By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

When Bakary went to Rwanda to participate in the Peace Building Institute under Never Again Rwanda in February 2020, he was inspired by the history of Rwanda to replicate a similar thing in the Gambia.

“I was inspired by participation at the Peacebuilding institute under Never Again Rwanda, after an intensive training I had and understanding the history of Rwanda, I was inspired to replicate something like that back home, that’s what gave birth to PHTG”.

Two months later, in May 2020, Bakary founded Peace Hub The Gambia, a peacebuilding organisation that will make indelible strides within a short period.

Christened Bakary Dena Sonko, the 25-year-old award-winning peace advocate and educator was born in Essau, in the North Bank Region of the Gambia.   He grew up in Essau, a village that looks like a city.  His background growing up and what he sees in his vicinity shaped his focus till today.

A trained teacher and an advanced Diploma holder in Peace and Conflict Studies and a final year student at the University of the Gambia, Bakary desires change through advocacy.

“Growing up as a young man, I’ve lived and witnessed how differences were handled and how people live together and the happiness I drive from seeing people live together coupled with my desire to become a diplomat encourages me more to study peace and conflict and venture into peace advocacy”, he explained to The Fatu Network.

Developed an appellation ‘Tha Change’ and ‘Peacetivits’, courtesy of his passion for producing change through advocacy and dialogue, Bakary’s journey into activism in peace and nurturing the brains of young people is an amazing tale.

According to him, his background growing up in Essau motivated  him in his direction.

“I’ve developed so much passion for peace advocacy and this is largely inspired by my background as a young man growing up, and those experiences shaped my desire to do the work I do today.

“Equally, harnessing the potentials of youth offers the best hope for both personal and collective growth, the desire to grow and help others grow inspired my work as a young leader”.

Since he co-founded the Peace Hub Gambia (PUTG) in May 2020, they have embarked on a series of tours from one region to another in advocating peace, building the capacity of young people,youth political participation and diversity.

The Peace Hub is a youth-led social cohesion organisation that focuses on promoting youth participation in the peacebuilding process.  The organisation seeks to keep on building the capacity of young people to be the centre for all peace processes in The Gambia.

Some time ago, Bakary and his team made a breakthrough between the people of Gunjur and Berending village in Kombo South and the land conflict in Salikene where his team settled the disputes. According to him, these are the organisation’s utmost accomplishments in addition to building the capacity of young Gambians in peace and conflict issues.

The 25-year-old and his team built the capacity of young people in these villages and after the benefits, they organised a football game which warranted the demise of the conflict in these villages.

A final year Development student at the University of The Gambia, Bakary visualizes a safer and better Gambia for all young people including persons living with disabilities and the Gambia that will cater for all.

In addition to empowering youths through capacity building in peace and conflict, Bakary’s Peace Hub The Gambia has provided employment opportunities for eight young Gambians who work at the organisation’s office.

A passionate young Gambian, Bakary is an award-winning peace advocate and educator, a trained leadership champion, and a champion of the sustainable development goals with more focus on goal 16. As a passionate peacebuilder, Bakary has spent a lot of his time raising awareness on youth political participation through his strong advocacy of the realization of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda in The Gambia.

As a peacebuilder, He mobilizes communities and inspires them to action by ensuring peace and security in those communities.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on 19th May facilitated the voluntary humanitarian return of 148 Gambian migrants stranded in Libya through a return flight, and another 45 through a commercial flight from Niger.

A statement from the organization states that this represents the highest number of Gambian migrants assisted with voluntary return in a single day, since IOM opened a country office in The Gambia in July 2017. The 193 migrants who returned included 184 men, 3 women and 6 children.

“Today’s flights reflect the great work of our teams across multiple countries, who are always ready to support stranded migrants in need,” emphasized Fumiko Nagano, IOM’s Chief of Mission in The Gambia.

“This further highlights our strong partnership and coordination with relevant authorities to promote the safe and dignified return and reintegration of migrants into their communities.”

Prior to departure, IOM staff in Tripoli and Niamey provided all returning migrants with health checks and pre-departure transportation assistance, counselling services and protection screening. In addition, personal protective equipment in compliance with COVID-19 regulations was provided.

The returnees from Libya included vulnerable migrants who had been subject to exploitation and violence. Those with identified vulnerabilities were referred for further assistance.

Since 2017, over 3,300 Gambians have benefitted from IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme, which offers a dignified and safe return for migrants stranded in Libya.

Most of the Gambian migrants who returned from Niger were stranded in the desert at the border with Algeria, in the Agadez region. In Agadez and Niamey, IOM’s team provides emergency and life-saving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants in one of its seven transit centres.

This assistance includes registration, accommodation, food, health care, psychosocial support, and assistance in the delivery of consular documents before they return to their country of origin. Since 2017, over 1,700 Gambian migrants have been assisted to return home from Niger. Of those supported to return, three were from Senegal and were supported with onward transportation.

Upon arrival in The Gambia, returnees received a comprehensive orientation on the process of receiving reintegration assistance – which may include economic, social and psychosocial support, tailored to each returnee’s needs.

The returns were made possible through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration, funded by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

Magistrate Sainey Joof of the Bansang Magistrate Court in the Central River Region (CRR) has remanded 14 villagers of Kerr Mot Ali in the Upper Saloum District, Central River Region (CRR) at the Janjangbureh Prison pending their appearance at the High Court

The accused persons are facing two counts of felony and arson. However, they both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The accused persons; Omar John, Ali Ceesay, Abdou Mbaye, Ali Secka, Ali Ceesay, Musa Mbaye, Haddim Ceesay, Mod Talla Secka, Modou Habib Secka, Abdoulie Sowe, Batch Samba, Modou Habib Secka, Sheikh Sey and Mustapha Ceesay are all facing conspiracy to commit felony contrary to section 32 (a) of the criminal code cap 10 Volume 3 Laws of The Gambia and Arson contrary to Section 305 of the Criminal Code Sub Section 8 Cap 10 Volume 3 Laws of The Gambia.

According to the particulars of offence, all accused persons sometime in the month of May 2022 at Kerr Mot Ali village in The Gambia in the Upper Saloum District of CRR, conspired among themselves to commit a felony there with arson thereby committing an offence.

Count two states that sometime in the month of May 2022 at Kerr Mot Ali village, all the accused persons willfully and unlawfully set fire and burned the houses of Musa Secka, Lamin Sowe and Alhagie Ousman Secka to ashes.

Shortly after their plea of not guilty, police prosecutor Sub-Inspector M. Conteh assisted by sergeant 3449 Kemo Jabang applied for the case to be transferred to the High Court and that the accused person be remanded in custody, arguing that the magistrate court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the case in accordance with the special criminal code.

However, Lawyer Sheriff Kumba Jobe, who announced his appearance for the accused persons argued that since the court that the Bansang Magistrate Court lacks the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter, arranging the accused at the said magistrate court is a violation of the accuses’ rights and that the prosecution team didn’t follow due process.

Lawyer Jobe further urged the court to discharge the accused persons, citing competence, territorial jurisdiction and merits.

However, after a thorough look into the two submissions made by both parties, Magistrate Joof overruled the defence’s application, thus ordering for all the accused persons to be remanded in prison pending the ongoing investigation.

The Embassy of The Gambia to the United States of America and the Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the United Nations in New York have confirmed the distribution of The Gambia Government allocated funds of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) amongst Gambians involved in the Bronx fire disaster that took place on 9 January, 2022. The fire claimed seventeen lives. Fifteen of the deceased were Gambians.

The Mission and the Embassy, in concert with the Gambian community leaders designed a distribution formula which allocated Two Thousand Dollars ($2000.00) to each deceased person. With this, altogether the representatives of the Fifteen (15) dead persons received Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00), whilst the remaining Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) was shared amongst the rest of surviving victims through their family or household representatives. A total of 103 survivors received $679.61 each amounting to $70,000.00.

In his welcoming remarks, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the United Nations in New York, H.E. Lang Yabou, warmly welcomed victims’ families to the Mission and thanked them on behalf of H.E. the President for coming to receive what he described as a gesture of solidarity from the Government of The Gambia. He said the circumstance that led to the meeting is indeed an undesired one, noting that worldly ephemeral material cannot be equated to human life because it is sacrosanct. He used the opportunity to pray for Allah’s mercy on the departed souls.

Ambassador Yabou explained that previous meetings and consultations with families of victims were all geared towards ensuring that no member of victims’ families is left behind. He said accountability is an integral part of good governance thus the need to ensuring that every victim gets his or her fair share of the funds. He informed the gathering that as government representatives, accountability and transparency are key to their work.

Ambassador Yabou recognised great efforts made by the staff of the Permanent Mission as well as the collaboration and support given by The Gambia Embassy in Washington, D.C, the 2 Mosques, Gambia Youth Organisation and Elders in generating an all-inclusive data concerning the victims and families. He reiterated that the involvement and presence of the Embassy in Washington, D.C. is important as the welfare of every Gambian in the United States falls squarely under the Embassy.

The Ambassador used the opportunity to hail the unity and solidarity between members of the Gambian community, especially, when the unfortunate incident happened. He said the incident has further strengthened bonds of solidarity adding that each and every member of the community rendered support to victims in one way or the other. Ambassador Yabou returned gratitude to His Excellency, the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People of The Gambia for the support given as The Gambia is the only country that gave such a relief package to its citizens affected by the fire. He therefore urged families to remain strong adding that the tragedy was ordained by Allah (SWT).

Ambassador Yabou recalled the prompt engagement of the late Ambassador Dawda D. Fadera when the tragedy happened and how the team and the Foreign Minister, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara discussed the issue of the humanitarian gesture and came to a consensus that support should be given to the victims.

He called on the community to inculcate high sense of discipline in their children and send them to school. This, he added, would further increase the value and recognition of the community in the US. He also informed the gathering that The Gambia Government is appreciative of support given by Gambians in the United States as well as other nationals.

The Honorary Consul-Designate, Mr. Ebou Cham, commended the entire Gambian community for the cordial working relations he had with them since the incident broke out. He used the opportunity to pray for the victims by wishing them peace and unity as a community.

Mr. Sheikh Musa Drammeh, a community leader, who spoke on behalf of the community said it is not the amount given but it is the gesture that matters and that meant a lot to them. He thanked the staff of the Mission in New York and the Embassy in DC for the collaboration and support since the incident happened. The support, Mr. Drammeh said, was overwhelming and therefore expressed profound gratitude and assured that as a community they will continue to support and defend the Government and its officials. He observed that it is consoling to know that the Government is sensitive to their pain.  He expressed the community’s displeasure over what he referred to as the lack of enough support and sensitivity from the US authorities. Mr. Drammeh concluded by calling for urgent steps to be taken by their community elected authorities to address the challenges facing them as a community.

A number of family representatives took the floor to commend and pray for the Mission and Embassy Staff as well as the Government and people of The Gambia while expressing their sincere appreciation for the donation. They asked the Ambassador to convey their sincere appreciation to His Excellency, the President and his Government.

Credit: Embassy of Gambia in Washington DC, USA (Facebook page)

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Country Director for the Gambia under the International Model Diplomats For Integrated Development (IMDID), Muhammed Kanyi, has told young people of the Gambia to decorate themselves with ethics and values to raise the standards of integrity and resourcefulness in the society.

Speaking to the Fatu Network, the Information, Technology and Communications specialist explained that if the young people are innovative, they will remain relevant in a progressive society.

“We must adorn ourselves with admirable ethics and values, and raised the standards of integrity, and credibility and resourcefulness in our society”, he pointed out.

He further said that young people in the Gambia should be creative enough to have the ability to identify needs in society and proffer adequate solutions to address the needs.

Kanyi, a passionate advocate of justice and equal opportunities also encourages young people to contest in the next local government elections as councilors, chairmpersons or mayors.  He outlined that elected offices are where decisions and made and influenced.

” It is only prudent that more young people brace up to contest for electoral offices.  Being in such positions will grant us (youths)the platform to influence major decisions at the community and national levels that affect the lives and livelihood of young people across the country”.

He used the April parliamentary elections as examples where few young people contested and won.

The Gambia will witness local government elections next year where wards and regions will elect ward councilors and area council chairpersons and mayors to steer their affairs at the local level.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of The Gambia Football Federation, Lamin Jassey has come out in defence of the federation’s decision to play the country’s home game in Senegal as the Gambia’s independence stadium faces a temporary ban from hosting international games.

The General Secretary said that playing home games in Senegal is not a shame as opposed to critics’ claims.  He argued that the Gambia and Senegal are friendly neighbours, adding that those saying the move is a shame are not getting things clear.

“It is not a shame. They are our neighbours.”    He went further: “We are always going to Senegal for our private businesses and Senegalese are here.  People that are saying it is shams don’t get it.  They are our closest neighbours. We are inter-linked and married”, he pointed out.

He also pointed out that the Senegalese national team at some point played its home game in The Gambia. He explained that standards have lifted, adding that when the independence stadium was built, the current standard was not set up.

The Gambia senior national team will be playing its home games away in Senegal due to the ban meted on the independence stadium.

On the 4th of June, the Gambia will be hosting South Sudan in Thies, Senegal as the qualifies for Ivory Coast 2023 starts.

According to Jassey, since the federation received the notification of the banning of the independence stadium, they forwarded it to the Gambia government and he claimed that the government is working on that.

Speaking to the Federation’s media earlier today, 19th May, the chairman of the events management committee, William Abraham told Gambians that the stadium in Thies is very small, confirming that tickets will be out by next week.

He explained that the capacity of the stadium is eight thousand and seven hundred seats.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) Leader and Secretary General ANM Ousainu Darboe has congratulated the Mayor of Banjul Rohey Malick Lowe on her election as president of REFELA the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa.

“On behalf of the National Executive Committee, the Central Committee and all members of the UDP and indeed on my behalf I wish to express my heartiest felicitations to Rohey Malick Lowe, the mayor of Banjul, the Capital city of the Gambia for her election as the President of REFELA. This is not the first time that the Mayor of Banjul has garnered global recognition for her work and formidable leadership qualities,” Ousainou Darboe wrote.

He further noted that as a political movement they are extremely proud of the Mayor’s many accomplishments at home and abroad and believes that this newest accolade for the Mayor of Banjul is a fitting tribute to Gambian women leaders.

“Therefore this wonderful news is extended to the former Vice Presidents: Her Excellency Mrs Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang & Her Excellency Dr Isatou Touray. In the same vein, the happy news is extended to His Excellency President Adama Barrow and the Government of the Gambia.”

By: Dawda Baldeh

Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has disclosed that they collected Twelve Billion Dalasi in 2021.

Speaking to The Fatu Network at a tax compliance engagement with stakeholders at Metzy Hotel in Kololi, Mr. Darboe said that Gambia is a tax-based economy where government relies heavily on internally generated revenue for implementing national development projects.

He said GRA has made significant improvements and progress over the years.

“The annual revenue collected was not more than Two Hundred Million Dalasis (D200, 000,000) per year. But now, it is different. We collected over D12bn for government in 2021,” he disclosed.

He reiterated that GRA is committed to enhancing revenue collection for national development while urging business operators to register their businesses.

“We all know that the country is a tax-based economy. We know what is happening in the country. As such, we try to make our taxpayers our friends.”

“We work with them in terms of tax obligations. We could’ve closed businesses for not paying taxes on time but GRA is doing its utmost in terms of tax obligations. Even if you have tax liability of millions, GRA will work with you in terms of payment plans until you complete your tax arrears.”

Commissioner Darboe noted that tax collection remains their top priority, adding that GRA also organizes annual “taxpayers award” to recognize the efforts of the compliant taxpayers.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Elections Watch Committee (EWC) has disclosed that there was no major incident reported during the voting and counting processes in the recently conducted counsellorship by-elections in KMC and West Coast Regions.

The EWC made the disclosure at a press conference held at its head office in Kanifing on Monday 16^th May 2022 to update the media on their preliminary findings pertaining the said elections.

EWC elections preliminary report also disclosed that campaigns were peaceful but however confirmed low voter turnout during polling. According to the reports, Gambians peacefully participated in the said by-elections with few minor challenges.

According to EWC, over fifty-nine trained and accredited observers were deployed across forty-nine polling stations to monitor the voting and counting processes. These include six mobile and fifty-three stationed observers.

Ndegen Jobe, Deputy Speaker of National Youths Parliament, confirmed that they observed low turnout during polling.

“The EWC has observed key aspects of this electoral process beginning with the campaign period and released its findings about the pre-election environment with corresponding  recommendations to election stakeholders. Our observers noted low presence of security personnel during campaigns and low sensitization of Covid-19 prevention messages. Our observers also confirmed that most polling stations opened on time.”

The committee has been monitoring various election processes in the country ranging from presidential, parliamentary and local council elections.

It reports that political parties and candidates conducted their campaigns without restrictions, but however confirmed low presence of security personnel in various polling stations.

“One of the challenges we still faced is the lack of proper communication from the Independent Electoral Commission. Sometimes, they do changes without informing us and our people will be deployed to certain places and later found out about the unannounced changes. This is still affecting us,” Momodou Juju Jallow, National Coordinator, National Youths Parliament explained.

The report indicated that low level of messaging and adherence to Covid-19 health and safety protocols during the campaign period as well as on polling day were not observed. However, it confirmed that all eligible voters were allowed to cast their votes.

The committee recommended for political parties and candidates to utilize the prescribed legal process to pursue any complains and to ensure that party agents are trained on election procedures and understand their role in observing election processes.

The IEC is also recommended to publicly provide polling stream level results in a machine-readable format in a timely manner as a measure of transparency. They also give similar recommendations to the media and security personnel on elections matters.

The Elections Watch Committee (EWC) seeks to facilitate well-coordinated and organized mechanisms election processes and reforms in The Gambia. The Committee also seeks to increase citizens’ participation in electoral processes, thereby promoting a transparent and accountable democratic system in the country.

The Election Watch Committee comprises Peace Ambassadors – The Gambia, National Youths Parliament and ACTIVISTA.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

A vocal and renowned youth activist in the Central River Region, Muhammed L. Saidykhan has said that the rural communities in the Gambia have been marginalised from the national awards staged by different institutions in the country in recognizing the efforts of different people in different sectors.

He said this as a group of young rural descendants begin preparations for the first-ever rural awards night in The Gambia.

“Rural Gambia has been marginalised for far too long especially in awards and in recognising the efforts of Gambians. Almost 90 per cent of awards in this country have marginalised the work of people in the rural Gambia”, he claimed.

Speaking to the Fatu Network, Saidykhan explained that young people and women in the rural parts of the Gambia are doing well in the national discourse on agriculture, sports and entrepreneurship. He outlined that there are lots of vulnerabilities in the youth folks in rural Gambia compared to those in urban areas.  He described the alleged marginalisation of rural people in national awards as unfair.

Saidykhan further argued that almost 90 per cent of those making waves in the national discussion are all from rural Gambia. He said women in rural Gambia are supplying markets in the urban areas with their products from gardens he rural Gambia.

Amidst the claimed marginalization of rural people in national awards organised by different groups, a group of young people in rural Gambia are bracing up for the first rural night awards in October this year.

Muhammed L. Saidykhan told the FatuNetwork that the composition of a group dubbed ‘working group’, are young people from the rural areas who are ready to organise the events in acknowledging the efforts of people in the rural areas contrary to national awards.

“The composition is brilliant. They are young people that you will see on the spectrum of national discourse in education and development”, he said.

He explained that this ‘working group’ will roll out their plans on the  24th of this month to start mobilising resources.

He added that everything will be done in rural settings.   According to him,  the awards will start from region 2 to 6.

Saidykhan further encouraged young people and women in the rural communities to continue delivering the goods.

He equally told TFN that they are not into any sort of competition with those in the urban areas but standing for justice and making the voices of rural people heard.

Six people have been reportedly wounded after Senegalese Forces, believed to be stationed in Cassamance, reportedly shot a military drone in The Gambian territory, The Fatu Network can authoritatively report.

The victims at the time of gathering the report were hospitalized at the Bwiam General Hospital in the Foni Kansala District of the West Coast Region receiving medical attention.

The Fatu Network has been reliably informed that the victims are from Jakin Village in the Foni Bintang District of the WCR.

Almameh Gibba, the National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala who was contacted for comments confirmed the development, saying: “All the six individuals are from Jikin village and they are currently being transported to Ndemban Clinic for further medical attention,” he said

Narrating how the incident happened, Gibba further added: “We understand that the boys were in the bush to fetch firewood when the Senegalese forces reportedly fired a drone which resulted to their injuries.”

“I have called my follow national assembly members in the entire Foni districts and we are going to the hospital to ascertain what went wrong.”

The spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces couldn’t be reached for comments at the time of going to press.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Police Commissioner in Brikama and Banjulinding Police stations has held a mediation meeting at the Banjulinding Police Station with all parties involved in the ‘Brikama-Gidda taxi fare increment saga’. The essence of the meeting is to discuss and resolve the ongoing crisis which started following an increase in transportation fare by taxi drivers plying the Brikama-Gidda route

In attendance was the Executive Committee of the Brikama-Gidda Taxi Garage, Chairman of the Gidda Village Development Committee, Community Women Leaders and representatives from the Gambia Transport Union.

For over one week, the taxi drivers plying the route to Gidda have either stopped plying the route or insisted passengers pay the new fee of 13 Dalasi. Others have even gone to the extent to embark only on town trips which are quite expensive.

Yesterday, this medium reported that negotiations between the people of Gidda Community in Brikama and the taxi drivers came to a standstill leaving commuters with no choice but to either trek or pay ‘town trips’.

At about noon today Tuesday 17th May 2022 negotiations continued.

According to the Public Relations Officer of Gidda Youths For Development the Commissioner of Police in Banjulinding and transport union representatives on the ground made it clear that all town taxi fares are D10.

However, speaking to TFN, the president of the ‘dalasi dalasi’ garage, Buba Jallow said that the Commissioner of Police said they (police) will not impose on the drivers what to do, meaning they are free to either have a change of mind or continue with their town-trips.

“They did not say it will be by force. It is left to us to accept the D10 as transport fare. But at our level, if the people of Gidda still insist that they will pay only D10, my drivers will insist that they will only go on town trips. However, if any driver wants to go by D10, that’s fine”, he told TFN.

He insisted that as drivers they will stand by their previous statement which was that people pay 13D or opt for a town trip. He advised the people of Gidda to pay D13 or continue facing the challenges they currently face.

He explained that the reason why they are insisting on the D13 is because Gidda is off the road, and it is not a smooth route for drivers.

This means that despite the intervention of the Police Commissioner and members of the transport union, the impasse is yet to be solved.

At the time this story was published taxi drivers at the Brikama Gidda Garage had not started plying the route for the normal fare f 10D.

Meanwhile, some drivers have threatened to abandon plying the route if the community continues to insist on paying 10D.

By: Christian Conteh

The country’s Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA-ROLI) is organising a 3-day civil society organisation and stakeholder consultation on the victims’ bill. According to a joint statement from the institutions, the overarching objective of the consultation is to capture views and perspectives that will assist in the process of shaping the Victims’ Reparations Bill.

“The stakeholder consultations will be conducted in the Greater Banjul area by ABA-ROLI whilst regional consultations will be conducted by ICTJ. The outcomes of all these consultations will feed into a single report to contribute to the Bill,” the statement read.

The specific objectives of the consultations are to have an inclusive and participatory process that reflects and is responsive to victims’ needs, expectations and interests in the Bill and to ensure adequate representation from various regions across the Gambia which reflects the national and varied perspectives on victims’ reparations.

This comes at a time when The Gambia is going through a transitional justice process following 22 years of dictatorship. At the top of the transition, agenda is the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) amongst other transitional justice mechanisms.

It is expected that at this stage the government will act on the recommendations of the TRRC by taking steps in both the immediate and long-term to implement the TRRC recommendations, one of these being rolling out a comprehensive nationwide reparations program for victims of human rights violations during the previous Jammeh era.

The issues or areas that the consultation will cover include; but will not be limited to having a definition of a victim, clearly outlining the forms of reparations and criteria for designating victims, appreciating the harm of different categories of victims, having a clearly spelt out scope of the victims’ bill and sourcing views on the proposal to establish a successor body to the TRRC on reparations payments among others.

To create a safe space for participants and ensure effective participation, the consultations will take the form of focused groups. The groups will include; one on enforced disappearances & unlawful killings, sexual and gender-based violence, president’s alternative treatment program, witch-hunt exercise, torture, the April 10 and 11 student demonstrations and attack on religious, political and media freedoms.

It is expected that after the consultations a comprehensive report of recommendations and issues raised by victims and CSOs will inform the draft Bill.

By: Yorro Mballow 

Former Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of The Gambia, Lang Tombong Tamba who happens to be a strong advocate for the home return of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, has in an audio said the former feared ruler has blown off his chance of returning to the country.

“Yahya Jammeh is the reason why he is still in exile. Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his executive went into an alliance with Adama Barrow so that when he (Adama Barrow) wins as President of The Gambia, he would open up for Jammeh to come back just like Jammeh did to Jawara. That was the terms of the agreement; but even before they finished negotiating, Jammeh came out to say he didn’t ask them to go into a coalition to the extent of causing a breakaway in the APRC.”

“This is why I don’t want to discuss this topic. We are all aware when he sent me to jail for doing nothing. For six years, I was in Mile 2 until when I was pardoned. I said I have forgiven all including him. This is why when Fabakary and team wanted to start negotiating with Barrow, I joined them to make sure that he returns to this country,” Tamba said.

He said when he was CDS, he served Jammeh to the best of his ability.

“I saved his life during the Ndure Cham coup attempt in 2006. If that coup had succeeded, we would not be talking about him today. Nobody likes Jammeh more than I do, and I will say it here that I played a significant role in 1994 to help Jammeh become president,” he expressed.

He said he doesn’t feel Jammeh wants to come back, saying that he might be comfortable in Equatorial Guinea.

“Those of you who are talking to Jammeh should tell him that he is no more the president and that he has no voice in this country. He should swallow that,” he concluded.

Erstwhile President Jammeh has been living in exile in Equatorial Guinea since he lost power in 2017.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Gambian international striker and erstwhile U20 goal poacher, Momodou Bojang has announced that he is fit and ready to represent the senior national team of the Gambia now.

Major, as fondly called, currently plays for the Portuguese side Famalicao in the Portuguese top division league.  The young star told the Fatu Network that he is ready to play for national team after almost a year in Portugal.

“I am hundred percent fit to play for the national team right now. I am ready to play and that’s my dream right now to put on the national team jersey for the Gambia senior team”, he voiced.

The 20-year-old former Brikama United striker scored six goals and assisted two in the Famalicao FC’s second team this season.

The nimble attacker asclared that since his arrival in Portugal from Rainbow Fc in The Gambia, his footballing style has changed and that has made him a better player that the Gambia national team will need.

” I can help the national team in many ways. I am a striker who always fights with defenders and I am good at scoring goals whenever it is needed most”, he told The Fatu Network.

Momodou is playing a week in and week out for Famalicao’s second team where he played 17 games so far. He told this medium that he is always working hard to get to the next level.

The 20-year-old striker scored six goals for the Gambia national U20 side including the WAFU tournament success in Senegal.

The Gambia National team is blessed with very many lethal attackers. However, Momodou Bojang is another option for head coach Tom Saintfeint who has Assan Ceesay, Musa Barrow, Steve Trawally, Badamosi, Dembo Darboe, Yusupha Njie and Babucarr Jobe as strikers.

Next month, the National team will begin their AFCON 2023 qualifies to Ivory Coast when they would host Sudan in Senegal on June 4.

By: Christian Conteh

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Agriculture has as of Monday 16^th May 2022 confirmed the death of 91 heads of cattle, 53 goats and 79 sheep bringing the total to 223 livestock.

The death of these animals follows the outbreak of Anthrax disease in Port Loko District in the North-Western Region of the country.

This was confirmed by Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry at an emergency news conference held at Youyi Building, Brookfields in Freetown.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture I wish to take this opportunity to inform you of a confirmed case of Anthrax in the Port Loko District in the North-Western Region of the country,” Minister Abu Bakarr Karim said.

According to the minister, in Sierra Leone Anthrax falls under the category of re-emerging zoonotic (affects both animals and humans) diseases with the last reported outbreak in the country in 1994.

“The outbreak of Anthrax has so far been detected in the District of Port Loko to date a total of 91 heads of cattle, 53 goats and 79 sheep in Kamasondo and Gbakiloko,” he said.

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus Anthracis. Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. Since it is zoonotic humans can also be infected.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health have under the one health platform encouraged Sierra Leoneans to report any sign of sick animals and urged everyone to avoid treating sick animals or eating their products.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

For one week, taxis in the Brikama ‘dalasi dalasi’ garage have stopped going to Gidda, a big and highly populated community in Brikama. This is in direct response to the new transport tariff increase. The few taxis who still make the journey do so on a ‘ town trip’ basis, leaving those who cannot afford a ‘town trip’ to trek through the long distance.

According to our sources the taxi drivers initially increased the fare to Gidda from the garage to D15, a tariff, the community protested against and described as unfair.

Speaking to the Fatu Network the Public Relations Officer of the Gidda Youths for Development, Foday Conteh, said the taxi drivers have to accept the D10 as a tariff or cease using the Gidda-Brikama route because the community cannot pay D15.

“At the level of the community, we have unanimously concluded that we are not going to pay D15 as fare. This is our stand and the Imam, Alkalo and the Ward Councillor are all in support of our stand.”

The Fatu Network understands that taxi drivers only go to Gidda on ‘Town trips’, which cost commuters D100 during the day and D150 to D200 at night.

According to Foday, the normal tariff should be D10. He asserted that before the new tariff, the fare was D8 but the drivers made it D100 based on their desire. This he says will not happen anymore.

Foday further said that they had a discussion with the taxi garage president and the Mobile traffic Units at the Brikama police station over the issue and all these people admitted to them that the fare is ten dalasis.

He alleged that it is only the community of Gidda who are asked to be paying D15 in the whole Brikama.

“The new tariff states that all town taxis are D10, It is only these drivers plying the Gidda route that made it D15.00 at their discretion,” he said.

However, when The Fatu Network reached out to the taxi garage, the president of the garage, Mr. Buba Jallow said the fare is not D15 but D13.

According to Jallow, it was D15 dalasi but they had reduced it to D13. However, the community of Gidda still insist that it should be D10, as a result, they stopped plying the route, he said

“We had a discussion with the Vice Chairman of Brikama Area Council. After the discussion, we reduced it to D13 and gave them two fares: taxis for D13 and vans for D10 but they still insist that it should be ten dalasis”, Jallow said.

He said that as long as the youth and the community of Gidda didn’t agree to that, his drivers would continue to take only town trips.

Meanwhile, the PRO of the Gidda Youths For Development has emphasised that the taxi drivers will either take a fare of 10D or stop plying the route as agreed at the community level.

Gambians anxiously await the release of the Government White Paper on the TRRC recommendations.

In the context of governance, White Paper is generally the position of government on recommendations made by an established commission of inquiry. There are two common patterns of White Papers. Government can either accept some of the recommendations or accept all of the recommendations, depending on its position on the said inquiry and its report.

The Gambia government recently disclosed that it will be releasing the long-awaited White Paper on Wednesday 25^th May 2022.

The announcement came after President Adama Barrow presided over a two-day cabinet session where the draft White Paper on recommendations of the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s (TRRC) report was reviewed.

Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, later disclosed that the White Paper will be issued out on Wednesday 25th May 2022.

In December 2021, The Gambia government released the TRRC report. The TRRC was set up in 2017 to investigate human rights abuses during the Yahya Jammeh reign from July 1994 to December 2016.

The report implicates erstwhile president Yahya Jammeh, who now lives in exile in Guinea Bissau, in many extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations which occurred during his reign.

“I can assure you that the government is committed to implementing the report subject to the outcome of the white paper,” Dawda Jallow, the minister of Justice and Attorney General assured.

Gambians await to see the bold actions of government on the TRRC recommendations. One major question in the minds of many is whether the White Paper will accept and provide for the prosecution of ex-president Jammeh and other top officials implicated in the TRRC report.

Banjul, The Gambia – Karpowership Gambia, on Thursday 28th April 2022 signed a contract with The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) for the extension of operations in the West African country.

According to the terms of the new contract, Karpowership will provide 30MW of power to The Gambia’s national grid from its Powership anchored off the coast of Banjul with Heavy Fuel Oil for first three years. In the signing ceremony Karpowership and NAWEC agreed to convert the operations to LNG-to-Power (generating power by utilizing Liquefied Natural Gas) before the end of the three years. If the terms of operating with LNG are more favorable to NAWEC and KPS, the contract will be extended for another 5 years with LNG and thereby meeting the requirements of the Government of The Gambia’s policy of using cleaner energy.

Following a Power Purchase Agreement with NAWEC, in February 2018 Karpowership began supplying 30 MW of power into the national grid for a period of two years. The intervention of Karpowership significantly helped stabilize the erratic power supply in the country warranting the contract’s renewal for an additional two years in 2020.

Emre Durmuşoğlu, Karpowership Africa Regional Director, said that Karpowership has a proven track record of supplying sustainable, clean, reliable, and affordable electricity with all its Powerships operations in 4 continents. He stated: “Karpowership supplies uninterrupted and reliable electricity at one of the lowest prices for thermal power generation. With our dual engines and hybrid operational capabilities, we will be able to switch our project in The Gambia to LNG-to-Power, utilizing natural gas, which produces far less carbon dioxide than its alternatives. We have been very proud to play our role in answering The Gambia’s electricity needs while creating employment opportunities.

About Karpowership

Karpowership is the only owner, operator and builder of the first Powership™️ (floating power plant) fleet in the world and plays an active role in medium to long-term investments with more than 2500 employees. Currently, Karpowership owns and operates 36 Powerships with an installed capacity of 6,000 MW. Karpowership is operational in 15 countries in 4 continents.

Karpowership is a socially responsible company committed to the development of communities in which they operate. With its operations in The Gambia, the company engages in social responsibility projects that supports the development of the communities as well as providing educational tools. As a strategic partner, Karpowership is committed to The Gambia’s development and will continue to provide all Gambians sustainable, reliable, clean and affordable electricity.

www.karpowership.com

For more information

Karen Kumbasar – Corporate Communication and Marketing Manager

Fatu Camara – Local Agent: [email protected]

Baba Sheriff Bojang – Local Agent: [email protected]