.

Njie has over the years generated a lot of support from fans at home and abroad who appreciate his commitment in the game; thereby breaking barriers to set records for his country.