By Amara Thoronka

Gambia Police have advised citizens and non-citizens residing in the country to be vigilant in their dealings or transactions with unknown persons, especially when converting foreign currencies into local notes.

This comes after police in the Senegambia area arrested a man suspected of being in possession of fake CFA bank notes.

Police have identified the accused as Malick Sey, a 20 year old resident of Kololi who went to a bureau and attempted to change the said fake CFA notes into Gambian dalasi.

The accused is said to have entered a bureau to convert 50,000 CFA into dalasi. The bureau attendant had already given him D4,500 but soon detected that 20,000 CFA out of the 50,000 CFA was counterfeit. Malick Sey (the accused) was already on his way out when the bureau attendant raised an alarm.

According to police statement, the accused started running no sooner he heard the alarm but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody.

Sey is being charged with possession of fake money contrary to section 340 of the Criminal Code, and is said to appear in court soon.

The Gambia Police expressed commitment to protect lives and property and maintain law and order.

By: Christian Conteh

Disqualified National Assembly Nominee Momodou Sabally has been given the go-ahead to start the ball rolling as he seeks to challenge his disqualification by the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

The UDP Commando had on Friday approached the courts with an ex parte motion praying that the court squashes the electoral body’s decision to reject his nomination.

An ex parte motion is usually reserved for urgent matters where requiring notice would subject one party to irreparable harm. That is to say, the motion can be submitted to the court without informing the other party immediately.

In its ruling on the motion, the high court agrees that the motion has merit and therefore the process of filing papers, serving the various parties and arguing the matter in court is clear to commence.

The Returning Officer at the Independent Electoral Commission’s Brikama Branch is the 1st respondent, the Chairman of the IEC is the 2nd respondent whilst the Attorney General and Minister of Justice is the 3rd respondent.

UDP aspirant for Busumbala Constituency in the forthcoming National Assembly elections on the 9th April 2022 was disqualified and his nomination rejected by the IEC on the grounds that his name was adversely mentioned in the Janneh Commission of Enquiry Report, which makes him ineligible to hold elected public office under Gambian law, a decision the high court now has a duty to look into.

Rescuers at the site of a plane crash in southern China found burnt wreckage and personal belongings of those on board, but no sign of any survivors.

China Eastern flight MU5735 was carrying 132 people when it nosedived 30,000ft into hills in Guangxi.

The cause of the Boeing 737-800’s crash is being investigated. Recovery work has been hampered by difficult terrain.

There has been an outpouring of grief in China, where families of those on board are waiting anxiously for news.

Although the search for survivors is continuing, there’s been no word of anyone found alive, and neither local media nor the authorities have reported any finding of human remains.

Hundreds of responders have been sent to the crash site in Wuzhou to scour the steeply forested slopes where debris from the crash was strewn.

Rescuers have so far found parts of the 737’s wreckage. State broadcasters showed images of the charred remains of letters, bags, wallets and identity cards belonging to those on board.

Meanwhile the families and friends of the 123 passengers and nine crew have gathered at each end of the flight – with relatives visiting China Eastern’s offices in Yunnan province and waiting at Guangzhou International Airport.

The China Eastern Airlines flight from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, had been due to land in Guangzhou on Monday afternoon.

Authorities have yet to identify passengers and crew members, but some relatives have spoken to local media or shared their grief online.

One woman reported the loss of her newlywed husband on her WeChat account. Her earlier posts included videos of the couple’s holiday trips.

Other passengers included a group of six people, one of them a teenager, who were on their way to Guangzhou to attend a funeral, a local newspaper reported.

Another woman interviewed said her sister and close friends were part of that group, adding that she had also been booked on the flight but ended up switching to an earlier plane.

“I feel very anguished,” she told Jiemian News.

Reuters quoted a man at the airport who said he was the colleague of a passenger named Mr Tan.

After confirming that Mr Tan was on board, he had to break the news to Mr Tan’s family. “They were sobbing. His mother couldn’t believe this had happened,” he told the news agency. “Her boy was only 29 years old.”

He added that arrangements were being made by the airline to bring families to the crash site in Wuzhou.

Pictures show distraught families waiting in a cordoned-off area at Guangzhou airport, being assisted by airline staff.

One unverified clip circulating widely on Chinese social media shows a man slumped in his seat crying and lamenting the loss of his children who were on the flight.

Flight MU5735 had been in the air for over an hour and was nearing its destination when it suddenly plummeted from its cruising height.

Chinese state TV outlets have broadcast footage which appears to show a jet in a near nosedive to the ground. The footage was captured by a car’s dashcam. The BBC has not yet been able to verify the clip.

Flight tracker data showed the Boeing 737-800 jet dropped thousands of metres in three minutes.

According to FlightRadar24, the plane was cruising at 29,100ft (about 9,000m), but two minutes and 15 seconds later it was recorded at 9,075ft. The last sourced information on the flight showed it ended at 14:22 local time, at an altitude of 3,225ft.

The airline and China’s aviation authorities are investigating the crash. Boeing, the US maker of the plane, said it was also assisting. But emergency teams are still trying to locate the plane’s black box, cockpit voice recorder and any other equipment that could help identify the cause of the crash.

China Eastern Airlines, one of the nation’s big three state-owned carriers, has grounded all its Boeing 737-800s, and set up a hotline for people seeking information on those on board.

Aviation experts say the Boeing 737-800 model has a strong safety record, with thousands in service around the world. The aircraft that crashed was less than seven years old.

Investigators are expected to look at several possible causes – including deliberate action, pilot error, or technical issues such as a structural failure or mid-air collision.

BBC

An estimated 6,000 people have taken refuge in the Gambia after fleeing the violence in the past week between the army and rebels in Casamance, in the south of neighbouring Senegal, the Gambian authorities announced on Saturday 19 March.

The Senegalese army announced that it had launched an operation on March 13 against rebels in Casamance, a region separated from northern Senegal by the Gambia. The army had indicated that “their main objective is to dismantle the bases” of rebel military leader Salif Sadio, located along the northern border with the Gambia.

The number of people fleeing the violence since March 13 now stands at 6350, including 4508 displaced people, said the Gambian National Crisis Management Agency, in an official document transmitted Saturday to AFP.

“Because of the situation in the Casamance region of Senegal, the Foni Kansala area has become a safe haven for both refugees and IDPs,” the statement read in part. “These people can no longer stay in their homes because of the proximity of the fighting and overall implications of the ongoing conflict.”

Foni Kansala, located in the Gambian territory, borders Casamance and is close to the area where fighting is taking place between the Senegalese army and rebels of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), which has been fighting for independence in that region since 1982.

Senegalese President Macky Sall has made “definitive peace” in Casamance the priority of his second term.

Source: AFP

By: Christian Conteh

The Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission TRRC has denied the application for amnesty requested by the country’s former Vice President, Isatou Njie-Saidy.

According to the committee, “she did not give a full, truthful disclosure” to the commission about her involvement in the crimes she stands accused of. TRRC said Madam Njie- Saidy described her role as passive, contrary to the commission’s findings.

The findings revealed that during the 10th and 11th April 2000 student demonstrations, as vice president pursuant to instructions from the Former President Yahya Jammeh, she instructed Baboucarr Jatta to deploy the army, did not take responsibility and is one of the people who bear the greatest responsibility for the incident.

Similarly, the committee denied the application for amnesty for former Defence Minister Edward Singhatey on technical grounds. His initial letter the TRRC said had the phrase ‘without prejudice’ and was signed by his lawyer.

The committee however requested his lawyer remove ‘without prejudice’ from the amnesty application and allow his client to endorse the letter himself.

The legal representative responded, removed ‘without prejudice’ but went on to again sign on behalf of his client. The committee said it cannot review the application as it contradicts the process of applying for amnesty.

Meanwhile, the TRRC approved amnesty and recommends clemency for former AFPRC Vice-Chairman Sana Sabally who admitted responsibility for the killing of about a dozen soldiers in 1994.

The reason for their consideration is because Sabally already served time in prison for false crimes levelled against him, gave a full disclosure during public hearings, showed remorse, initiated and participated in reconciliation with the perpetrator.

The committee also noted that his crimes precede the Rome Statute and therefore the law cannot be applied retrospectively.

Amnesty was also recommended for Zakaria Darboe and Major Bubacarr Bah.

By: Sainabou Sambou

Horticulturists around Kairaba Avenue have raised concern about the shortage of water which they say has had adverse effects on their gardens.

Tijan Jatta is one of the gardeners he says lack of water for their garden is making business quite difficult for them. He noted that there are very few taps in his garden and most times the taps run dry and it is difficult to water the garden.

“We do not have garden tools. We have also applied for water to be brought here but the government agency responsible for that has done nothing about that. We have not had support in any way. Sometimes we find it difficult to pay for a truck to bring garden soil for us,” he said.

He appealed to the government to help them with the water supply so that they can do their work properly, indicating that the work they do is part of national development.

He further mentioned that they were informed that the OIC road project which is expected to see an expansion in roads is about to start and they do not know whether they will be asked to leave their various place where they sell.

Sainey Keita also owns a garden, he has been a gardener for twenty-five years. He confirmed that over this period lack of water has been their major problem. He noted that they do not have an alternative source of water like a borehole to use when the taps run dry.

“Water is not our only problem here we lack garden tools and fertilizers too. We also find it difficult to hire a truck to bring garden soil for us.”

Business he said is not doing as well as it should because customers do not patronise them as much as they use to do. 

“We have lodged a complaint to KMC asking for their help with enough water supply. We wrote to KMC because they are in charge of this place and they are the ones who gave us the notice that the OIC road project is about to start, we pay our taxes there too,” he said.

Sainey Keita noted that Mayor Bensouda has promised that after the campaign period and when he is re-elected, he will help provide enough taps that will help them water their gardens.

Pateh Bah another gardener also expressed dissatisfaction about the shortage of water and urged the government to support them.

By: Sanna Jallow 

Residents in Wellingara Village in the Kombo North District, West Coast Region have continued to complain about the constant water shortage in their community, a problem that has lasted for decades and is making life difficult for them.

Aja Sowe, a native of Wellingara confirmed that the lack of water is getting worse, indicating that they have been like that for years.

“Sometimes we go to the community borehole from morning to evening without getting a single bottle of water because people are many and the water available is not enough for all of us,” she lamented. 

She added that the consistent water shortage is making lives difficult for her to do some domestic work at her house likewise others.

“There are few compounds in our area that have boreholes in their houses that is where most of us fetch water from,” she said.

She called on the institutions responsible for providing water to come to their aid so that they can get water frequently, noting that no human can live without water.

Amie Janneh another resident in the community said she has been staying in Wellingara for years now, confirming that the shortage of water is getting worse by the day. She said they have a tap in their compound but the only time they will get to see running water is around 5 in the morning.

“If you don’t fetch water at that time, you will not get water for the rest of the day. We have been complaining about this for many years now but still, nothing has been done to settle the problem,” she said.

She said that the worst part of the problem is that at the end of every month they will receive a water bill from the National Water and Electrical Company (NAWEC). On her part, Isatou Ceesay said sometimes due to the shortage of water it is very difficult for them to adhere to proper hygiene measures which she says is not good for their health. 

“We are really tired with this situation, we appeal to the bodies responsible to come to our rescue,” she said. 

Water is an important element of human existence. Drinking water helps prevent dehydration, change in mood and cause your body to overheat which can lead to constipation and kidney stones.  

Fourteen killed with machetes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Red Cross has said, as a community leader blamed a notorious armed group for the bloody attack.

The attack took place in a displaced people’s camp in the country’s northwestern Ituri province on Saturday, the humanitarian aid group reported.

Among the victims were five women aged between 25 and 32 and a two-year-old girl, according to a list shown by the Red Cross to the news agency AFP.

Jean D’Zba Banju, a community leader in Ituri’s Djugu area, said the perpetrators belonged to the CODECO armed group, which has been blamed for a string of ethnic massacres in the area.

“CODECO militiamen entered Drakpa and started to cut people with machetes. They did not fire shots in order to operate calmly,” Banju told AFP on Sunday. “The victims are displaced people who had fled Ngotshi village to set up in Drakpa,” he said, adding that five others were wounded.

Gold-rich Ituri province has been plunged back into a cycle of violence since late 2017 with the rise of CODECO, which has since split into rival factions. The group is a political-religious sect that claims to represent the interests of the Lendu ethnic group.

Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu have been under a state of siege since May 6, an exceptional measure to combat armed groups including CODECO and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The ISIL (ISIS) armed group bills the ADF as its local affiliate.

Despite the crackdown, and support from the Ugandan military since late November, attacks have continued and more than 1,000 civilians have been killed from May 2021 to January this year, figures from the Danish Refugee Council show.

In the region of Beni, which neighbours Ituri, “four young people were killed in an ambush by ADF rebels on Sunday, three kilometres (1.8 miles) from Eringeti,” said Sabiti Njiamoja, an official from the office of the governor of North Kivu province.

President Adama Barrow has received a report looking into the country’s development programmes and planning frameworks from a 14-member Eminent Persons Group established by the Ministry of Finance.

The group includes former senior civil servants and experts working abroad. The chairman of the group Mr. Alieu Ngum led the presentation of an Advisory Paper on an Institutional Framework for the Coordination of Planning and Implementation of Development plans in The Gambia.

Reacting to the presentation, President Barrow thanked the group for their work in contribution to the formulation of a successor programme to the National Development Plan 2018 -2021. The group was launched in December 2021 to provide guidance on how the government could adapt and coordinate its existing institutions to implement the next development plan dubbed Green Recovery Focussed Development Plan (GRF-NDP) and a Long Term Vision (LTV).

Speaking to the media following their meeting with the President, Mr. Ngum, said the recommendations in the report will help the government to put together a robust planning, coordination and implementation of its development agenda. He expressed appreciation of the government’s development outlook noting particularly its focus on mobilizing resources locally to complement other available resources.

Members of the group include; Mr. Alieu Ngum, Mr. Crispin Grey Johnson, Mrs. Lucy Fye, Prof. Gibril Faal, Mr. Babucarr Sarr, Mrs. Haddy Lamin Njie, Mr. Abdou Sara Janha, Mr. Mustapha Darboe, Mrs. Fatou Ndey Gaye, Mr. Abdou Njie, Dr. Kalilu Bayo, Mrs. Habibatou Drammeh, Prof. Aminata Sillah, and Mr. Mamour Jagne.

The presentation was witnessed by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Honourable Mambury Njie, and his senior management team.

By: Dawda Baldeh

President Adama Barrow leader of the National People’s Party (NPP) led coalition on Sunday arrived at the meeting venue in Kerr Ardo Village, Lower Badibou North, Nawleru, in Central Badibou and Farafenni Upper Badibou, Illiassa Constituencies. The president and his team were accorded a warm welcome by the party’s National Assembly Aspirants and supporters.

He expressed his profound gratitude to the supporters for their huge turnout and described the welcome as a clear indication of NPP’s victory in the parliamentary election. He told the electorate that his government is aware of the challenges the country is faced with and promised to address them.

The NPP is heading to the parliamentary election with 40 National Assembly Aspirants including Honorable Alagie Jawara, Aspirant for Lower Badibou, Modou Jobe, Central Badibou and Sankung Dampha for Illiassa Constituency.

He further noted that there cannot be any meaningful development without collective efforts and urged the National Assembly Aspirants to campaign peacefully.

Hamat NK Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture said the development of the country should be everyone’s business and gave special advice to business operators.

The president was commended for the development initiatives in the country by various speakers. President Barrow ended his second set of meetings in Illiassa Constituency where he reminded the people of their duty towards national development.

The tour will continue in other parts of the country where the president is expected to hold similar meetings with the electorate.

By: Sanna Jallow

Access to finance for youth and women is one of the top priorities for Reliance Financial Services since its establishment. The company has given seven (7) motorcycles locally known as Tuku Tuku on loan to members of the Gambia Motorcycle Association.

The donated items which are worth about 1 million Dalasis is intended to create self-employment for young people.

The loan the company says will help young people engage in something that will benefit them in the future noting that they have seen that young people are ready to work but lack of access to finances is their main problem.

Alieu Sowe, the manager of business growth and development at Reliance Financial Services said the idea of giving this loan is to support young people to start-up businesses to minimise the risk of taking the back way journey to Europe and ultimately help to address the issue of unemployment.

Pa Musa Drammeh is the president of The Gambia Motorcycle Association. He thanked the management and staff of the company for the loan and the benefits it will bring to this set of young beneficiaries.

Ousman Ndure, the company’s Branch Manager at Latrikunda also confirmed that the Tuke Tuku finance is to help young people desist from taking the back way journey to Europe by providing sustainable employment opportunities for the unemployed.

He said the beneficiaries will deposit 500 Dalasis into their account daily from Monday to Saturday during a 1year 4 months period.

The reason for the Tuku Tuku Project is to help young people improve their standard of living and also help in the transport constraints people are facing.

By Amara Thoronka

Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow has said inasmuch as the country aims at enhancing reconciliation, it should be established on truth telling, forgiveness and accountability.

Chief Justice Jallow made the statement while presiding over the annual Judiciary Colloquium on international criminal justice held on Tuesday 15^th March 2022 at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo.

“With the conclusion of the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) mandate, submission of its report to Government and the pending release of the White Paper by the executive arm of Government, the country stands at a historic but challenging moment. The road ahead will be no less challenging, no less difficult. Even as reconciliation continues to be the national goal and objective but must be on the very solid pillars of truth telling, forgiveness and accountability.”

The annual judiciary engagement was centered on addressing key issues affecting management of hybrid court, gender-based violence and forced disappearance and issues captured in the TRRC report.

Both the Gambian bench (magistrates and judges) and the bar (lawyers) discuss the prospects and challenges in criminal prosecution and a potential hybrid court for prosecution of crimes captured in the TRRC report.

“The TRRC report has heightened public expectation of justice from the judiciary. The Gambia judiciary has played a crucial role in upholding the fundamental human rights of citizens as enshrined in the constitution and other regional and international instruments and mechanisms to which The Gambia is a party,” Justice Hassan Jallow explained.

He said ensuring justice for Two Million people (Gambians), in the context of transitional justice, will be a challenging task primarily because the Gambia judiciary will have to deal with a range of systematic allegations over an extended period.

“The judiciary remains strongly committed to ensuring that there is access to justice for everyone or victims who feels aggrieved. Justice for victims of violations is necessary and important for peace and reconciliation. What goes into each of these three pillars needs to be determined by the respective public authorities in a consultative manner with stakeholders to reflect national aspirations. The choices will not be easy. The road ahead will be challenging. Whatever choice we make must be transparent and objective. The judiciary is central to the pillar of accountability, and we must as an institution begin to prepare ourselves for this task.”

By Amara Thoronka

Anti-apartheid campaigner and former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, once said: “Everyone can rise above their circumstance and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”

Amidst the storms or life challenges, there are people who have been resolved, dedicated, passionate and willing to break bearers and serve humanity in their respective professions or skills. Most often, their professionally inspiring works or humanitarian gestures are unnoticed and unknown either because of their expressed humility or perhaps seeming media insensitivity.

Identifying and awarding such people for their continued exemplary services and gestures to mankind and nation is pivotal to development.

The Fatu Network Heroes Awards is one such award in The Gambia known for professionally and impartially identifying and honouring people for their exemplary services in their communities and the wider Gambian society.

Awards, especially those of national flavour or character, are obviously crucial to self and nation building.

Firstly, it recognizes people for their good works. Such recognition creates visibility or wider attention of previously hidden or unnoticed great developments.

Secondly, awards showcase testimonies of people’s achievements and ventures pivotal to community and national development. This has the propensity to attract sponsors or business partners for awardees who might want to expand their gestures, talents or skills.

Also, awards validate the works, services or talents of people. Receiving a prestigious award gives validity to what you do. That is why individuals, organizations and corporate entities display the awards they have won for people or clients to believe in what they do and/or offer.

Moreover, awards energize awardees to progressively and better continue doing the things for which they are being awarded. In other words, awards instill spirit and live into people not to relent, but to even do more and more.

It is also very essential to note that awards inspire others (non-awardees) to follow the footprints of awardees so that they too can be recognized.

In the world over, people and institutions compete for awards, especially popular and credible ones. This is to show how important awards are in enhancing or showcasing recognition, visibility, proof of exemplary work or service, validity and inspiration.

If the good works of awardees are replicated in our daily lives and activities, then our nation and the world will be a better place.

By: Sainabou Sambou

The Mayor of Kanifing Municipality Talib Ahmed Bensouda has on Tuesday officially launched the newly constructed Kanifing Municipal Town Hall.

According to Mayor Bensouda, the new town hall should remind the people of Kanifing that they have people working for them.

He called on the people to keep them (elected officials) on their toes, press them to do more, tell them what they as a people want and inform their leaders about problems when they arise, whilst holding them to account for the commitments they make.

The town hall will be a spot for people to register their properties, undertake business registration and even pay local authority tax, although rates and licenses can also be paid at any branch of the various banks. 

The launch of the town hall was followed by the official launch of the Kanifing Environment Transformation Programme which he says is going to make a difference to the city in many ways.

“KMC has secured this 180 million Dalasi grant from the European Union’s Local Authorities Partnerships for Sustainable Cities 2021 financing mechanism. This grant is an investment in the citizens, businesses and environment of Kanifing. I’m very pleased to be partnering with the EU who have been working side by side with my office and the team in the Council on this laudable project on an ambitious transformative agenda for the Kanifing Municipality.” Mayor Bensouda said.

He further noted that waste management is his priority as Mayor because It affects all aspects of our lives, our health, our economy, the environment, quality of life and the pride we can have in the places where we live and work.

He used the opportunity to give a rundown of how waste can be used.

“More than 50% of our waste is organic, this can be separated, cleaned and sold as compost. The clear PET plastics are valuable and can be exported, other plastics can be melted and sold as pellets and businesses can turn them into water tanks. Metals can be recovered and be used in making other metal products such as iron rods,” he suggested.

 Alieu Nyang Project Director of the Kanifing Town Hall said Kanifing Environmental Program (KETP) is aimed at ensuring sustainable focus on new integrated waste management approaches to drive environmental, social and economic transformation in the lifestyles of Kanifing Municipality residents.

He said the project will help transform waste management in the Municipality from being considered pollution, health and environmental challenges to becoming a sustainable economic opportunity that strengthens urban governance, inclusive service delivery and sustainable resource management.

Adding that the project will introduce new innovative technologies and promote the exchange of best practices with students and youths to drive environmental, social, and economic transformation and accelerate the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals.

The project will also help foster peer-to-peer exchanges between Kanifing Municipal residents and Peterborough City Council to transfer best practices between both Municipalities towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the international “zero waste” target. 

“The project shall promote the environmental transformation and enhance resource efficiency of Kanifing Municipality by adopting the EU waste hierarchy with a clear focus on waste diversion towards a “Zero Waste” future by maximizing the recovery of “Waste resources via recycling, composting renewable energy, and sustainable construction,” he said. 

Joseph Borrel EU ambassador said the Gambia partnership has over time helped deliver important development goals for the Gambia through an intervention that covers many sectors, such as transport, agriculture, water waste management and coastal erosion.

This intervention he said had a dramatic impact on the economic growth of the country in recent years.

The new Ambassador of the United States to The Gambia, Sharon L. Cromer, has on Monday 14^th March 2022 arrived in The Gambia. Ambassador Cromer was received at the Banjul International Airport by Ebou Sillah, Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul Jason Willis. She is joined by her spouse, Arnold S. Sobers Jr.

Ambassador Cromer was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden to serve as Ambassador of the United States to The Gambia on June 23, 2021 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18, 2021.  She was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of The Gambia on January 27, 2022, in New York by the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Until her appointment as U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia, Ambassador Cromer served as Mission Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at the U.S. Embassies in Accra, Ghana (2017-2021), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2013-2017), Abuja, Nigeria (2007-2009), and Accra, Ghana (2002-2007).  In Washington, she served as the USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau of Management (2009-2010), and as the Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator and Acting Assistant Administrator in the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (2009).  She also served as the USAID Acting Chief Human Capital Officer and Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Human Capital and Talent Management (2016). Her other foreign assignments include Indonesia (1998-2002), Senegal (1991-1996), Ivory Coast (1990-1991), and Pakistan (1988-1990).

Ambassador Cromer graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and from Georgetown University Law Center with a Juris Doctor degree.  She is a recipient of a Presidential Rank Award, the USAID Administrator’s Reengineering Award, a State Department Superior Honor Award, and multiple performance awards for her more than three decades of service.

Before arriving in The Gambia, Ambassador Cromer met with Gambian diaspora leaders and New York City Commissioners Manuel Castro, Fred Kreizman, and Edward Mermelstein. She is expected to present her credentials to Gambian authorities in the coming days.

By: Sarjo Brito 

The United Democratic Party’s (UDP) Ebrima Dibba has been denied a permit to protest Momodou Sabally’s rejection by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) from contesting the forthcoming National Assembly Elections. An official letter from the Office of the Inspector General of Police states that the protest request has been denied based on security reasons.

“Reference is made to your letter dated 11th March 2022 requesting for a permit to hold a peaceful protest as per your request. Accordingly, this office wishes to inform you that your request is not granted due to security reasons,” the correspondence reads.

Ebrima Dibba applied for a permit to protest the IEC’s decision to reject the nomination of Momodou Sabally who was UDP’s aspiring candidate for the Busumbala constituency seat. According to Dibba, the premise for the protest was to ask the IEC to do the right thing and rescind its decision. 

“We are protesting to ask the Independent Electoral Commission to do the right thing and accept Mr Sabally’s nomination and to call for justice and fair play in this country,” he said.

The Independent Election on Thursday rejected the nomination of Momodou Sabally, the UDP’s candidate for Busumbala Constituency, citing section 90 (1) E of the 1997 constitution which states that no person shall be qualified for election as a member of The National Assembly if he or she has been found wanting by the report of a commission. 

Sabally after his rejection appealed the decision of the IEC, efforts of which proved futile as the Commission upheld the decision of its returning officer who presided over his nomination. 

While some speculate that Sabally could be heading to the courts to seek redress, his rejection has so far ignited a heated debate on selective justice as his supporters make reference to other government officials who have been equally found wanting by the same commission serving in Barrow’s cabinet.

By: Christian Conteh

Deputy Commissioner of Police Lamin Bojang has described the event caught on tape at Brikama as unfortunate. According to Bojang the police are not above the law and must always act in conformity with laid down laws.

A viral video shows police officers beating an unarmed civilian as riots broke out following the rejection of nomination papers of UDP National Assembly nominee Momodu Sabally.

“What happened in Brikama is unfortunate. We as police officers are not above the law,” he said.

He further revealed that in response to the incident the police command has initiated an internal investigation and those officers if found wanting of wrongdoing will be brought to justice.  This he says indicates that the office of the Inspector General of Police is concerned.

“Just to reassure you it was not something that was designed by the police command. Trainings will be rolled out so as to avert the reoccurrence of such occasions,” Bojang said.

He however equally condemned the violent conduct of civilians reporting that police officers were injured during the clash.

The Gambia midfielder Sulayman Marreh has told the BBC that the ban on his country’s national stadium from hosting international games ‘is a big disgrace’.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has said that the Independence Stadium in Bakau does not meet its standards to host international matches.

It means the Scorpions, who reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, will have to play the home leg of their preliminary qualifier for the 2023 Nations Cup finals against Chad on 29 March in Morocco.

“It’s a huge disappointment not to be able to play at home after our historic (Nations Cup) qualification – and now again against Chad,” Marreh, 26, told BBC Sport Africa.

“I think the people responsible should look at themselves because this is a big disgrace for Gambian football.

“I hope they can fix it as soon as possible because the Gambian people don’t deserve this.”

The side last played at the Independence Stadium in March 2021 when they beat Angola 1-0 to qualify for their first ever Nations Cup finals.

“We were looking forward to play in front of our fans after a long time without playing at home,” The Gambia captain Omar Colley told BBC Sport Africa.

“I know they’ve also been waiting for this moment but none of us are in control of this situation. It’s a shame that we have to play away especially coming back from a great tournament.

“Hopefully they’ll fix the stadium as soon as possible for us to reunite with our fans and start playing at home.”

Supporters had been looking forward to finally reuniting with their heroes having missed the opportunity when the team’s return from the Nations Cup in Cameroon was disrupted with 11 players returning to their clubs.

“It would’ve been fantastic to play after our Afcon with the support of our fans,” coach Tom Saintfiet said.

“Especially knowing that our Gambian fans are looking forward to seeing their heroes, their players and to celebrate them and support them and it’s a very sad situation.

“Playing in Cameroon against Chad and playing in Morocco against Chad is naturally a very strange situation.”

The Independence Stadium is the country’s only international stadium and the facility, which was built in 1983, has never undergone any major maintenance.

The general manager of the venue, Ebou Faye, says they knew a ban from Caf had been a possibility since 2019.

“It was disappointing but we knew that it was coming,” Faye told BBC Sport Africa.

“Around 2019 when Caf came up with their stadium must-have requirements, we shared it with the government. The government did give us some money to improve some areas, but not everything was done.

“We knew that at some point if we didn’t do what was necessary to improve the standard of the stadium to the level of Caf’s requirements it would be banned.”

The Ministry of Youth and Sports along with the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure have set up a technical committee to look at the facility, with the hope of upgrading it to meet the required standards.

“They have done their survey of what needs to be done. Even if it’s going to be done in phases it will be done,” Faye added.

“Also we have a private investor who’s also looking at how to work with government to improve the standard.

“The target is to make sure that in our (Afcon) qualifiers in June we play in The Gambia, so work has to start very soon.”

Below is the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 preliminary play-off fixtures

Sao Tome and Principe v Mauritius

Djibouti v South Sudan

Seychelles v Lesotho

Somalia v Eswatini

Chad v The Gambia

Ties to be played on 21 and 29 March.

Credit: BBC

By: Christian Conteh

The Official Spokesperson of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has called for urgent legal reforms in The Gambia.  

Almameh Taal was making a contribution during a dialogue forum among political parties, The National Human Rights Commission, the Independent Electoral Commission, Civil Society Organisations and the Media 

Mr. Taal noted that several pieces of legislation including the country’s Grundnorm the 1997 Constitution needs to be urgently reviewed. He said the current laws make it difficult to practice the much talked about human rights.

He referenced their (UDP) rejection of the December 4th 2021 Presidential Election result and their court action which he said could not be heard because of the very undemocratic laws in the country.

“The constitution and all our democratic institutions were made to promote one man’s agenda made to favour one man, that is why we still have issues. Without a comprehensive reformation of our laws, human rights and democracy mean nothing. Without a human rights culture without an ecosystem that makes human rights possible it will be difficult,” Taal said.

He however thanked the Human Rights Commission for their uprightness and their ability to speak up almost immediately whenever rights are violated.

By Amara Thoronka

President Adama Barrow has contributed Five Million Dalasis (approximately $94,000) to the recently established Government Multi-Sectoral Rapid Assessment Team to handle the emergency welfare of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in the Foni Districts following conflict between neighbouring Senegal and MFDC separatists operating in Casamance.

The multi-sectoral response team is headed by the country’s Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray. The team consists of various government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

On Monday 14^th March 2022, the Gambia Government in a press statement confirmed that due to the military operation launched by Senegal against MFDC separatists operating in the Senegalese southern region of Casamance on Sunday 13^th March 2022, and owing to its proximity to The Gambia, several Gambian communities and villages particularly in Foni Bondali, Foni Kansala and Foni Bintang Karanai Districts were affected by sounds of heavy gunfire and shells landing in those Gambian border villages.

The Government also confirmed the situation of IDPs and refugees in the Foni Districts. President Barrow instructed his Vice President to preside over the response team to address the urgent needs of those affected.

The refugees are reported to be residents of Casamance and its environs who are fleeing to the Gambia in fear of worsen conflict in the Senegalese southern region.

In a meeting in the capital Banjul, Vice President Touray confirmed the Five Million Dalasis contribution of the President to the ongoing humanitarian response.

“His Excellency President Adama Barrow has already provided Five Million Dalasis in response to the humanitarian circumstances. We are therefore calling on philanthropists and humanitarian organizations to help in the response.”

The Casamance conflict has been ongoing between Senegalese Government and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) since the early eighties. MFDC wants independence from Senegal.