By: Sarjo Brito

The leader of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), the main separatist movement in the Casamance region of Senegal, Salif Sadio has issued a stern warning to The Gambia following a deadly clash between members of his group and Senegalese soldiers on Gambian soil.

Speaking in a rare interview at his Base in Casamance, Salif Sadio told reporters Gambia must refuse to be used as a battleground in the ongoing conflict between the government of Senegal and the MFDC.

Sadio said the only reason he and his men decided to retreat during last week’s incident was because of the longstanding relations between the people of Cassamance and Gambians living along the border but warned that any other attack on his men from Senegalese soldiers based in The Gambia will be met with deadly consequences.

“The population of Cassamance and that of the Gambia living in this area are all inter-related. All I ever asked is for the rights of my people to be respected and for the people of Cassamance to be free. why should that cause a fight?

But if you Gambians allow yourselves to be fooled, asking you to take part in this conflict, then you must know they have a hidden agenda. They did it to Guinea-Bissau and a lot of people died. It Is not like my men and I were chased from our base in that area. I had to think and retreat because I realised the people who were caught in the crossfires were relatives. Because there is not one from Bissau who doesn’t have family ties in Cassamance,” Salif Sadio said.

He further noted that he had said this a long time ago before the day came, that ECOWAS will transform The Gambia into their battleground to fight the MFDC. He maintained that the reason he chose to stand down is because children had to go to school and these are his children too because their parents are neighbours and relatives.

“They are African children who need to be educated. Just look at the surrounding, everyone fled their homes. That alone is a regret to me. So, go and tell the Gambians that what happened this time must not repeat itself because when it does, there will be regrets. 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. We have been in this fight for 40 years and never have you heard shots in Gambia fired by the MFDC,” he said sternly.

The Senegal-Cassamance conflict was ignited in 1982. The separatist group MFDC has called for the independence of the Cassamance region. The conflict often described as low-level has claimed thousands of lives in the region and displaced many.

Cameroon coach Antonio Conceicao believes fatigue played a role in his team’s loss to Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final played on Thursday night at the Paul Biya Stadium in Yaounde. The hosts had come into the match as favourites and pushed hard for a goal, but their opponents did not give them an easy time.

At the end of 120 minutes, neither of the two African heavyweights had managed to find the back of the net.

In the penalty shootout that followed, the Pharaohs scored their three penalties while the Indomitable Lions scored one and failed to convert the other three.

As a result, Egypt advanced by virtue of a 3-1 scoreline to set up a date with Senegal in the final while Cameroon will play Burkina Faso in the third-place play-off.

“The team played well during the 90 minutes trying to score goals but we didn’t succeed,” Conceicao said as quoted by the CAF official site.

“We are as sad as the 27 million Cameroonians, but I think the Egyptian team knew how to counter us. We’re sad but it’s the reality. The players felt some signs of fatigue at the end of the match, especially after a very physical and intense first half. We had tried to save our energy to counter the opponent but in vain.”

After making it to the final, Egypt assistant coach Diaa Elsayed insisted their mission will only be completed once they are crowned champions.

Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has said the main purpose of the ECOWAS extraordinary Summit held in Accra, Ghana on Thursday 3 January 2022 is to return countries who recently had military takeovers to democratic civilian rule.

“The main discussion was about Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Guinea Bissau. As a bloc, we need to discuss the issues affecting the region. The trend is not health for democracy. As Heads of States and Governments, we decided to have the summit to help those countries return to democratic rule. We want to transition those countries and help them strengthen their institutions and organize elections”

The President was speaking to journalists on his return to Banjul after attending the extraordinary summit of Heads of States and Governments on the political situation in some ECOWAS member States.

By: Christian Conteh

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised concern over the breach of constitutional order in the region notably with the recent military coup d’Etat and attempted coup d’état in some Member States including Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.

This concern prompted an Extraordinary Summit by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Accra, Ghana on 3rd February 2022, under the chairmanship of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority.

The Extraordinary Summit was convened to examine the recent political developments in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali to ensure the restoration of constitutional order in these countries.

Benin’s Patrice Talon, Cote d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara, Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Senegal’s Macky Sall and Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio were among the Presidents who attended the meeting. The Authority decided to maintain the military and police components of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) to consolidate stability in the country.

“The Authority affirms its commitment to stand firm for the protection of democracy and freedom in the region and reiterates its resolute stance to upholding the principle of zero tolerance for ascension to power through unconstitutional means, as enshrined in the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good governance,” it said in its statement.

IN GUINEA BISSAU -The Authority firmly condemned the attempted coup d’Etat and expressed solidarity with President Umaro Sissoco EMBALO and the people of Guinea Bissau. In view of these recent developments, the Authority decided to deploy a force to support the stabilization of the country.

BURKINA FASO -ECOWAS upholds the suspension of Burkina Faso from all ECOWAS Institutions until the restoration of constitutional order. It further calls on the military authorities to establish the transition institutions, adopt a transition calendar and facilitate the return to constitutional order within the shortest time.

GUINEA– ECOWAS upholds all the sanctions already imposed on Guinea whilst requesting the transition authority to provide ECOWAS with an acceptable timetable for restoring constitutional order.

MALI- ECOWAS upholds all the sanctions imposed on Mali in line with its decision of 9 January 2022 and urges the Malian authorities to urgently propose an acceptable electoral timetable to ECOWAS to enable the progressive lifting of the sanctions.

Furthermore, the regional body (ECOWAS) reaffirms its readiness to work in conjunction with the African Union and the United Nations to provide the necessary technical support to the authorities in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali in implementing the approved timetables.
ECOWAS ended its statement at the meeting by reaffirming its commitment to strengthening democracy, freedom and good governance in the region.

The BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron has been found in five African countries, a World Health Organization scientist said on Thursday, adding she was concerned about the development because samples of BA.2 may not be spotted as a form of Omicron.

The BA.2 sub-variant has begun to replace Omicron’s more common “original” BA.1 variant in countries such as Denmark. Data from there suggests no difference in disease severity, according to another WHO official.

“BA.2 … has been reported in five countries, that is Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal as well as South Africa,” Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi told an online media briefing.

“We are very concerned,” she said, adding that BA.2 was proving hard to identify because it was not always picked up by the S-Gene Target Failure criterion, which is used to distinguish the original Omicron from other variants.

Gumede-Moeletsi said the WHO was working very closely with laboratories, asking them to forward samples that had come back without being flagged as Omicron for further analysis, in order to gain a more precise picture of the spread of BA.2.

The BA.1 version of Omicron has been somewhat easier to track than prior variants. That is because BA.1 is missing one of three target genes used in a common PCR test. Cases showing this pattern were assumed by default to be caused by BA.1.

BA.2, sometimes known as a “stealth” sub-variant, does not have the same missing target gene as the original Omicron variant.

Instead, scientists are monitoring it the same way they have prior variants, including Delta, by tracking the number of virus genomes submitted to public databases such as GISAID.

As with other variants, an infection with BA.2 can be detected by coronavirus home tests kits, though they cannot indicate which variant is responsible, experts said.

Source: Reuters

The Medicines Control Agency has in a recent press release signed by Markieu Janneh Kaira the institutions Executive Director reminded the public that it is illegal for any person or entity to be engaged in the import, distribution, storage, sale, advertisement and promotion of medicines including nutritional supplements and herbal medicines in The Gambia without its approval.

“A person or entity shall not be engaged in the import, distribution, storage, sale, advertisement or promotion of medicines including nutritional supplements and herbal medicines to the general public as a treatment, preventive or cure for a disease, disorder or abnormal physical state unless has been authorised by the Medicines Control Agency,” the press release stated.

According to the institution, the Medicines and Related Products Act of 2014 recognises that medicines must not be treated as ordinary goods of commerce. The act in this regard places specific restrictions on their manufacture, import, distribution, storage, sale and advertisement for the common good.

It further notes that the peddling or sale of medicines at the markets, streets, ferry crossings, weekly markets (“lumos”) and other unauthorized places and/ or by unauthorized persons is illegal and has the potential to negatively impact public health.
“The general public is hereby being advised and warned to desist from patronising such places and individuals for the interest of their own health,” it read.

The Agency warns that media houses, individuals and entities who fail to abide by the law shall face the full strength of the law, whilst soliciting the support and cooperation of the public in the control of unauthorised import, distribution, storage, sale, advertisement and promotion of medicines including nutrition supplements and herbal medicines in the country.

By: Sarjo Brito

The leader of the opposition party Gambia Democratic Congress, Mama Kandeh says he welcomes the release of the two Gambian nationals who were captured by Senegalese forces during an intense fight between elements of the separatist movement MFDC and Senegalese soldiers stationed in Foni.

The duo who was under the custody of the Senegalese forces have now been released and handed to Gambian authorities following a public outcry demanding their release.

“We of the Gambian Democratic Congress (GDC) hereby welcome the return of our two brothers; Alkalo of Karrol, Modou Bojang and Gambian Police Officer, Abdou Jammeh of the CIU, who were captured, held hostage, and taken away by Senegalese soldiers under the watch of the Gambian government, back to The Gambia. They have been handed over to the Gambian Police Force, our law enforcement Agency, which is the proper thing to do. GDC hopes that this latest show of ineptitude and irresponsibility by our government in protecting our citizens will not continue,’’ a statement from GDC Read

The GDC party says no foreign government or institution has the right to protect Gambia’s forests on the country’s behalf, reiterating the mandate of the ECOMOG forces in the country.

“We have professional men and women in our national security forces. As clearly stated in our former press release, the Senegalese soldiers attached to the ECOMIG team have no mandate/operational right according to the ECOWAS Protocol on ECOMIG to get involved in the implementation of Gambian domestic laws. The Gambia is a sovereign nation, and its sovereignty is an absolute and indispensable right that must be observed and respected by every individual, nation, or society.’’

The Gambia Democratic Congress urged all Gambians to refuse to be dragged into the Senegal-Cassamance debacle, adding that no Gambian must bear the brunt of the decades-long arm fight between the separatist group and the Senegalese government.

The party also called on the Gambian government to stop any move aimed at aiding and abetting the Senegalese government in its fight against the MFDC.

By: Christian Conteh

The Egyptian Football Association is still uneasy about the fact that Gambian referee Bakari Gassama will be on officiating duties today at the AFCON Semifinal when the Pharaohs of Egypt lock horns with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Association made a formal protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against the appointment of Gambian referee Bakari Gassama to officiate the African Nations Cup semi-final against Cameroon.

The Associations Facebook page read:

The Egyptian Football Association has lodged an official protest with the Confederation of African Football over the appointment of Gambian referee Bakari Gassama to officiate the Cameroon-Egypt match scheduled for Thursday in the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship currently being held in Cameroon.

The statement added: The Federation also submitted to CAF two memoranda, each containing full responses to what happened following the end of the match between Egypt and Morocco in the quarterfinals, and the circumstances of the inability of the Portuguese national team coach, Carlos Queiroz, to attend the press conference before the same match.

Moroccan and Egyptian press reports indicated clashes between the players of the two teams after Egypt’s 2-1 victory over Morocco after extra time in the quarter-final match on Saturday.

The Egyptian team began its quest to achieve its eighth continental title and strengthen its record weakly, losing 1-0 to Nigeria in its opening match and winning 1-0 against Guinea Bissau and Sudan after lacklustre performances.

Director of Communications at the Gambia Football Federation Baboucar Camara is reported to have told Egyptian media that he has no idea why the Egyptian federation is suspicious of Gassama.

“Gassama is one of the best referees in the world at the present time, he has officiated decisive matches in major tournaments and is known for his good reputation. We assure everyone that he will present a level worthy of the match.”

Although the Egyptian Federation has not given any substantial reason for their protest, many are of the view that the Egyptians think he (Gassama) is biased against their team. They have similarly accused him of previous bias against Egyptian clubs.

Amidst their protest CAF thinks Bakary Papa Gassama is the man for the job.

Cameroon Coach, Antonio Conceiçao says his players are highly motivated ahead of their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals match against the Pharaohs of Egypt. Hosts Cameroon will be seeking a place in the 2021 AFCON final when they lock horns with Egypt at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé today.

Conceiçao speaking at a pre-match press conference in Yaounde said his players were motivated to win the Egyptians, adding that the overall objective was to win the title.

“Our goal is clear; to play a good game and go to the final. We will play against a very good team, Egypt, the most successful team in Africa. They have very good players, including one of the best in the world, namely Mohamed Salah”.

“My players are motivated to win. We have positive pressure, but our objective is clear, to win the title for the Cameroonian people,” he said.

Cameroonian Midfielder Andre Anguissa stressed that he and his teammates were motivated to play a good match against Egypt.

“We are determined to achieve a good result, go to the final and win the title. Playing at home is very special for us. We are committed to play this semi-final and go for the title next Sunday, for the Cameroonian people”.

Four wins and a draw in the road to the semi-final give the Indomitable Lions a vast amount of confidence before facing rivals Egypt for a ticket in Sunday’s final. They know well they will have the support of thousands as they dream of a sixth AFCON trophy.

Cameroon will once again rely on the lethal attacking duo of Vincent Abubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi, who has scored all Cameroon 11 goals to the moment, six for Abubakar and one less for Ekambi. (NAN)

Source : The Herald

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended two new drugs for COVID-19, providing yet more options for treating the disease. But, the extent to which these medicines will save lives depends on how widely available and affordable they will be.

The first drug named baricitinib is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19. It is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that suppress the overstimulation of the immune system. WHO recommends that it be given with corticosteroids.

Baricitinib is an oral drug, used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It provides an alternative to other arthritis drugs 

WHO has also conditionally recommended the use of a monoclonal antibody drug known as sotrovimab for treating mild or moderate COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk of hospitalisation.

This includes older patients, immunocompromised (a state in which the immune system’s ability to fight infectious diseases is compromised or absent), having underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, and those unvaccinated.

Sotrovimab is the other drug, a monoclonal antibody cocktail recommended by WHO in September 2021. 

Studies are ongoing on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies against Omicron, but early laboratory studies show that sotrovimab retains its activity.

The panel of experts developing the guidelines also looked at two other drugs for severe and critical COVID-19: ruxolitinib and tofacitinib. Given their uncertain effects, WHO made a conditional recommendation against their use.

These recommendations, forming the eighth update of WHO’s living guidelines on therapeutic and COVID-19 are based on evidence from seven trials involving over 4,000 patients with non-severe, severe, and critical COVID-19.

WHO is in discussions with manufacturers to secure global supply capacity and equitable and sustainable access to the newly recommended therapeutics.

The two newly recommended drugs – baricitinib and sotrovimab – have been invited for WHO prequalification which assesses the quality, efficacy and safety of priority health products to increase access in lower-income countries. 

The Fatu Network Heroes Awards for 2021 will be held on 18th March 2022.

An awards committee has been set up charged with the responsibility of dispensing fair and unbiased judgement in recognising exemplary Gambians. The awards committee works independently from The Fatu Network, and The Fatu Network cannot make any decisions as to who should be awarded or not.

Below is the name and profile of all five members of the committee.

GAYE SOWE

LLM (University of Essex’s), LLB (Honours) (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), BL (Nigerian Law School)

Gaye Sowe is the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), Pan-African human rights organisation based in The Gambia. Before joining IHRDA, Gaye worked with the Gambia Judiciary as a Principal Magistrate and Acting Judicial Secretary and served as a Lecturer of Criminal Procedure at the Gambia Law School.

He is currently an Adjunct Lecturer of Criminal Law at the University of The Gambia. He was an Expert Member of the ECOSOC Working Group of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Constitutional Review Commission of The Gambia. He was also a member of the team that reviewed and redrafted The Gambia’s criminal justice laws. 

At IHRDA, Gaye has risen from the ranks of Legal Officer, Senior Legal Officer to Director of Programs, and has spent more than fifteen years at the organisation. He has a wealth of experience in human rights litigation, capacity building and advocacy at domestic and regional levels. 

ANNA N’GULU JONES 

Anna N’gulu Jones is serving out her term as a Commissioner of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Committee, which was tasked to create an impartial, historical record of human rights violations in the Gambia between July 1994 and January 2017.

Before that, she worked at the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) – The Gambia where she rose through the ranks from Project Assistant in 2011 to the highest office of National Network Coordinator in 2016.

Whilst Anna’s background is in International Relations, Anna has over 10 years of experience working on gender, peace and security; early warning and prevention; peace education; election observation; peacebuilding and conflict resolution, democratic governance and inter-party-political dialogue.

Ms. Jones is an African Union certified Long Term Election Observer and has observed elections and served as either a member of the expert team or the security analyst on several International Election Observation Missions (Pre-Assessment, Short-Term and Long-Term observation) across Africa with the African Union, IRI/NDI and EISA.

Ms. Jones is an alumna of U.S. State Department International Visitor’s Leadership Program. In December 2015, she took part in “Women Leaders: Promoting Peace and Security” program, in Washington and was recognized as one of ten “Women Human Rights Defenders” by Frontline Defenders in 2017.

FATOU AMIRAH MAMBOURAY

Fatou Amirah Mambouray was raised between the Washington, D.C. area and The Gambia which played a major role in shaping her vision and mission for the part she wishes to play in contributing to development. 

Solution-oriented and eager to expand her insight as well as experience, she pursued her degree in International Relations and Development in London… further specializing in Sustainable Development. Now, after considerable and diverse work experiences with the likes of the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as The Fatu Network, Fatou Amirah is a budding entrepreneur in the industries of Beauty and Environment and is also a Civil Servant working for the Government of the Gambia. 

Her core mandate is governed by her determination to contribute to Africa’s ‘Brain Gain’ in whichever capacity that she possesses skills. 

HIS WORSHIP MUHAMMED KRUBALLY: 

First Visually Impaired Person to be called to The Gambia Bar

Muhammed Krubally was born in Sankuley Kunda, he attended Sankuley Kunda Primary School from 1992 to 1997. By virtue of his visual impairment and the fact that there was no Braille Textbooks, Braille Machine and other facilities in the said primary school to enable him effectively compete with his sighted friends, Muhammed was transferred to Campama Primary School for The Blind in Banjul where he was introduced to Braille reading and writing and other facilities for the blind and low vision to prepare him to effectively participate in school as the sighted persons.

When he was able to effectively read and write with braille textbooks, braille machines and other related facilities, Muhammed was able to build more confidence and independently participated and tackled class and school lessons with little or no support or intervention from his sighted colleagues.

Between 2004 to 2007 Muhammed did his A-Level Law and Diploma in Law at the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI). At the GTTI he assumed many leadership roles and responsibilities such as Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission of Students Union and Chief Adviser of the Students Union. 

Between 2010 to 2013 he studied Law at the University of The Gambia; he became the second visually impaired person in the history of the Gambia to be offered admission to study law at the said university. Muhammed participated in many debates and emerged winner in most of them. In 2013 he proceeded to the Gambia Law School and graduated in 2015. He was subsequently called to The Gambia Bar, making him the first visually impaired person to be called to the bar and become a Barrister and Solicitor in The Gambia. 

Professional and Career Qualifications

Muhammed worked as a Facilitator of Integrated Education Program for the Blind and Low Vision Children under the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education from 2006 to 2009, worked as Assistant Registrar of The High Court of The Gambia from 2010 to 2013 and 

was appointed as the Gambia’s first and only visually impaired First-Class Magistrate from 2014 to 2020. In 2020 he was promoted to the position of Principal Magistrate.

Leadership Positions, Roles and Responsibilities

Muhammed was a board Member of Sheikh Zaire Regional Eye Care Centre as legal adviser and other connected matters from 2015 to 2016. From 2012 up to date, he is the Secretary-General of Gambia Organization of Visually Impaired (GOVI) In 2018 up to date he is Chairman of The Gambia Federation of The Disabled (GFD)

In 2021 he was nominated as the Vice-Chair of Civil Societies Organisations Steering Committee on Election in The Gambia a position he still holds.

In 2021 he represented The Gambia Federation of The Disabled on the Technical Committee on Election at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Since 2020 to date Muhammed remains the Vice Chairman of Gambians with Special Needs Entrepreneurial Fund (GSNEF)

In November 2021 in Benin, Muhammed was unanimously elected as Secretary-General of the West African Federation of The Disabled (WAFOD) comprising of 15 West African Countries. 

Currently, he is the Gambia’s first and only visually impaired Principal Magistrate and Chairman of Gambia Federation of The Disabled (GFD) which serves as the umbrella body of all Persons with Disabilities in The Gambia. 

FATOU BALDEH MBE 

Fatou Baldeh MBE is the founder of Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL). She holds an MSc. in Sexual and Reproductive Health from The Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and a BSc. In Health and Psychology from the University of Wolverhampton. 

She has extensive experience working on women’s rights and advocating for gender equality including equal opportunities and the protection of women and girls from all forms of violence both in the UK and The Gambia. 

In recognition of her work with migrant women who have experienced abuse in the UK, Her Majesty, the Queen of England honoured her with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2019. Since founding WILL, Fatou has been working to support and ensure that female victims of human right’s violations take part in the Gambia’s TRRC process. 

The Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Badara A. Joof, during a recently held Sector Retreat of the Ministry, ardently stated that the country needs field engineers, and not desktop engineers. The Ministry therefore is optimistic that the new University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) would address such skills gaps which will ultimately curb the high unemployment rate of the nation.

The new USET is currently receiving mentorship from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana in delivering the core engineering curriculum. Also, De Montfort University (DMU) in the United Kingdom is embedding entrepreneurship training as part of the new University’s curriculum.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is responsible for the recruitment, teaching, examination and certification of the USET.

Classes have already started with about fifty students enrolled in the fields of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

The University is soon to introduce new disciplines including a Bachelor’s degree in Geometrics and Chemical Engineering. De Montfort University has already started the entrepreneurial clinics, the innovation hubs and the disruptive laps. Simultaneously, DMU will deliver lectures in Computer Science, Architecture and Fine Arts. During the four years of studies in the various bachelors of science in engineering programs, students of USET will undergo 12-18 months industrial attachment to enhance their practical skills.

Meanwhile, The Ministry has provided 12 scholarships at PhD levels in KNUST to potential lecturers of USET, likewise, DMU is also training teachers at PhD levels in the area of computer science, as well as Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) in Finland is offering similar trainings.  The Ministry’s target is to train at least 50 people, in the next five years at PhD levels, in different engineering disciplines to strengthen human resource capacity of USET to gradually wean from KNUST lectures.

Furthermore, Hon. Minister indicated that the University of Petronas Malaysia, together with their parent company Petronas, are in discussion with MoHERST to set up the Petroleum and Gas Engineering faculty.

He also informed that plans for the construction of three faculties at the new USET campus in Brikama are on the way. The laying of the foundation stone is scheduled for earliest, February.

Credit: Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology

Senegal has qualified to the final of the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Burkina Faso 3-1.

Diollo, Gueye, and Mane scored for Senegal while Toure scored for Burkina Faso.

Senegal will now play either Cameroon or Egypt, depending who wins tomorrow’s encounter.

Today the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC, Secretary General of the Commonwealth personally visited The Gambia High Commission in London to express her condolences and sympathy on the demised of late High Commissioner H.E Francis R. Blain.

Below is her remarks:

“It is with great honour and humility that I share the condolences of the Commonwealth family, and express my own personal sadness, on the passing of my dear brother, His Excellency Francis Blain.

For more than fifty years he served the people of The Gambia, in the process of diplomacy, with dedication and skill. He loved Gambians and The Gambia with his whole heart.

His role in helping The Gambia rejoin the Commonwealth and he described the raising of The Gambia’s flag at Marlborough House as one of the highlights of his careers.

To share that moment with him was a privilege. It was a thrilling moment and it is how I, and so many of my colleagues throughout the Commonwealth will remember him. He became our dear friend and brother.

I know he loved Dickens and Shakespeare so I think he would recognise himself in these lines: ‘He was simply and staunchly true to his duty alike in the large case & in the small. So all true souls ever are. So every true soul ever was, ever is, & ever will be. There is nothing little to the really great spirit.’ (Bleak House)

May his soul rest in peace & may God’s light follow him into his reward.

I ask God to bless all his family & friends and the beautiful land of his birth; The Gambia.” Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC

Liberia’s central bank has burned old and mutilated banknotes totalling 600m Liberian dollars ($4m; £3m) – to make way for freshly printed notes.

The disposal follows concerns that old currency notes remain in circulation despite the government printing new ones in recent years.

It also comes after the apparent disappearance of state funds in 2018 – with allegations that more than $100m worth of newly printed Liberian banknotes had gone missing.

The central bank denied it and stated that the money was stored in bank vaults.

President George Weah’s government is yet to account for $25m withdrawn from the country’s reserve accounts the same year to replace older Liberian dollars and strengthen the local currency.

Pressure groups have asked for an explanation and accountability into how the exercise was carried out.

The Liberian economy has been struggling in recent years but in his recent annual address to parliament, President Weah said the economy was stable and growing.

BBC

Sheikh Sidia Bayo, the founder of the ‘We are Barrow’ social and political movement has called on the Gambian leader to tap into the youths for the construction of a new Gambia.

The French-Gambian businessman told reporters that he and many other young people who supported the President in his re-election would like to combine their efforts to make their contributions to help the President succeed in his second term.

‘’we believe that there are no more excuses to meet the challenges. And as stipulated by the Head of State, the second mandate is dedicated to the youths. We the patriotic youths, with a difference but complementary paths, intend to help the President chosen by the Gambian people to succeed brilliantly. The country needs its youths more than ever, whose capacity of innovation and courage is evident’’

Sidia Bayo was a vocal activist within the Gambian diaspora struggling to end the long-term reign of Yahya Jammeh. Bayo soon returned to The Gambia after the ousting of Jammeh to throw his weight behind President Barrow who he credits for freeing Gambians from 22 years of tyranny.

By Sarjo Brito

Heads of State from the sub-regional bloc ECOWAS will be convening in Ghana on Thursday, February 3rd, 2022, to discuss the current political situation in Burkina Faso. This meeting comes following an announcement from the military junta that it has restored the Constitution and appointed coup leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president.

‘’The Heads of State held an Extraordinary Summit virtually on January 28, 2022, after the January 24, 2022, coup d’état in the country. After the Summit, the Authority deployed immediately a high-level mission of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to hold consultations with the Military Leaders’’

‘’After which a Joint Ministerial Mission led by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers was also deployed to assess the political situation in the country and submit their report to the Authority of Heads of State. During the Extraordinary Summit, the Heads of State will be considering and discussing reports from these high-level missions’’

The subregion has witnessed a wave of coups in recent months. The most recent of which was in Guinea-Bissau where one was believed to be underway on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. Widely circulated videos on socials media showed what seemed to be heavy exchange of gunfire around the Presidential Palace. The Guineans leader Umaru Cissoko Embalo later appeared on national television where he told Guineans that the deadly coup attempt was thwarted but said many members of the security forces had been killed repelling the attack.

Suspected militiamen attacked camp in Djugu territory, in Ituri province, killing civilians ‘with edged weapons’, monitor says.

Suspected militiamen have attacked a camp for internally displaced persons in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing dozens of people, according to local sources and a monitoring group.

The overnight assault took place late in the DRC’s restive Ituri province, which has been placed under a state of siege since May 2021, an exceptional measure taken by the government to combat armed groups roaming the country’s mineral-rich east.

“At least 40 civilians were killed with edged weapons last night in Plaine Savo” in Djugu territory, the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), which monitors violence in the region, said on Twitter on Wednesday.

The head of a local humanitarian group and a witness put the toll at at least 60, according to Reuters news agency.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but KST said fighters from the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo armed group, known as CODECO, were suspected of being behind the raid.

Aljazeera

A Zambian soldier has earned himself a promotion for helping a pregnant woman deliver a baby in a maize field.

Humphrey Mangisani has been promoted from a lance corporal to a full corporal for his bravery.

The story of the birth, which – according to Zambian Reports – took place last week in the eastern Petauke district, captured the nation.

Cpl Mangisani said he was called to help the woman who had gone into labour.

He organised for a motorbike taxi to take her to hospital and followed behind in another taxi.

But her labour progressed so quickly that they had to abandon the bikes and he helped her deliver the baby in a field by the side of the road.

“I quickly found a razor blade and helped her to cut the umbilical code. It was raining when she gave birth. I quickly took the baby to the hospital and the mother followed behind,” he said.

The soldier risked a reprimand as he ended up being absent without leave from his camp.

However, the grateful mother gave him the opportunity to name her newborn son – and he chose Raymond as the name for the little baby.

At the promotion ceremony, police boss Brigadier General Kelvin Kanguma said: “You’re not a qualified medical doctor but you went out and helped that lady successfully.”

The police boss said the action changed the public’s perception of soldiers.

“You have shown that a soldier is someone who can help.”

Zambia’s health ministry recently revealed that more than 100 newborns die every week because of delays in getting to hospitals and clinics, which are often far away.

BBC