By: Sainabou Gassama

According to the most recent survey conducted by the government of The Gambia and development partners, which includes the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS), the findings indicate that the rate of unemployment among young people is three times higher than that of adults. Moreover, a considerable number of children aged between 5 and 17 are engaged in child labour.

Moreover, according to the findings, youth are facing challenges in entering the labour market and accessing quality jobs.

“In addition, the research shows that young people are experiencing difficulties when it comes to entering the job market and securing high-quality employment opportunities.

“The youth’s labour force participation rate is around fifteen points lower than that of the adults (38.1% compared to 53.5%). The combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (LU3) reaches 38.6 per cent.

“Furthermore, almost half of the youths are underutilized, (LU4) stands at 48.6 per cent against 30.6 per cent among adults. On average, six in ten youth work as self-employed and are mainly engaged in informal employment (84.0%).

“Similar to the adult population, some gender disparities persist, young women are worse off than young males. Moreover, the survey reveals that 45.3 per cent of the youth are neither in employment nor in education or training.”

The survey further revealed that child labour is more prevalent in rural areas for both boys and girls. In fact, the percentage of children engaged in child labour in rural areas is almost four times higher (38.2%) than in urban areas (10.3%). Additionally, almost half of the children in Mansakonko, Kuntaur, and Janjanbureh are involved in child labour.

“More than one-third of the children aged 5-14 (36.3%) are in child labour and mainly perform in agricultural activities. While the rate reaches 46.7% among children aged 15-17.

“The survey assesses the impact of work on children’s education. On average, 23.0 per cent of children aged 5-14 years work, the majority of them continue going to school (15.1%) and the remainder (7.9%) only work.”

“Nevertheless, the share of children who only work is doubled in rural areas (13.1%).

“In the older age group (15-17 years), 36.4 per cent of the children work but still, the majority of them pursue education. The rate of children engaged in work in rural areas amounts to 57.6 per cent of whom 26 per cent only work,” according to the findings.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Fish vendors in Tanji have expressed to The Fatu Network the consequence of steady increase in the price of fish on their business and livelihood.

Tanji being Gambia’s biggest fishing site, many find it surprising why the price of fish keeps doubling the price in other parts of the country.

Fish vendors in the area attributed the price hike to “lack of operational Gambian fishing boats”.

They also noted that the price is determined by the variety and size of fish and where or from whom they buy.

The fish vendors mentioned that, despite the grumbling and criticism they get from buyers concerning the price increase, they [vendors] always find ways to cajole them [buyers] and justify the price hike.

“The cheapest pan of fish was between four and five thousand Dalasis (D4,000-D5,000). Now, that has increased.

One pan which initially cost five thousand Dalasis (D1,000) is now sold for twelve thousand Dalasis (D12,000). The ones that cost four thousand Dalasis (D4,000), are now eight thousand (D8,000).

The cheapest pan is now sold for eight thousand Dalasis (D8,000). The rest are at fourteen thousand (D14,000) and twenty thousand (D20,000). A pan of lady fish is also sold at twelve thousand (D12,000), with the cheapest being eight thousand (D8,000). “Sometimes, we sell at loss,” Ramatoulie, a fish vendor said.

Sainabou Nyass is another fish vendor at the heart of the Tanji fishing site. She confirmed similar challenges in the business, reiterating that they have been selling at a loss.

“The business is very slow. You will buy the pan for eight thousand five hundred (D8,500) or seven thousand (D7,000), but to resell it is a problem,” she lamented.

In a situation where supply exceeds demand, buyers come together to influence price. As a result, several implications tend to arise. For some vendors in Tanji, business is not as usual.

Fatoumata Ceesay, a resident of Tanji who is said to have been in the business for nearly three decades, told The Fatu Network that they are losing a lot due to the price hike, which she noted is beyond their control.

“I sometimes sell a pan of fish for two days. I have family to take care of but how are we going to take care of our families? Our hopes are only on the fish we sell. For me, women are suffering in the Gambia and we constitute the majority,” she explained.

For some vendors at the heart of the fishing site, lowering the price could significantly impact their profitability as they may incur loss or struggle to recover their purchasing cost.

They called on concerned authorities to help mitigate the challenges in the sector so there would be abundance of fish at low cost.

By: Hadram Hydara

The Campaign Manager of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), Momodou Sabally, who previously served as Secretary General and head of Civil Service under the Yahya Jammeh regime, has raised concerns regarding President Adama Barrow’s alleged intention to dispatch troops to Niger as part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plan to reinstate civilian rule in the country following the recent coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.

Sabally has described this move as inappropriate and unwarranted.

“Niger’s problem is internal; it is a problem between the same nationals. Nobody should pick up weapons to go there and take sides. That should not happen.

“And to start conflict and war in Africa right now is not in Africa’s interest and progress”.

“In 2016, Gambia was an example; when the country had a problem, no gun was fired, and no bomb was detonated. The problem was resolved through negotiations.

“So, when Niger has a problem, I don’t think ECOWAS should be in a haste for a military action”.

Mr. Sabally criticized President Barrow for prioritizing a foreign country’s issue over the safety of Gambian youths who are planning to migrate to Europe through Niger. He believes that the lives of these thousands of migrants should be the main focus.

“The hardships facing African youths, especially Gambians youths who are currently in their thousands in Niger trying to reach Europe and they could not – some of them had problems there and went to Algeria and got shipped back to Niger again”.

“So, we are in that situation and [President] Adama Barrow has not thought about how to save the lives of Gambians in Niger but rather wants to take up guns and bombs to go and fight in Niger; This should not happen,” he said.

The campaign manager for UDP strongly denounced the proposal of sending Gambian military troops to Niger. He stated that if President Barrow truly cares about Gambian youth, he should not initiate a war in Niger because both Gambian military personnel and migrants would suffer casualties.

“I think what [President] Barrow needs to do is to get in touch with both sides and get them to negotiate to broker peace,” Sabally said.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Ahead of the second Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of state meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 10 to discuss the political crisis in Niger, Samsudeen Sarr, a former army commander in the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), has said he expects President Adama Barrow to decline any suggestions to send military troops to Niger to take part in any military intervention in junta-led Niger following the recent coup that overthrew the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.

Sarr, who was a commander in the army until 1999, said GAF “may not possess the necessary readiness to navigate the complexities” of any possible intervention in Niger.

“I expect him to decline any suggestion of sending Gambian troops to Niger. From my perspective, the Gambia Armed Forces may not possess the necessary readiness to effectively navigate the complexities of such a precarious undertaking. The challenges presented by an ambiguous conflict in an unfamiliar territory, coupled with the intricate logistics required for a sustained campaign, give rise to legitimate concerns,” said the former army commander.

He explained that the financial burden of going into such a war cannot be ignored, saying the Gambia’s budget may not sustain the financial burden should President Barrow agree to send troops.

“The financial implications of engaging in such a war cannot be ignored. Wars invariably entail exorbitant costs, and the Gambian budget may be ill-equipped to sustain the financial burden of such an endeavour,” he explained.

Sarr said President Barrow can instead recommend to his colleagues in the ECOWAS heads of state meeting the idea of persuading the junta to hasten their transitional period to civilian rule.

“He can recommend the idea of persuading the coup leaders to hasten their transitional timeline to civil rule. Any other proposal other than that will be rejected by the junta which is very popular in the country and will never reinstate the overthrown government of Bazoum.”

Last week, when President Adama Barrow arrived from the ECOWAS heads of state meeting, he expressed the country’s willingness to cooperate with the decision of the West African block, which includes using force to reinstate Bazoum. He said that ECOWAS still accepts Bazoum as the legitimate president of the Republic of Niger.

By: Dawda Baldeh

After being sworn in as a nominated councillor for the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Momodou MC Cham Jnr has faced criticism for recently joining the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) and receiving a nomination. However, he has responded to his critics with a strong rebuttal.

During a recent interview with King FM radio, the politician responded to critics regarding his decision to join the UDP and made the following remarks.

“I thanked the leadership of the UDP and the supporters for welcoming me. This is huge for me because of the love they show me.

“The few that are criticizing me now never supported Mayor Bensouda. They never wrote on their Facebook wall or released audio asking people to vote for Bensouda. They are just coming out today because we are nominated,” he said.

MC Cham has clarified that he did not actively pursue the position. Instead, it was given to him by Mayor Bensouda as a recognition of his dedication to the growth and progress of KM.

Cham claimed that the few people who are criticizing him at UDP never wanted Bensouda to win the mayoral election.

“Why didn’t they come and criticize me and Nenneh when we were helping Bensouda and other UDP candidates during the election process? They were all silenced,” he stated.

MC Cham Jr stated that their nomination for councillorship should not be problematic if Bensouda deems it necessary to collaborate with them.

The politician, who was praised for his contribution to Bensouda’s re-election, stated that as Gambians, they are capable of holding any position.

He vowed to work with the UDP to move the party’s agenda, saying he will also focus on helping to eradicate the misconception people have about the UDP such as tribalism.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology (MoHERST) has denied the allegations made by Gambian students in Morocco about the delay in receiving their stipend. The ministry has called these claims “misleading and malicious”.

On Friday, August 4th, The Fatu Network published a story about the Gambian Students Association in Morocco (GASAM). According to GASAM, the students have not received their annual stipend from the Gambian government for an entire academic year.

However, Gambia’s higher education ministry has today, August 5th said in a statement that those claims are misleading and laced with malice.

The ministry’s reactions came barely 24hrs after The Fatu Network published the story where most students said they are worried as a result of not receiving their stipends.

“We wish to inform the public that the information trending is misleading and laced with malice,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry further claimed to discover that some students would complete their undergraduate programs and continue to pursue advanced studies in the same programs without clearance from the ministry.

“It has also come to light that some students could not finish their programs during the prescribed time frame.

“At the same time, they continue to benefit from stipend payments in their fifth and sixth years of studies in programs they are supposed to complete in four years. These facts must be established,” the ministry stated.

Accordingly, the Ministry said they have fielded a headcount mission involving two officers (one from the scholarship unit and one from the internal audit).

“This team has had meetings with the Gambian Embassy, the Executive of the Students Association, and the body responsible for awarding scholarships (AMCI) in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco.

“During these meetings, the position of the Ministry has been reiterated, and the students in the Kingdom of Morocco are aware of the position that only students under the Ministry’s sponsorship will be paid.

“The Accountant General’s Department was advised to make the necessary payments to the Gambian Embassy in Rabat, and it has been reported that the funds will reach the Embassy early next week to facilitate payment of stipends to all deserving MoHERST students,” the statement added.

They advised the students to exercise patience and assured them that “we share their predicament.”

However, the ministry noted that they must address these issues for the national interest to avoid audit inconveniences in the future.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Gambian Students Association in Morocco (GASAM) has expressed dissatisfaction and concern over the delay in receiving their yearly allowance from the Gambian government, which is meant to cover their rent and food expenses.

They are worried that many students are facing difficult circumstances in Morocco as a result of not receiving their stipends.

The leadership of the association released a press statement expressing the current situation of students who are receiving government stipends after alleged multiple attempts to resolve the issue with the government through the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.

“…We are currently facing a distressing situation where students are compelled to endure an entire academic year without receiving their annual stipend from the government of the Gambia.

“As time passes, the delay in disbursing the stipends has stretched beyond 12 months, placing an overwhelming burden on our soldiers. This predicament has made it exceedingly challenging for us to concentrate on our studies and achieve academic excellence.

“The persistent delays in receiving our stipends are causing a far-reaching and deeply concerning consequences, threatening the very essence of our educational pursuits and aspirations,” GASAM said in a statement.

According to them, a significant number of students rely heavily on the annual stipend provided by the Gambian government, which amounts to $1200 for those who are renting and $900 for those residing on the school campus.

The press release highlights that the late payment of stipends has been causing difficulties for the recipients to have a decent meal, as they rely on it for sustenance.

“Delayed stipends have thrust many students into financial hardship, depriving us of the ability to afford meals, rent, and other basic essentials necessary for a decent standard of living. With limited financial resources, we are facing food insecurity, compromising our health and well-being”.

According to them, they’re unsure when they’ll receive their stipend due to delays and unavailability, causing them to feel uncertain and hesitant.

“The uncertainty caused by these delays is taking a toll on the mental health of students. The stress and anxiety of not knowing when our stipends will arrive have made it difficult for us to focus on our studies and achieve our academic goals,” GASAM added.

The leadership issued an urgent call to the government to quickly disburse their annual stipends to help them settle the rent and other financial issues including feeding.

The Fatu Network attempted to contact Yusupha Touray, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, for a comment. However, he was unavailable to answer our calls.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Yahya Sonko, a Gambian migration and human rights activist residing in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, has called for the Gambian government to clarify the whereabouts of millions of euros allocated by the European Union (EU) for the purpose of reintegrating Gambian deportees.

During a recent press briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Activist Sonko criticized the lack of proper information provided to Gambian migrants in Europe and their families. He referred to the briefing as a missed opportunity.

“I always asked: where are the millions of euros the Barrow government received from the European Union for the reintegration of deportees?

“Hundreds of deportees reunited with their families with zero hope, offers, or support from the government that deported them,” Sonko said.

Sonko expressed his disappointment towards Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamadou Tangara for neglecting to bring up the deportation of Gambian migrants that his ministry collaborated on with the European Union.

He believes the government continuously ignores the importance of deportees’ reintegration.

Sonko believed that during the press conference, Tangara missed an opportunity to update Gambians on the actions taken by his ministry and the government to assist the deportees, noting that it would have been beneficial to also share information on the sustainable reintegration plans for the hundreds of Gambians who have been deported from Europe.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister Tangara stated that it is solely the responsibility and authority of any European Union Member State to allow the return of Gambian nationals, noting that according to International Customary Law, if any Gambian national has exhausted all their legal options to stay in another country, it becomes The Gambia’s obligation to readmit them as it is their country of origin.

“But he forgot that as a responsible government, accepting mass deportation equally goes with taking full responsibility for deportees.

“[The] Gambia accepts hundreds of youths from Europe, and upon arrival at the Airport, that is usually where their last contact with the government,” Sonko stated.

However, Tangara has announced that Cabinet has discussed the issue and the government will engage in bilateral negotiations with the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the new law on residence permits. This law enables migrants who have lived in Germany for at least five years by 31st October 2022 to apply for a temporary German residence permit, and it came into effect on 1st January 2023.

This permit is temporary and grants holders 18 months to regulate their status while in Germany so that they can become holders of a “regular” German residence permit.

In response to Minister Tangara’s remarks, Sonko stated that it appears the Gambian Cabinet may not have a clear understanding of the issue at hand.

“The law they are talking about is called the new “Chancen-Aufenthaltsrecht” (Opportunity Residence Act) stipulated in §104c Residence Act”.

Sonko believes it would be pointless for the Gambia to send a delegation to Germany to negotiate this new law, as all Gambians residing in Germany are already aware of it.

According to him, Stakeholders, NGOs, and Gambian associations in Germany are working tirelessly to educate Gambian migrants about how they can acquire their residence permit through this opportunity and that the German government is unlikely to heed the Borrow government’s request on this matter.

For activist Sonko, Germany would welcome the Gambia government delegation for possible talks but must be based on continuity of discussion and plans of cooperation they started a few years ago.

“As far as I know, the government of Germany wouldn’t entertain any new discussions from the Gambia,” he said.

At the beginning of 2023, Joachim Stamp was designated as the new German Commissioner for Migration by the German Federal government. In his initial interview, he openly expressed his backing and eagerness to establish a partnership with The Gambia.

In June and July of 2019, ESI European Stability Initiative, a think tank based in Berlin, made two trips to The Gambia. They subsequently published a policy proposal called “THE GAMBIA PLAN” that outlined steps to prevent migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, alleviate the suffering of migrants in Libyan detention centres, and take a realistic approach to the return and deportation of Gambians who do not receive asylum in EU countries.

The goal was a real paradigm shift, creating a win-win solution for The Gambia and Germany, and replacing dangerous irregular migration with regular migration.

Sonko suggested that Germany should provide opportunities for legal migration that are connected to skills training in The Gambia. Additionally, he recommended expanding scholarship and exchange options.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, leader of the opposition Gambia Action Party (GAP) has condemned what he described as ‘unlawful’ arrest of Senegalese opposition leader Ousman Sonko.

He called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to swiftly intervene and restore peace in Senegal following series of political upheavals.

Batchilly said the recent political turmoil in Senegal is ‘worrisome’ and is threatening the stability of its people and the region.

“I, Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly stand in solidarity with the people of Senegal during these tumultuous times. The current chaos and unlawful arrests of opposition leaders in Senegal are deeply concerning and must be addressed immediately,” he said.

GAP leader call on the Chairman of ECOWAS, in the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, to intervene and promote peace and stability in Senegal.

According to Batchilly, the arrest of Ousman Sonko, who is an opposition aspirant candidate for the 2024 elections, undermines democratic principles.

“We must emphasize the importance of upholding democratic values, allowing fair elections to take place, and put to an end the arrest of opposition leaders…,” he added.

Batchilly noted that the people of Senegal deserve a transparent electoral process to elect their leaders freely without fear.

“I urge President Macky Sall to reconsider his decision not to run in the coming elections and to ensure a level-playing field for all contesting members.

Our democratic progress should not be tarnished by actions that resemble dictatorial tendencies. Let us come together as Africans and advocate peace, stability, and justice in Senegal,” he added.

He reiterated the importance of unity and dialogue as essential for a better future for the continent, noting that with unity, people can build a stronger, more prosperous, and democratic Africa.

“May peace prevail in Senegal and throughout the African continent,” he concluded.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The president of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow has praised President Macky Sall on his recent move to not contest the 2024 Senegal Presidential election, noting that his Senegalese counterpart has revitalized the democratic aspirations of the people of Senegal and that other African leaders should follow suit.

President Barrow made these remarks while addressing the delegates in the 3rd Senegalo-Gambian presidential council meeting currently underway at the Sir Dawda Kairaba International Conference Center in Bijilo.

President Adama Barrow noted that Sall has set an example for many African leaders to follow, especially for those whose constitution bars a president from serving for more than two consecutive terms.

“Your Excellency, you have set an example for other African leaders to follow, especially those whose constitution prescribed term limits. Thus, your courage and consideration for democracy to strive is worth commendation,” he remarked.

In his praise for Macky Sall, Barrow said that Sall’s decision recently has not only provided hope but revitalized the democratic wishes of the people of Senegal.

“My dear brother, your recent declaration to voluntarily step down after two terms of your presidency has not only generated hope but also revitalized the democratic aspirations of your citizens and the people of ECOWAS and the subregion”.

The two presidents, Adama Barrow and Macky Sall, are currently on a biennial joint presidential council meeting dubbed the Senegalo-Gambian presidential meeting.

The meeting is centred on a variety of issues that strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

By: Dawda Baldeh & Mamadi Sawo

Musa Touray is a Gambian residing in Dubai. His friend, Siaka Danjo, has been in prison for almost a year; and Musa is pleading with the Gambian embassy in Dubai and other authorities to intervene and facilitate the release of his friend.

Speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network, Musa said he is worried as his friend has been imprisoned for a year without being tried or informed of his crime.

According to him, Siaka Danjo is a resident of Kuwonku in the Upper River Region who travelled to Dubai some years ago, revealing that Gambians in Dubai are facing serious problems, with many being detained in prisons.

“Siaka Danjo was arrested alongside two other Gambians. Siaka was working in a company, but the contract ended due to the collapse of the company.

As a result, the employers informed him that they were laying off workers due to the company’s poor performance.

He had left his passport, other work tools, and clothes at the company. While on his way to retrieve his belongings, the Dubai police pursued and apprehended them, and all three were taken to prison,” Musa narrated his friend’s plight.

However, the other two boys arrested alongside Siaka were later released, but Siaka was not.

Touray mentioned that they have exhausted all possible means to seek an explanation from the authorities, but have not received any reason for Siaka’s continued imprisonment.

He claimed that the initial Gambian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates was informed about the arrest, but that he visited only once.

“Unfortunately, this visit happened during a transition of ambassadors in Dubai,” he said.

Touray added that the new ambassador was also informed about the issue.

Musa expressed dismay at the Gambian authorities in Dubai for what he described as “neglect of their citizens”.

“When I informed the new ambassador about the case, he consistently asked for the name of the arrestee and his cell number, seemingly unaware of the details despite being informed multiple times,” Musa further claimed.

He criticized the ambassador for not taking the case seriously.

“After one week of being informed, I asked the ambassador if he had visited the prison but he repeatedly inquired about the name of the arrestee,” adding that the prison authorities have always been asking him if the Gambian ambassador was aware of his friend detention.

Siaka calls me almost every Friday to inquire about his case. Each time he calls, I inform him that I have notified the embassy, but they haven’t taken any action yet,” he explained.

Musa said, after giving the case number to the embassy, he was expecting the embassy authorities to search for his friend in all prisons because they are the representatives of Gambians in the UAE.

The regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has given a seven-day ultimatum to the military coupists in Niger to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face military action, among other sanctions.

The ultimatum came following the resolution of the Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, held on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria.

The regional bloc threatened to impose land border closures and no-fly zone conditions on Niger if the coupists refuse to comply with the given ultimatum.

ECOWAS authorities have also asked Chiefs of Defense Staff of member states to proceed for an emergency meeting to strategize ways to implement a possible military operation to restore constitutional order in Niger.

Other actions threatened by the regional body to impose on Niger, as communicated in its resolution communique are as follows:

“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Asia. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions.

“Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.

“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID”, he said.

“In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Asia. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions.

“Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.

“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID”.

The subregional body called for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum and restoration of constitutional in the West Africa nation, reiterating that in the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, “all measures necessary to restore constitutional order,” would be taken.

The coupists have however warned ECOWAS and others to stay off, noting that they are prepared to resist any external action.