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

Police in the West Coast Region in collaboration with the Medicine Control Agency of the Ministry of Health and the Gambia Pharmacy Council on Tuesday embarked on a major operation against illegal medicine peddlers at the Brikama Market.

Tuesday’s raid in the West Coast Region targeted many people engaged in the illegal trade of pharmaceutical products

Regulatory Officer at Medicines Control Agency, Alhaji Matarr Bah said the peddlers have no licenses for selling such products, adding that the medicine are also not kept under their required temperatures thereby making them harmful to people who purchase drugs from the peddlers.

“We were given a tip of the illegal sale of pharmaceutical products at the Brikama Market, contrary to Medicine and Related Products Act as well as the Pharmacy Council Act. The medicines we discovered can caused health hazards to people. Medicine should be stored at appropriate temperature, but the said medicines are being sold in the open.”

Officer Commanding at Brikama Police Station said the six suspects were arrested for selling drugs without appropriate license.

“Those arrested have been detained, charged and await prosecution. We are looking forward to expanding this type of exercise because these people are selling drugs which they don’t have any clue about”

Drug peddling has been a major issue especially in communities where health facilities are inadequate and where people are ignorant of the health implications of consuming drugs sold by peddlers.

A dispatch from the Office of the President informs the public that President Adama Barrow will today travel to Ghana to attend an extraordinary ECOWAS summit on Thursday 3 February 2022.

According to the notice, the President and his entourage will depart today Wednesday 2 February 2022 at 3pm.

Gunfire erupted near a government building in Bissau where President Umaro Cissoko Embalo was thought to be attending a cabinet meeting.

The whereabouts of the president and prime minister are unclear.

West African regional leaders condemned what they called a coup attempt and urged troops to return to barracks.

One of the poorest countries in the world, the former Portuguese colony has seen nine coups or attempted coups since 1980.

Struggling with a massive foreign debt and an economy that relies heavily on foreign aid, the country has also become a transhipment point for Latin American drugs, leading it to be dubbed by some as Africa’s first narco-state.

While Mr Embalo won the December 2019 presidential election, he faced a last-minute stand-off with parliament before taking office the following February.

A reporter on the ground, Alberto Dabo, told BBC News that unidentified heavily armed gunmen had attacked the government palace while President Embalo was meeting Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam inside.

He said that two people had been killed and, according to “reliable sources”, the president and all the members of the government were still inside the palace “in the hands of” the attackers.

A security source who did not want to be identified told the BBC that gunmen in civilian clothes had opened fire and a police officer had been killed.

The military had regained control of the situation and it was now “calm”, he said, but he added that the whereabouts of the president and prime minister were unknown.

Condemning the violence, the West African regional group Ecowas said it held “the military responsible for the wellbeing of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and members of his government”.

BBC

In a press statement, the National Coordinating Committee has explained reasons for delayed in departure of delegation and players of the national team in Cameroon.

Below is the press statement:

NCC PRESS STATEMENT ON DELAYED DEPARTURE FLIGHT FROM DOUALA 

The National Co-ordinating Committee wishes to inform the General Public it had in utmost good faith entered into an agreement with two separate agents in the names of AEROWOLD/PFS and JET SPORT EVENTS respectively for the transportation of The Gambia National Team and the Fans/Supporters to Cameroon for the AFCON 2021.  These agreements were signed after the completion of bidding process where the two aforementioned companies turned out to be the most responsive bidders.

AEROWOLRD/ PFS was contracted to fly the players from Qatar to Banjul and then Douala on a one-way flight with the understanding that the team may either fly back directly to Europe or back to Banjul depending on their progress in the tournament while JET SPORTS EVENT was contracted to transport the supporters / fans on a separate date.  In our agreement with JET SPORTS EVENTS, it was clear that the delegations’ return date to Banjul was subjective to the team’s progress in the tournament but a 48-hour notice was required to have the aircraft ready to fly the delegation back home.

Following the team’s exit in the quarterfinals match against Cameroon on Saturday the 29th January, the Logistics Committee immediately informed JET SPORTS EVENTS that the team will leave Douala on Monday the 31st January 2022, not only as per the agreement but also to ensure all our players arrive in Banjul on time to travel to their respective clubs.

We were informed by the chartered flight company that an aircraft will be available on Monday the 31stJanuary 2022 at 11.00am or Mid-day which information was shared with the delegation in Cameroon.  The whole day on Sunday the 30th January, the Logistics Committee continued to persistently request for the flight details of the aircraft to depart Douala for Banjul from the chartered flight company but were told that it was a Sunday and they were waiting on securing a flyover permit from Ghana having secured permits from The Gambia and Cameroon.  After numerous follow ups and having sensed that the chartered flight company may not have readily brokered a flight to transport the delegation, the NCC took note of the non-lapse of the 48hour period for the chartered flight company to provide us with the flight details but also summoned an emergency NCC meeting under the directives of the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports for members in Limbe to discuss the matter and agree on a way forward.

During the said meeting, it was brought to our attention that the Chartered flight company had secured a much small flight that was unable to carry delegation to Banjul with a proposal to leave some passengers and most of the luggages in Limbe for two extra days, or wait an extra day which is Tuesday the 1st February 2022 to have a bigger aircraft to transport all the delegation and luggages.  It was unanimously agreed at the said meeting, it was best to wait an extra day and have a bigger aircraft to transport everyone back to Banjul and secondly, the time of departure for the small flight that was being proposed was very late which also means arriving around midnight or 1.00am in Banjul will mean a cancellation of the planned welcome of the players.

Despite the chartered flight company confirming to us that the team will depart Limbe for Douala at 09.30 am for the airport to board our plane, we have continued to receive inconsistent messages from them. This caused the NCC to secure the services of a Cameroonian Legal Practitioner former Justice Emmanuel Nkea who has been visiting the fans on a daily basis to take the issue up and take all legal steps to ensure the chartered flight company fulfills its contractual obligation and pay for damages incurred.  Justice Nkea had even gone to the point of engaging the Governor of the region who have all since gotten involved in the saga.

The NCC wishes to inform the public that, it has no interest whatsoever to keep our gallant scorpions or any single supporter/ fan here for an extra minute, much more a day contrary to message being shared on social media.  The Legal Practitioner has been furnished with all the relevant documents and information to take all the necessary steps for compensation while we are doing everything humanly possible to fly everyone out of Cameroon this evening.  The failure of the Chartered flight company to fulfill its contractual obligations gives us every right to seek redress in Court and we have immediately embarked upon that, the outcome which will be shared with the general public.

We crave the indulgence and understanding of the General Public most especially our entire national team and fans/ supporters in Limbe to exercise patience as a flight has been secured to fly us all out of here TODAY Tuesday 1st February 2022 at 8.20pm.  We apologize for any inconvenience cause by circumstances out of our control.

Thank you.

Burkina Faso’s military government said it has restored the constitution a week after taking power and has appointed the coup’s leader as head of state for a transitional period.

The move came shortly after the African Union (AU) suspended Burkina Faso for the takeover and diplomats from West Africa and the United Nations pressed demands for a return to civilian rule.

In a statement read on television on Monday, the military government announced it had approved a “fundamental act” that “lifts the suspension of the constitution”, a move that had been declared after the January 24 coup.

The 37-article document guarantees independence of the judiciary and presumption of innocence, as well as basic liberties spelled out in the constitution such as freedom of movement and freedom of speech, according to the statement.

Under the “fundamental act”, it said, the military government – officially named the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR) – “ensures the continuity of the state pending the establishment of transitional bodies”.

The statement did not give a timeline for the transition period.

It formally identified coup leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as president of the MPSR.

This role also encompasses “president of Burkina Faso, head of state (and) supreme leader of the armed forces”, the statement said.

The MPSR has two vice presidents, the statement added, but it did not mention any names.

A separate decree read on television said that the armed forces chief of staff, Gilbert Ouedraogo, was leaving the job.

Just hours earlier, the AU’s 15-member Peace and Security Council said on Twitter that it had voted “to suspend the participation of #BurkinaFaso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country”.

On Friday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also suspended Burkina Faso from its ranks and warned of possible sanctions pending the outcome of meetings with the military government.

An ECOWAS mission headed by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway arrived in Ouagadougou, where it was joined by the UN’s special representative for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh.

The discussions were “very frank”, according to Botchway. “They seemed very open to the suggestions and proposals that we made. For us it’s a good sign,” she told reporters after meeting with Damiba and other junta members.

The Ghanaian Foreign Minister added that although Burkina Faso has been suspended, ECOWAS will not severe all ties.

“We will not leave Burkina Faso on its own, we will continue to work [together] to fight this menace of terrorism and armed conflict,” she said.

The delegation also visited ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who is under house arrest, a delegate said.

Botchway said she had met with Kabore and that he was well and “in good spirits”, Reuters news agency reported.

His wellbeing and demands for his release have been major issues since the coup.

ECOWAS sent military chiefs to confer with Damiba on Saturday. Leaders from the bloc will hold a summit in Accra on Thursday to assess its two missions to see whether they should impose sanctions.

They have previously suspended and enforced sanctions against two other members – Mali and Guinea – which have also seen military overthrows in the past 18 months.

The United States expressed support Monday evening for ECOWAS’s actions and called for Kabore’s release.

“We share the concerns African leaders articulated regarding the actions of military officials in Burkina Faso,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

“While some elements of the constitution may have been restored, extraconstitutional seizures of power erode the legitimacy of governance.”

On January 24, mutineering soldiers detained Kabore amid rising public anger at his failure to stem violence by armed groups ravaging the impoverished nation.

They later released a handwritten letter in which he announced his resignation – a document that a member of his party said was authentic.

The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Aljazeera

Mali’s military authorities have expelled the French ambassador to the country in a 72-hour deadline announced Monday.

French envoy Joel Meyer was summoned earlier Monday by the West African country’s foreign ministry and instructed to leave over “hostile and outrageous statements” by French authorities targeted at the junta, a military spokesman said in a statement.

“The government of the Republic of Mali informs the national and international community that this day, Monday, 31 January 2022, the ambassador of France to Mali his excellency Joel Meyer was called by the Minister of Foreign Affairs And international cooperation, who notified him of the decision of the government instructing him to leave the country within 72 hours,” the statement said.

The ultimatum comes barely one week after Mali severed diplomatic ties with France, announcing a change to its official language from French to Bambara, and ordering French troops to evacuate its territory, according to a recent communique.

Bilateral relations between France and Mali’s interim authorities have deteriorated in recent weeks over the military’s proposal to delay a transition to democracy following two successive coups in the last 17 months.

Last week, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described Mali’s transitional government led by coup leader Assimi Goita as “out of control” and illegitimate, Reuters reported, escalating worsening tensions between both countries.

The junta condemned the comments in its Monday statement, adding that they were “contrary to the development of friendly relations between nations.”

Special forces commander Goita’s proposal for a five-year election delay was rejected by the 15-member ECOWAS bloc, which imposed sanctions and suspended Mali from the regional body.

Goita was instrumental in the ousting of President Boubacar Ibrahim Keita in August 2020, after which the country’s interim authorities proposed an 18-month transition to civilian rule which fell through. Keita died on January 16, sixteen months after he was ousted.

In May 2021, Goita staged a second coup and seized power after deposing the interim authorities.

CNN

By Amara Thoronka

President Adama Barrow has said due to the economic challenges the Covid 19 pandemic continues to pose on economies of nations across the world, it is not reasonable to depend on other nations to implement national projects.

The President was speaking at the 4^th edition of Gambia Revenue Authority’s annual taxpayers award ceremony on Saturday 29 January 2022 at Kairaba Hotel.

He acknowledged the importance of tax in national development, citing projects solely funded by the Gambian government through taxes.

“The Gambia is a tax-based economy. We will continuously explore local funding to implement most of our development projects. Covid 19 has ravaged the economies of donor countries. We can no longer rely on foreign aid to fund national projects.”

On empowering Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) for efficient and effective performance, the President pledged his support to enable the national revenue collection agency perform better.

“Reforming tax administration is central to addressing the economic challenges of the country and funding gaps in order to fulfill our development obligations. To realize this, my government will continue to provide the required policy environment, the political will and the feasible material supports for GRA to perform optimally”

Commissioner General of GRA Yankuba Darboe noted the improvement they have made since they started collecting revenue for the State.

“Since we started operation in 2006, the authority has been able to raise revenue from 2.8 billion in 2006 to over 12.8 billion in 2021,” he disclosed.

Mr. Darboe stressed, “We have registered a high degree of compliance from the private sector. Bravo to those complying. The Gambia Revenue Authority is committed to providing optimum client serve to our taxpayers in order to enhance good professional relationship between the Authority and taxpayers and create the right environment for businesses to prosper”

Board Chairperson of GRA, Lucy Fye Jagne said they have made significant progress in moving from paper-based revenue collection to an automated system.

“Our digitalization agenda has been a goal in our current and previous strategic plans, and it is a legacy that the current management of the Authority wants to leave behind. The transformation of GRA from manual revenue collection to automation is our dream.”

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mambury Njie described tax as the lifeblood of the national economy and lauded the GRA and taxpayers for fulfilling their obligations.

Over 30 individuals were recognized and awarded by GRA for tax compliance. Africell was recognized as the largest taxpayer of the year.

The annual exercise initiated four years ago is to honour and recognize the most tax compliant institutions across the country and raise awareness on the importance of generating taxes for improved national development.

By Amara Thoronka

Gambia’s Minister of Defense Sheikh Omar Faye has assured the West African nation is peaceful and safe, urging people to go about their normal business.

He made this statement while updating the public on the recent cross-border fire between a squad of the ECOMIG forces and rebel forces of MFDC faction around the Foni border with Cansamance in the south of the country with Senegal. The incident led to the death of two ECOMIG soldiers and seven others officially claimed to be held captive by the rebels.

Speaking to the nation’s broadcaster, the Defense Minister disclosed that soldiers have been deployed to Foni to reinforce security and instill confidence in locals to be calm and go about their normal business.

“We want to reassure all Gambians that the armed forces have been deployed to patrol the general areas in Foni as well as to really sympathize with our families in Foni for the distress and disturbances they went through during these skirmishes”

Mr. Faye confirmed that the presidential taskforce set up to look into the matter has almost completed their mission and that very soon the report will come out and the Government will then map out the way forward on the appropriate steps to be taken.

“I can assure everyone that The Gambia is peaceful and safe. The incident was just unfortunate as it was never calculated. The President has directed the armed forces to reinforce security in that part of the country and that has since begun. People should go back to their normal business and should avoid all fake news and misinformation,” he reassured.