United Democratic Party leader Ousainou Darboe has called on his supporters to continue canvassing for votes insisting the UDP will build a better nation.

Mr Darboe spoke over the weekend as UDP held a rally in Brikama which he missed but addressed through video.

He however wrote on his official Facebook page: “Sitting at home and watching the Rally in Brikama gives me inestimable pleasure knowing that the foundations upon which the party was built is rock solid.  You have shown resilience despite the obstacles thrown at you. You have demonstrated such a deep sense of patriotism throughout the life of this party and most especially this final leg of the 2021 campaign.

“I admire the camaraderie, smiles on your faces and good humour. I can continue to hold my head high as you demonstrate leadership in the examples you set.  You continue to demonstrate for all to see your desire for a better nation.

“Tonight once again, as in other regions of the country you have sent a clear message that The Gambia is ready for meaningful change that will usher in sustainable development.

“I urge you all to continue to canvas for votes, continue to sell our 5-Point Agenda and together we will build a better nation.”

The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations has called on the Adama Barrow led government to fully implement the recommendations of the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC).

This call comes a few days after the commission officially presented its report to President Barrow at State House in Banjul.

Sheriff Kijera is the director of the centre, he said the Truth Commission has done a perfect and wonderful job as demanded by the government. Noting that now they expect that the government honour its responsibility to implement the entire report.

Commending the TRRC for what he described as a fantastic job Mr Kijera revealed that the expectations of the victims are quite high.

“Unlike the Janneh Commission report which was treated with “selective justice”, the Truth Commission report should be treated with utmost significance to heal the wounds. and chart a new path for the country. We will not remain complacent to hold our government accountable to live up to expectation and implement the TRRC report,” Mr Kijera said.

The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations was formed to provide a safe environment that will help victims of human rights violations and their families get the truth, justice, and where applicable reparation.

The organisation collaborates with government, national, and international agencies in providing other needed services for victims of human rights violations.

Meanwhile, President Adama Barrow has expressed his desire and his government’s willingness to implement the recommendations of the report.

National People’s Party strongwoman Nyima Kinteh has said United Democratic Party’s plan to spend the night in Basori while returning to Banjul from upcountry campaign didn’t go as planned as leader Darboe missed out.

UDP had planned to make a night stop in the holy village of Basori last week before heading back to Banjul but leader Darboe missed out as he sustained an injury and was evacuated to Afrimed.

Speaking at President Barrow’s rally in Busumbala, Nyima Kinteh of the National People’s Party said: “Be wary of leaders who do not accept what God has destined. We have seen people trying to imitate him (President Barrow). In 2016 if you remember President Barrow spent the night in Basori. There is a lot of prayers in Basori, we have our men of God in Basori. They think if they sleep in Basori, God will give them what he gave President Barrow (presidency). But they ended up sleeping at Makasama’s place.

“We pray for his speedy recovery because NPP is not a party that wishes bad luck to our opponents. If you remember days to the nomination, they said our president was sick and went for treatment in France but Allah is One. What you wished for mine is what befell yours.”

President Adama Barrow has said he doesn’t have anything against former President Yahya Jammeh which is why he doesn’t get angry over the former dictator’s statements.

“All these things that he is doing… I have nothing against Yahya Jammeh. This is why I don’t get angry over whatever he says. But The Gambia is our country and we have to promote peace,” President Barrow told his Faji Kunda rally over the weekend.

Former President Jammeh who is living in exile in Equatorial Guinea has been engaged in attempts to turn Gambians against President Barrow. He supports opposition Mamma Kandeh and usually calls at Mr Kandeh’s rallies to tell Gambians not to vote for President Barrow but Kandeh.

In one of the meetings, he called President Barrow a donkey and Saitan person – and has also accused his successor of destroying his 22 years work as president.

Jammeh has remained a bitter man following his electoral defeat in the hands of President Barrow in the 2016 presidential election. He refused to hand over power which led to ECOWAS sending troops to The Gambia and Jammeh later fleeing to Equatorial Guinea.

Essa Faal addressed voters in Bakau on Sunday urging them to vote for him as he is the most competent among all candidates seeking State House.

The Turnaround leader insisted he is the only candidate who proved his mettle when he worked for the TRRC as lead prosecutor.

Mr Faal said: “All these six people contesting, each beating his chest that he is the competent. Ask them to show you what they have done here. With all the people they are with and we have seen their results and know they are incompetent. And those people talking when their education is not much, we know they are incompetent. And the others who are talking, no know has seen their results and they have not done anything here.

“They are deceiving you. We have worked here for three years, every day you were watching us. You know if we have done something or not, you also know if we spoke the truth or not and you also know if we are competent or not.

“You know how it is between us and them. They organized a debate here, they all ran away and the one who came was defeated. So the people know.”

Members states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) are gatherd for a special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) which will start today 29th November to 1st December 2021.

The essence of the session is to consider the need for developing an international instrument to better prepare for and prevent future pandemic threats.

“Member States will consider one agenda item during the special session – the second such meeting in its history – namely the need for a WHO convention, agreement or other international agreement on pandemic preparedness and response with a view towards the establishment of an international process to draft and negotiate such a convention taking into account the report of the Working Group on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies,” a press release from WHO read.

The goals of such an instrument would be to enable the world to act collectively for prevention, preparedness and response to the next pandemic, ensure equitable access to pandemic countermeasures and support global coordination through a global public health governance and reinforce the role of WHO.

South Africa’s president has called on countries to reverse the “unjustified” travel bans that were put in place to combat the spread of the new Omicron Variant of the coronavirus, contending that such restrictions are not backed by science.

“We call upon all those countries that have imposed travel bans on our country and our southern African sister countries to immediately and urgently reverse their decisions,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera.

“These restrictions are unjustified and unfairly discriminate against our country and our southern African sister countries,” he added.

Ramaphosa’s comments come after a number of countries, including the United States, issued new travel restrictions for passengers coming from South Africa and other nearby countries after the World Health Organization labelled omicron a “variant of concern.”

The strain, which was first detected in South Africa, has since appeared in neighboring African countries as well as in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

Starting on Monday, the U.S. will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.

While there is still much to learn about the new omicron variant, it is clear that the strain has a high number of mutations and is already spreading around the world.

Anthony Fauci on Sunday said the new variant will “inevitably” be found in the U.S., though no cases have been detected thus far.

Ramaphosa on Sunday said the new travel restrictions will just further damage the economies of the affected countries and undermine their ability to respond to, and recover from, the pandemic, adding that they are “not informed by science.”

Fauci defended the travel restrictions, contending that they will “slow things down.”

He noted that travel bans for highly transmissible viruses do not “completely” prevent the infections from entering the country but said that “what you can do is you can delay it enough to get us better prepared.”

Former Gambia Moral Congress strongwoman Tida Kijera met with officials of the United Democratic Party on Sunday to officially join the party and endorse UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.

Mrs Kijera was this week sacked from Gambia Moral Congress only for her to quickly announce she is joining UDP.

She was supposed to meet Mr Darboe personally but the UDP leader is recovering from a minor fracture to the leg he sustained in Jarra.

Mrs Kijera instead met with top chieftains of UDP such as Amadou Sanneh, Aja Yamoundow Yabo, Oley Dibba and Momodou Sanneh at Darboe’s office in Pipeline.

By Matty Senghore

People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism leader Halifa Sallah campaigned in Brikama Jamisa on Saturday evening after returning to Banjul from the countryside where he had been campaigning.

The experienced 68-year-old politician is taking a shot at the presidency for the last time in his over three decades career as a politician.

Speaking in Jamisa on Saturday evening, Mr Sallah warned that The Gambia is at a two-road intersection where one of the roads leads to development and comfort and the other leading to poverty and suffering.

“Gambia is at an intersection. One of the roads is the road of comfort and then you have the other road which is the road lack of awareness and poverty. If you’re ready, we can walk the former road and make The Gambia an example in the world in five years. But if you choose the road of poverty and vileness, we will not go there, we will forge a different history,” Mr Sallah told a crowd of supporters.

The PDOIS leader also sought to sensitize citizens regarding their vote and how they should view it.

He said: “Know that it’s you who own The Gambia and its sovereignty. Do not allow to be made slaves. Your vote is not owned by any tribe, your vote is not own by any kabilo, your vote is not owned by any religion.”

The presidential election will take place in one week’s time and Mr Sallah is one of six people, all men, who are interested in taking State House including President Adama Barrow who is seeking a second term.

Independent Essa Faal campaigned in Bundung on Saturday telling citizens there the rising cost of living in The Gambia is caused by a government that doesn’t care about the people.

The Turnaround leader said: “The way the country is being run doesn’t make sense. If you have a family, it’s then a problem as you have to depend on a brother or your child or you beg. Do you know what caused it? A government that lack knowledge, a government that doesn’t care about the people.

“A government that cares about its people who think about how they are living. You have heard the man say rent is expensive. Senegal has a program to reduce rent. Do you know they can do that here too? But they will not do it. Have you seen them come up with a program to reduce the cost of rice?”

The former Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission leader prosecutor is one of six candidates in next month’s presidential election.

Mr Faal launched to fame when he took the TRRC job and is now hoping to become the country’s next president.

By Dawda Baldeh

Hamat NK Bah, leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), has frowned local election observers and accused them of given misleading information to the public.

He said the reports that appear on newspapers which read, ‘Gov’t using state resources and vehicles in campaign’ is totally false and misleading.

Bah who is also the tourism minister was speaking on Thursday during a rally at Gunjur Kombo South.

A newspaper story quoted local election observers that the NPP presidential candidate (President Adama Barrow) was using state resources to campaign.

But Mr Bah countered: “This is not true. Barrow is still the president of the Republic of The Gambia until the 19th of January 2022. The state is responsible of his security, well-being and welfare including himself and his family. All they talk about was using government vehicles on his campaign.

“The securities have vehicles that they own in their institutions. They are responsible for the security of the president and his delegation and they must use their vehicles to secure the president.

“We are in a democratic state but let’s be honest. Barrow is the only president I knew in Africa who abundant the state vehicles and uses his own during campaign. All that they (Observers) said was that the Barrow is using the state vehicles in his campaign.

“Many African head of state learn from him. The simplicity of this man cannot be put into questions by so-called observers. We will not accept that.”

Thousands of United Democratic Party supporters filled Brikama’s largest meeting ground on Saturday to listen to leader Ousainou Darboe.

UDP held a rally at Brikama SSP on Saturday evening but Mr Darboe who is recovering from a leg injury missed the rally.

The UDP leader however addressed the rally remotely from his Pipeline residence warning citizens against voting for anyone else other than his party.

“If you give your vote to any other box other than UDP’s box, let it be known that that vote is destroyed,” Mr Darboe said.

The warning comes exactly a week to presidential election on December 4 in which Mr Darboe is looking to stun his political son President Adama Barrow who is seeking a second term.

It will be the first presidential election since the end of former President Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorial rule which lasted for 22 years marked by extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of political opponents.

Police on Saturday confirmed the death of a 14-year-old boy during a wrestling match with another teen.

Police said two students aged 15 and 14 were wrestling but one of the kids died from the stunt.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie told The Fatu Network: “We can confirm the incident at Ngayen Sanjal in which two students 15 years old and 14 years were wrestling.

“The 14 year old who was wrestled to the ground was later rushed to the Ngayen Sanjal health center where he was pronounced dead.”

President Adama Barrow has asked his supporters to ignore his critics in the Diaspora as they are just idle citizens who do not have a job and being sponsored by political parties in The Gambia to smear him.

President Barrow have the request on Friday in Brikama during his rally there attended by thousands of citizens.

The president said: “Ignore them, these people in the diaspora talking. They don’t even have what to eat. They don’t also even have a chicken house in The Gambia here. It is those parties who put money together and take it to them in order for them to be there talking malarkey talk just to sow discord among Gambians. These are the people who do not work.

“But those who have jobs and are into serious jobs are not into maligning Gambia and malarkey talk. These people support Gambia. But those people whom you know some came to look for a job from me and did not get it and went and became opposition. You have a lot of them.

“They said I want to bring dictatorship but I want Gambia to be like how all countries in the world are run. There is time for politics and there is time for work.

“A lot of them are hypocrites. A lot of them are travelling with diplomatic passport and it’s me who gave it to them. Because I realized they are Gambians and are responsible people and are also party leaders. But all their travel, they go character-assassinate Gambia and myself. I am a man of peace and I want peace for this country and anyone who is a man of peace should join me to build this country.”

The country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has formally appealed the judgment handed down by Hon Justice Amina S. Ceesay in the High Court on 23^rd November 2021, in the matter between ISMAILA CEESAY& ANOR V IEC

The IEC says whilst its appeal is ongoing the institution is committed to the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections, maintaining that it is still waiting for the Citizens’ Alliance to comply with the court ruling.

Pa Makan Khan is Director of Communications at the IEC he was responded to allegations made by the Presidential Candidate of the Citizens’ Alliance in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network at Election House.

Dr Ismaila Ceesay claims that the commission is vehemently bent on depriving them (CA) of running for the 4^th December Election even after a court ruling made it clear that they (IEC) acted outside the law.

“They are now bent on frustrating the judgement by filing an appeal only to delay and forestall my opportunity to run for president. But they cannot stop us, as a matter of fact, we shall start our campaign on Sunday.” Dr Ceesay said in an earlier press conference.

Pa Khan says the new names CA has provided are not considered since they are not in line with the court’s direction.

Gambia Moral Congress leader Mai Ahmad Fatty has emphatically stated his party is not created to rely on any political party for political relevance and survival – as he announced he will be standing in next month’s presidential election.

“We did not create GMC to rely on other political parties of their political leaders for our political relevance or survival. No. And definitely no,” Mr Fatty told reporters on Saturday afternoon at his residence in Kotu.

In announcing his candidacy, Mr Fatty said: “Today, having regard to the state of the country, and confident of our ability to fix the urgent challenges facing our country, I have great privilege and honour to declare I will stand as candidate for president of the Republic of The Gambia, as flagbearer of Gambia Moral Congress.”

If he contests, it will be the first time Gambia Moral Congress is fielding a candidate in a presidential election since its formation in 2009.

The announcement came just a few days after GMC won its court battle against the Independent Electoral Commission regarding the rejection of Mr Fatty’s nomination.

The presidential election is on December 4.

Barely one week to Gambia’s Presidential Election, a recent election survey, “The Gambia Pre-election Opinion Poll Survey 2021,” done by the Center for Policy, Research and Strategic Studies shows that incumbent President Adama Barrow will win the December 4 poll in all regions.

According to the survey, the proportion of respondents is high in Banjul, followed by West Coast Region (WCR) and Central River Region (CRR) and low in Upper River Region (URR). In all regions, it indicates that President Barrow’s National Peoples Party (NPP) wins the voting intentions of Gambians with the greatest performance in URR and CRR.

While there are undecided voters in all regions, the proportion of respondents in the regions that are undecided is not as substantial as it was in the first opinion poll survey conducted mid this year. This shows that across all the regions, most respondents have now decided on which candidate to elect. The survey says Banjul and Brikama have the most undecided voters among the respondents.

Statistically, 44% of respondents revealed that NPP will win the presidential election. 24% said Ousainou Darboe’s (UDP) will win. 5% of the respondents said Mama Kandeh’s Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) will win while 2% goes to Halifa Sallah’s Peoples Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS). 1% each goes to Abdoulei Jammeh’s National Unity Party (NUP) and independent candidate Essa Faal respectively. 24% of the respondents reported that they could not decide the winner of the said election.

In summary, the poll puts President Barrow in first position; Ousainou Darboe, second; Mama Kandeh, third; Halifa Sallah, fourth; while Abdoulei Jammeh and Essa Faal battle for fifth position.

Tida Kijera will officially endorse UDP leader Ousainou Darboe on Sunday as she announced she is joining the party.

Mrs Kijera who was Gambia Moral Congress’s most powerful woman was sacked by the party this week in a development that has surprised many.

The woman politician updated her Facebook profile picture on Friday with a new photo of her and UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.

She said she will be meeting Darboe on Sunday to officially endorse him.

Scores of citizens on Friday attended the burial of the mother of top National People’s Party chieftain Seedy Njie in Chamen, Nianija.

Mr Njie’s mother, Kaddijatou Jallow, passed away on Thursday and was laid to rest on Friday at her native in Chamen Nianija.

A massive crowd of mourners attended the funeral among them Vice President Dr Isatou Touray, Hamat Bah, Dr Demba Sabally and Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray.

A regional delegation led by the governor of CRR Abba Sanyang also attended the funeral.

By: Maimouna Bah

President Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) leads voting intention of male and female voters in the forthcoming presidential election in The Gambia. This is according to an opinion poll report done by Center for Policy, Research and Strategic Studies (CePRass) and National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The report states that NPP leads with 42% among female respondents and 45% among males. It indicates that opposition strongman Ousainou Darboe’s United Democratic Party (UDP) takes second with 23% among female respondents and 24% among males.

From the report, NPP leads among males by 21% and 19% among females.