It is utterly unacceptable that the Gambia Government would allow foreign forces to enter the country to engage in warfare and then abduct Gambian citizens to transport them across the border and hold them in captivity for so long at their satisfaction. The actions of the Senegalese forces on Gambian soil on Monday January 24, 2021 is a matter for the ECOWAS, AU and the UN Security Council because it is a clear violation of international law. Otherwise Pres. Adama Barrow should tell Gambians why this invasion happened?

Therefore, I demand Pres. Adama Barrow to come out to explain to Gambians why and how Senegalese forces could have the temerity to enter Gambian territory in full combat operations and kidnap his citizens? If the President fails to do so, I demand that the National Assembly trigger impeachment against him for his failure to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of the Gambia.

Specifically, I wish to call on Hon. Musa Amul Nyassi in whose constituency the mayhem took place, and indeed any other NAM to trigger Section 77(2) by placing a motion on the floor of the National Assembly to demand the President appear before them to answer to this violation of the Constitution and the territorial integrity of the Gambia by Senegal.

The National Assembly must be told that they must assume their rightful constitutional duties which imposes the obligation on them to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Gambia. The Executive has no powers to enter into any agreement with any foreign state without National Assembly approval. The President has no powers to invite foreign forces into the territory of the Gambia without National Assembly approval. It is obvious that the presence of ECOMIG forces is not based on any National Assembly approval. It is obvious that the invasion of Senegalese forces on January 24 did not obtain any National Assembly approval.

Hence the National Assembly must realise that they are failing in their duties by allowing these scenarios to prevail. By keeping ECOMIG forces in the Gambia and allowing Senegalese forces to invade, the Executive led by Pres. Barrow is showing total contempt and disregard for the National Assembly. No self-respecting National Assembly Member should accept that. Therefore, let the National Assembly trigger Section 77(2) to summon the President to answer. Failure to do so, then NAMs should trigger Section 67 for impeachment proceedings to commence.

What happened in Foni and to our citizens there has no justification. The kidnapping of Alkalo Modou Bojang and police officer Abdou Jammeh is an affront to each and every citizen of the Gambia. It is an insult to the sovereignty of every citizen that foreigners could enter one’s country and arrest you. This means the Constitution of the Gambia is meaningless.

Since Barrow took office in 2017, he had vowed to stop the timber trade. Hence it is his responsibility to put the necessary security reinforcement along the border to prevent this illegal trade coming across the border, including apprehending and prosecuting any Gambian who is engaged in this business.

But it is obvious that the Barrow Administration has failed to do that as there is incontrovertible evidence that illegal timber trade is taking place in the Gambia. Many independent monitors have discovered various timber depots in many parts of the West Coast Region and the Greater Banjul Area. Does the Gambia Government and the IGP in particular wish to tell us that they are not aware of this criminality? It is an open secret that the Ministry of Natural Resources continues to give permits to allow export of timber at the Banjul port as the pictures below show.

The National Assembly should not wait for the so-called Presidential Taskforce that the President said he was constituting. Why is he constituting the taskforce? Is he saying the Senegalese authorities never consulted him and obtained his approval? If they did, why didn’t he seek National Assembly approval first before allowing them to enter the country? If Senegal did not get approval, why didn’t the President lodge an official complaint to the Government of Senegal and the UN immediately as is the norm in such situations? In his press statement, the President only expressed condolences to Senegal but he never questioned their actions. Why not?

There is no doubt that the people of the Gambia and Senegal are family. That is undeniable, inseparable and eternal. But also, the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of the Gambia are two distinct nation-states who must act towards each other on the basis of law and clearly-set transparent agreements. Neither Senegal nor the Gambia should abuse each other. The constitutions of both countries require that their respective leaders defend their territorial integrity and sovereignty. Hence none should violate the other. Unfortunately, Senegal has violated the Gambia and the Gambian leader is failing to defend the Gambia.

We the citizens must not allow politicians and people in power to abuse our dignity and sovereignty for their selfish ends. Both presidents Adama Barrow and Macky Sall must be held accountable.

For The Gambia Our Homeland

By: Sarjo Brito 

Senegalese soldiers held captive by the separatist group MFDC have made a rear appearance on television over the weekend following the one-day shootout between the rebel group and the Senegalese forces on Gambian soil.

The seven soldiers are part of the ECOMIG contingent deployed in the Foni region. One of the captives identified as Omar Choi told reporters that their human rights have so far been respected by the rebel group.

“This is our situation. We have been detained since January 24. We are given food and water daily, but peace of mind is the best thing one can have. We are seven in number, and we are part of the ECOMIG mission in The Gambia and our mission was to protect Adama Barrow. What I can tell my people is let them have peace of mind and just pray for us,” Omar Choi said.

Gambian Journalist Ousaman Jatta was part of the people who had rear access to the press conference held around the border, he gave an account of what he saw to the Fatu Network.

“This was the first press conference organized by the MFDC movement following their clash with the ECOMIG contingent. This press briefing was basically meant to clarify issues regarding the captives and their release among others.

Salif Sadio during this press conference denounced the rumour that these soldiers were on an operation against timber trafficking and said this was a well-planned attack against his men. The soldier who spoke to us was basically brought out to kind of prove a point that the MFDC does in fact have ECOMIG soldiers held captive by them and to show proof of life that the soldiers were alive and not maltreated. I can also confirm there were no signs that the hostages were tortured.

The leader of the separatist movement Salif Sadio told Journalists his movement is not a rebel group as often described by the media. Sadio said this is a movement that is fighting to liberate its people and he won’t stop until Cassamance becomes a country of its own.”

“We are not rebels. We are freedom fighters. We said we want to be liberated from Senegal and that’s it. It was the Portuguese who first came to Cassamance and wanted to make us slaves and it could not happen. The British also came and could not succeed and then the French. All these people failed and as long as I am alive, I will never relent in this fight to make sure the region of Cassamance is not controlled by the Senegalese government,” Salif Sadio said.

By: Christian Conteh

On this Zero Tolerance for FGM Day, 6th February 2022, UNFPA and UNICEF have in a joint statement called for collective action to protect every girl from the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

According to the statement, more investment needs to be made if the age-old practice is to be eradicated.

“We must take action to protect every girl. Let us invest more in programmes that protect girls from harmful practices and provide support services for survivors. Let us invest more in developing, implementing, and enforcing laws and policies that protect girls and women. Let us invest more in building broad partnerships, improving dialogue and consultations, inviting everyone-girls and boys, women and men, parents, community leaders, local authorities, the civil society, law enforcement, religious leaders, development partners and national leaders to act to #EndFGMNow,” the joint statement read.

It further noted that across The Gambia, girls and women are raising their voices like never before, mobilising and building partnerships in their communities and beyond to bring an end to the harmful practise of FGM.

“In remote communities and urban areas, girls and women in schools, communities and on social media, are demanding more decisive actions, including increased investments and stronger partnerships, to end FGM and scale up the delivery of services for girls and women affected or at risk of the practice,” it said.  

On International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, February 6th, both UN Agencies celebrate their collective achievements in the fight against FGM and reflect on the challenges ahead, including the plight of those girls and women living with the trauma and health complications caused by the practice. 

They further recommit themselves, through the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to end Female Genital Mutilation and protect every girl and woman from FGM. 

“We must continue to work together to build on past progress and do more to protect every girl and woman at risk of FGM. The Gambia has registered progress in ending FGM: between 2010 and 2018, FGM among girls aged 0-4 years old dropped by 10% to 27% whilst more women, 49%, are now openly saying FGM should stop. This is a paradigm shift, but for The Gambia to meet the global target of ending FGM by 2030, efforts must be scaled up at least 10-fold.”

It maintains that “the practice of FGM continues to further exacerbate deeply rooted gender inequalities in societies by limiting opportunities for girls and women to realize their rights and full potential in terms of health, education, and income. The perceived values associated with the practice are grounded in socio-cultural and religious misconceptions that continue to obstruct gender equality.”

The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) have elected HE Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, as the new President of the African Union for the year 2022.

The event took place today, Saturday, 5th February 2022 during the current thirty-fifth (35th) ordinary session of the Union Assembly, which is being held physically at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa under the theme:

“Strengthening resilience in nutrition and security food in the African continent: Strengthening of agri-food systems, health, and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Development”.

President Macky Sall of Senegal takes over from HE Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who today concluded his term as President of the African Union for the year 2021.

The event took place during the official opening of the 35th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the AU, in the presence of the President of the AU Commission, HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Vice President of the AUC, HE Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, UN representatives, the Regional Economic Commission, dignitaries and guests, as well as AU staff.

In his handover address, President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi wished the new AU president a successful presidency and thanked the heads of state of the AU member states, as well as the outgoing AU office, for their support. during the exercise of his mandate, which he said, was marked by the prevailing health crisis caused by the COVID19 pandemic.

President Tshisekedi highlighted some of the achievements under his presidency of the Union, in particular, the economic empowerment of women and youth, the improvement of democracy and good governance, among other development programs under Agenda 2063.

The outgoing president of the Union also highlighted the initiatives undertaken under his leadership to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his acceptance speech, President Macky Sall said that he appreciates the honour added to the responsibility and the trust placed in him, and in the members of the new Bureau, to lead the destinies of the Organization for the coming year.

“I thank and assure you of our commitment to work together with all member countries in the exercise of our mandate,” said the incoming President of the Union.

“I pay tribute to the founding fathers of the Organization. Six decades later, his luminous vision continues to inspire our coexistence and illuminate our united march towards the ideal of African integration”, he added.

President Macky Sall further noted that it was precisely in this pan-African spirit that President Léopold Sédar Senghor had proposed, at the OAU summit in July 1964, to establish “a permanent political and moral authority of the Conference of Heads of State and Government “give a high-level impetus to the management of the continent’s affairs.

Commending the work done by his predecessor, the outgoing President of the Union, HE Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tchilombo, the newly elected President of the Union expressed his appreciation for the considerable efforts devoted to the service of the African continent by the outgoing President.

He further noted that, “as our Union celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, we can be proud of the progress made on important initiatives such as NEPAD, PIDA, APRM, Vision 2063, institutional reform, the Great Green Wall, AfCFTA and more. recently our coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, our challenges remain numerous and pressing; in particular in the areas of peace and security, the fight against terrorism, environmental protection, health and economic and social development…”

“I do not forget the resurgence of the phenomenon of coups d’état, which constitutes a great attack against democracy and institutional stability in the continent”, concluded the new President of the AU.

President Adama Barrow has on Saturday received former British Prime Minister, His Excellency Tony Blair, at the State House in Banjul. During their conversation, Mr. Blair congratulated H.E. Barrow for his re-election and his administration’s successes in strengthening democracy in the country.

Mr. Blair said his meeting with President Barrow focused on the work his organisation – the Tony Blair Institute is doing in The Gambia. He added that President Barrow outlined his government’s work towards meeting the country’s needs in the energy and agriculture sectors. As well as moving forward with infrastructural developments such as roads and bridges.

Mr. Blair told the media that President Barrow also talked about his government’s interest in harnessing technological advancements to help propel the country’s development and plans to create decent jobs for young people to be more hopeful about their country and its future.

Mr. Blair also took the opportunity to congratulate The Gambia for its outstanding performance in the AFCON tournament in Cameroon.

In case you missed it, ahead of the National Assembly Election opposition strongman Ousainou Darboe Esq held a press conference a few days ago where he answered several questions from the press.

One interesting point he mentioned was that he was not invited to President Barrow’s state inauguration which was why he did not attend.

The 19th January 2022 event attracted heads of state from across the region. Barrow and his NPP party won the December 4th presidential election with around 53%of the vote, with his nearest rival Ousainou Darboe garnering 28 %.

Darboe still insists the Supreme Court sacrificed justice on the altar of technicalities. He was speaking on the Presidential Election Petition brought before the Supreme Court by the United Democratic Party (UDP).

“The Supreme Court always wanted to achieve substantial justice, and I think substantial justice would have been achieved if we had gone to trial, we had all the evidence, some in videos. All we wanted was an opportunity to prove our case in court” Darboe said.

By: Christian Conteh

Ballen, Kappa, Foni and its surrounding villages affected by the recent shooting between the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) and Senegalese soldiers on Gambian soil have expressed that they now experience a sense of safety and reassurance with the coming of Gambian soldiers. 

Alkalo of Kappa, Dembo Badjie, National Assembly Member for Kansala, Musa Amul Nyassi and Ballen village chairman, Saikouna Bojang all mentioned that those who reportedly left the villages are returning but not without fears for their safety.

“We were worried since the incident happened, but we now feel reassured by the presence of Gambian soldiers,” Dembo Badjie Alkalo of Kappa said.

“We were extremely scared, we are confident that if the Gambian soldiers were around this wouldn’t have happened,” a resident of Foni said confidently.

They were speaking during Lieutenant Colonel Yerro Jallow’s visit to the border region where the shootout occurred, he was accompanied by senior military officers and other stakeholders.

Gambia Armed Forces Director of Operations told the residents of Ballen village that GAF will take control of the border and continue to defend the country’s territorial integrity.

“We will take control of the Gambia’s borders and continue to defend the territorial integrity of the country at all times. Your safety and the safety of your properties will be guaranteed and we can assure that no individual or group will be allowed to use this country as a safe haven to launch attacks,” Lieutenant Colonel Yerro Jallow said.  

He informed the people that President Barrow and the Chief of Defence Staff are very concerned about the incident and will do everything to protect a repetition of the ugly incident.

“We urged all residents and Gambians, in general, to avoid spreading unverified information. My battalion will ensure that the peace and security of the area is guaranteed,” Commander of Kanilai 4 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Omar Bojang reassured.

Gambians, particularly those in the border regions have over the years continued to call for the withdrawal of foreign troops from their land, insisting that they can only trust Gambian forces for their security.

The ECOWAS contingent is still deployed in The Gambia following the 2016 transition which saw the end of a 22-year hegemony of former dictator Yahya Jammeh.

At a recently held Extraordinary Summit convened by the regional body (ECOWAS) to examine the recent political developments in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali to ensure the restoration of constitutional order in these countries, it was decided that military and police components of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) be maintained to consolidate stability in the country.

By: Sarjo Brito

The Gambia Armed Forces has refuted allegations that they owe money to members of the Gambia Armed Forces (specifically the QRF 2 personnel) who were sent to The Republic of Turkey to receive special training, describing the allegations as misleading and malicious.

Their response came following a media publication which was followed by public condemnation that the institution has refused to pay the said personnel a promised allowance that was supposed to be paid upon their return from Turkey.

“The publication is not only misleading and malicious but also out of context and devoid of relevant facts surrounding the deployment of the said troops to the Republic of Turkey. It may be necessary to indicate that GAF Command held a meeting with the top tier of QRF 2 at the Defence Headquarters shortly before their departure to Turkey and one of the critical agenda items discussed was course allowance. During the said meeting, it was indicated that the current Terms and Conditions of Service has provisions for troops’ course or training allowance,’’ a statement from the army said.

GAF says only departure allowance is paid for trips of such nature as all other expenses including their feeding, monthly stipends, uniforms, transportation etc are all borne by the host country. The institution said all the conditions were fully explained to the officials and were fulfilled by both the host country and The Gambia Armed Forces.

“It is equally important to highlight the fact that during the farewell briefing for QRF 2 that was graced by the current Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff and Director of Finance; GAF at The Gambia Armed Forces Training School (GAFTS), the above conditions were vividly explained to the troops,” the army said.

In his remarks, the Finance Director said that GAF has sent troops to several countries including Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and severally, others to the republic of Senegal with similar financial conditions accorded. The same conditions apply to the recent contingent (QRF 3) in the Republic of Turkey.

The GAF High Command also noted that the personnel were presented an opportunity to speak respond if they found the financial conditions unfavourable, but none objected.

The GAF High Command ended its clarification by reiterating its commitment to the welfare and financial needs of its personnel.

Separatist Movement leader Salif Sadio, the man at the helm of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) has accused the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of transforming The Gambia into a battleground to fight his separatist movement. An action which he says has grave consequences.

According to Sadio the reason why he chose to stand down during the recent shootout with Senegalese forces is because children had to go to school. These children he said he considers his children and their parents his people.

He warned the Gambian Government to desist from interfering in engagements between his movement and Senegal forces to avoid the death of innocent civilians mostly Gambians.

“Your army and their uniforms do not faze me. There is only one thing in war, you either kill or you are killed. War is an art to me, and I am not afraid of it. Tell Gambia I said this must not be repeated. I stood down this time, but I won’t next time it happens. I will kill even if my wife or child is there. This fight is between me and Senegal,” he said sternly.

The Casamance conflict is an ongoing low-level conflict that has been waged between the Government of Senegal and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) since 1982. On May 1, 2014, the leader of the MFDC sued for peace and declared a unilateral ceasefire.

The MFDC has called for the independence of the Casamance region, whose population is religiously and ethnically distinct from the rest of Senegal. The bloodiest years of the conflict were during the 1992–2001 period and resulted in over a thousand battle-related deaths.

By :Sarjo Brito

Citizen journalist and PDOIS stalwart Kexx Sanneh has launched his bid to contest the forthcoming National Assembly Election in April 2022. Kexx Sanneh will be contesting the Niamina West Constituency seat under the ticket of the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) Party. Sanneh in an official Facebook message revealed to his followers that his candidacy has been approved by the Party following his application to the Party’s Regional Coordinator.

‘’Following my application to the Regional Coordinator of my party, the PDOIS, expressing my interest to contest for the seat of National Assembly Member for Niamina West Constituency, the party has finally endorsed my candidacy. Fellow citizens, by this notice, I hereby offer myself to the people of Niamina West Constituency as their candidate for the 2022 Parliamentary Election.’’

According to Sanneh the country must do away with a rubberstamp parliament and elect people who must be prepared to speak truth to power.

‘’The Parliament needs representatives that are bold enough to speak truth to power, and patriotic enough to always put personal interest behind and put forward the national interest for our collective progress. Like my party and its Members of Parliament have proven over the past five years, there is absolutely no doubt that I will always put the interest of our beloved country ahead,’’ he said.

‘’I am ready to execute my social contract duties between my country, its people and I. I am convinced, at least at a personal level, that I have the knowledge, ability, and experience to represent the people of Niamina West and The Gambia at large,’’ he said.

‘’To state for history and future references; I do not intend to go to the Parliament because of personal rewards, the title or privileges attached to it, but to be part of the crucial task of serving the Gambians, and shaping my society through the enactment of laws, ratification of agreement, approval or disapproval of loans and grant and holding government accountable to and for the people in the SUPREME of our NOBLE NATION.’’

The current National Assembly member occupying the Niamina West seat is NPP’s Birom Sowe. Birom won the highly contested Niamina West by-election between Barrow’s NPP and Mama Kandeh’s Gambia Democratic Congress in November 2020. Birom Sowe won the seat in a landslide victory, becoming the first NPP National Assembly member.

First Lady of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Bio has said her husband the President Julius Maada Bio is so concerned and passionate about the protection of girls to a point that their safety and security overrides his interest for the presidency.

She made the statement during a courtesy call paid to her at her office in Freetown by the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Lisa Chesney on Wednesday 2 January 2022.

“My husband values the protection of the girl child more than even his position as the President” she disclosed, while describing him as the champion for women’s empowerment and girl child welfare.”

The visiting High Commissioner was interested in learning more about the activities of the First Lady and the latter comprehensively updated her guest.

Mrs. Bio described her three years in office as challenging but fulfilling.

She narrated the challenges associated with leading a campaign in Africa against early marriage, rape and women’s empowerment, while saluting her husband, President Bio, for the selfless support he continues to offer.

The President, she said, has been selfless is creating the enabling environment and providing the required support for the empowerment campaigns to thrive.

The Hands Off Our Girls Campaign, she said, is not only creating a safe environment for the girls but equally educating them about their rights and responsibilities.

According to the First Lady, the campaign, with support from partners and stakeholders including the traditional leaders, have reached every corner of Sierra Leone.

She also spoke on the impact the campaign has had on the hygiene of the girl child, with introduction of the Sanitary Pad distribution and education.

The Sanitary Pad campaign, has immensely supported the free quality education initiative as girls don’t miss out on classes anymore because of lack of Sanitary Pads. She further spoke of the impressive performance of girls on all public exams.

She further updated the High Commissioner about the massive progress being made in the construction of an ultra one-stop-center hospital complex at the 34 Military Hospital. modern one-stop-center hospital complex at the 34 Military Hospital.

The complex, she said, will have a 500-bed hospital, safe home, nursing school, administrative building and structures housing various line institutions.

Responding, the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Lisa Chesney said she was excited and motivated to learn about the work of the First Lady.

She urged the First Lady to continue with her good work and keep the girl child in school.

“I am very much impressed with the positive progress you have made in protecting the girl child and empowering women,” she noted, while pointing out however that more needs to be done.

She assured Mrs. Bio that the High Commission would be happy to collaborate with the Office of the First Lady on shared interests.

By: Christian Conteh

Another tragic loss of life has occurred in the West African Country of Sierra Leone due to the age-old traditional practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). This has served as a rallying call for women’s rights organisations across the country and around the world to call for laws that will put an end to the practice for good.

The campaigners have together co-signed an open letter calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to criminalize FGM and protect women and girls from this harmful practice.

The story indicates that on 20th December 2021, 21-year-old Maseray died from acute bleeding and shock a day after being subjected to FGM, an allegation that was confirmed by the post-mortem carried out on 14th January.

‘It is now widely acknowledged that [FGM] functions as a self-enforcing social convention or social norm. In societies where it is practised it is a socially upheld behavioural rule. Families and individuals uphold the practice because they believe that their group or society expects them to do so. Abandonment of the practice requires a process of social change that results in new expectations on families.’ -The General Assembly of the United Nations

Shortly after Maseray’s death, a 15-year-old girl was admitted to hospital for urgent treatment after suffering serious complications due to FGM. These are not isolated incidents in Sierra Leone. Many women and girls in recent years have died or experienced devastating harm as a result of FGM.

Sierra Leone has one the highest FGM prevalence rates in Africa, with 83% of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 years having undergone the procedure according to the 2019 Demographic Health Survey.

Female genital mutilation (sometimes called female genital cutting and female genital mutilation/cutting) (FGM) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as comprising ‘all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.’

FGM is a form of gender-based violence and has been recognised as a harmful practice and a violation of the human rights of girls and women. At least 200 million girls and women alive today have had FGM in the 28 African countries where FGM is practised.

FGM has been branded and internationally acknowledged as a gross human rights violation. It involves procedures that see the partial or total removal of the external regions of the female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

FGM is known to have no health benefits and has serious, immediate and long-term physical and psychological health consequences, which can be severe, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and reduced sexual desire or satisfaction. Babies born to women who have experienced FGM suffer higher rates of neonatal death and mothers can experience obstetric complications and fistulae. The right groups in Sierra Leone have called for an urgent enactment and enforcement of a comprehensive anti-FGM law in an open letter.

The signatories of this open letter call on the Government of Sierra Leone, H.E. President Julius Maada Bio and Attorney General Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley Esq. to urgently enact a law that explicitly bans FGM for all ages, put in place adequate measures to protect against and eliminate FGM and give survivors and the families of victims a means to access justice.

The signatories include A Girl At A Time Sierra Leone, A Well Informed Adolescent (AWA) Initiative (Nigeria), Aberdeen Women’s Centre (Scotland), African Women Rights Advocates (regional), Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) (Sierra Leone), AMFE (Association pour le Maintien des Filles à l’École) (Senegal), Arab Women Organization of Jordan (AWO) and Association Beogo-Neere (Burkina Faso) among several other organisations the world over.

Tanzania’s Education Minister Adolf Mkenda says the government’s decision to allow students to continue with their education after giving birth does not mean they can bring their babies into class.

His comments come after the BBC featured a teenage mother in Mbeya region being allowed to bring her four month old into school this week.

Esnath Gideon, 19, was pictured with her daughter on her lap at a desk. She told the BBC she had no choice as there was no-one to take care of her child at home.

But Prof Mkenda said having babies in the classroom would disturb other students.

Schoolgirls in Tanzania who became pregnant used to be expelled from school and not allowed back. This 19-year-old directive was revoked last December – and has led to several teenage mothers returning to finish their education.

Some of them have enrolled under a programme known as Alternative Education Pathway, which is said to be more flexible.

A solution to Ms Gideon’s problem has been proposed to the government as part of recommendations by education experts looking into the return of teenage mothers into education.

They suggest setting up baby day care centres for those unable to find alternative help, an education educator told the BBC.

BBC

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mambury Njie has confirmed that the Government of the Gambia expended a total of Twenty Billion Eight Hundred Thirty Million Dalasi in 2021.

The Minister made the disclosure when he appeared before parliament on Thursday 3 February 2022 to present a statement on the implementation and monitoring of the 2021 budget. Mambury Njie

Mr. Njie further disclosed that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education was allocated 2.83 billion dalasi; Transport, Works and Infrastructure Ministry 2.76 billion dalasi; Ministry of Health1.69 billion dalasi, making them the three highest spending ministries in the Gambia in 2021.

The Minister gave a breakdown of top spending budget lines in the 2021 fiscal year.

“The top spending budget lines are subventions 2.91 billion dalasi; roads and bridges 2.19 billion dalasi; operating cost 520 million dalasi; settlement of contracts and debts 516 million dalasi; traveling expenses 390 million dalasi, food and food services 301 million dalasi, vehicles 291 million dalasi, school improvement grants 289 million dalasi, general pension benefits 244 million dalasi and purchase of fuel and lubricants 228 million dalasi.

The budget implementation and monitoring section of parliamentary standing orders requires the Vice President or a minister with responsibility for national finances to make a presentation before the assembly.

After learning that a friend tested positive for COVID-19, Thembi Ndlovu went to a health clinic in Zimbabwe’s capital in search of a free coronavirus test. But there were none left that day, leaving the 34-year-old hairdresser unsure if she needed to take precautions to protect clients.

“I wish we could just walk into a pharmacy and buy a cheap self-testing kit like we do with pregnancy or HIV,” she said as she left the clinic in a working-class township of Harare. “It would be much easier.”

For millions of people in rich countries, COVID-19 self-tests have at times been abundant and free, including in Britain, Canada, France and Germany. But most people across Africa have limited access to them.

Zimbabwe introduced free walk-in testing centres in November 2020, but supplies are tight and the country still has no national program to distribute at-home tests.

Although self-tests are available in some Zimbabwean pharmacies, they cost up to $15 each, a fortune in a country where more than 70% of the population lives in extreme poverty made worse by the pandemic. The situation is similar elsewhere across the continent and in parts of Asia and Latin America with few, if any, opportunities for people to easily test themselves.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to making inexpensive, self-tests widely available in the developing world is that the World Health Organization has yet to issue guidance on their use. Without the resources of wealthy countries to buy tests or evaluate their safety, poor countries must wait for WHO approval before aid groups and international agencies are willing to donate them in large numbers.

Source: Associated Press

Gambia Moral Congress leader Mai Ahmad Fatty has highlighted the need for Gambians to develop political tolerance and maturity. According to Fatty, it is sad that several people have found it fashionable to vilify those who do not share their views.

“Political maturity is indeed a needed guest in our homes. Regrettably, most of us need to develop political tolerance. Gambian politics seems to operate on two extremes; either you ardently support the system or ferociously oppose the system,” Fatty wrote on his official Facebook page.

He further noted that those who demonstrate moderation by advocating for a middle ground are often punched by both sides.

“It doesn’t mean sitting on the fence, because that’s called neutrality. In the midst of this apparent contradiction, ‘truth’ becomes the enemy,”

The GDC leader went on to note that when you appreciate a positive element on either side, you become a devil for the other side, with each side expecting you to see evil or talk evil about the other side.

“If you express a positive about a particular government success, you are vilified by the other side and described as a job seeker,” he said.

The High Court in Banjul presided over by Justice Zainab Jawara Alameh has today 4th  February 2022 ruled against the 90 days application filed by the state to remand General Saul Badjie and Co, ordering their immediate release.

Justice Alameh stated that it is unlawful to keep a person in prison under suspicious without any charge preferred against him or her, adding that it is clear that any detention beyond 72 hours is unlawful quoting section 92 to section 95 of the constitution of the Gambia.

The Judge emphasized that the respondent cannot be held without being charged. The order dictates that: General Badjie and Co should be released immediately from Mile Two Central Prison: should not leave the jurisdiction without the consent of the court; and should be made available to the investigators whenever they are required for.

It could be recalled that Saul Badjie and Co were arrested and remanded upon their returned to the Gambia from Equatorial Guinea. General Badjie was security aide to former President Yahya Jammmeh.