Abubacarr Jeng has collapsed his presidential bid to support President Adama Barrow in the December presidential election.

Mr Jeng was one of many citizens who this year announced taking a shot at the presidency. However, he was at rally in Medina Serign Mass on Wednesday organized by Njogu Bah to drum up support for President Barrow.

He confirmed throwing his weight behind President Barrow to The Fatu Network and said he had a deep discussion with the president.

The Imam-politician said he realized his values and vision fit well into President Barrow’s policies and plans.

Alhaji Mamadi Kurang one of the presidential nominees for the December 2021 elections has said that ‘Democratization of Education is the Solution to the Problems the Gambia’.

The independent candidate was speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network immediately after completing his nomination process at Election House.

Mr Mamadi Kurang revealed he has received over 6000 signatures and has fulfilled all requirements set by the country’s electoral body.

“At the moment we need change, we need someone who understands the political, economic and social issues. I am a problem solver and I understand the economic problems,” Alhaji Mamadi Kurang said.

He further noted that he is tried and tested and will deliver what the society needs.

When asked about what his first 100 days as president (if elected) would be like. He revealed that he will get to work to tackle the issues of poverty and build the educational system.

“Singapore has no gold, no diamonds but they used their human resource through education to transform the country. The young people are yearning for change and they are going to determine the change. I am trusted by the young people and I have been around for the past 20 years,” He said.

He brushed off the question of a possible coalition, emphasising that he has gone through his nomination to contest as a candidate for the presidency.

“We will capacitate people and build the middle level manpower,” Alhaji Mamadi Kurang promised.

Joseph Henry Joof was the first candidate to present his credentials to the IEC Chairman, Alieu Momar Njai and members of his team.

Mr. Joof was born on the 25th of October 1960. He is a Gambian lawyer, politician, and writer. He served as President of the Gambia Bar Association from 1998-2001, and later as Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Gambia from 2001 to 2003.

It was during his tenure that the infamous Indemnity Act was adopted. The act came after the April 10/11 protests during which students were killed and some seriously injured.

The 2001 Indemnity Act gives the President the power to indemnify any person against prosecution for any act committed to quell an unlawful assembly or other emergency situation. The law shielded security officers who killed innocent students as it deterred victims of human rights violations from seeking redress.

United Democratic Party has said a mutual friend of leader Ousainou Darboe and GFA leader BB Darbo has initiated talks for a ‘possible collaboration’ of the two parties.

Gambians will vote for president in December and parties have been scrambling for coalition with less than five weeks to the election.

Dependable sources told The Fatu Network UDP has reached out to Gambia For All for an alliance but UDP in a statement has said this is inaccurate.

The statement signed by Alhagie S Darboe said: “ The United Democratic Party (UDP) would like to clarify that what has been reflected on the Fatu Network Headlines “The Scramble for Coalition” – UDP Reaches out to GFA for Alliance” is inaccurate.

“For the records, the UDP would like to clarify that a mutual friend of H.E. Ousainu Darboe and H.E. Bakary Bunja Dabo initiated a possible UDP and GFA collaboration.”

Former President Yahya Jammeh’s supporters have signed a deal with Gambia Democratic Congress for a merger for the December election.

Jammeh’s supporters led by Yahya Tamba signed an MoU with Mamma Kandeh at Baobad Hotel in Bijilo late on Friday.

While the alliance is dubbed, GDC-GANU-APRC’, the absence of Sheikh Tijang Hydara at the MoU signing has sparked speculation of GANU relegated to the back.

A source said: “He doesn’t have supporters so he should not expect too much or even think of being the flagbearer.”

Gambia’s only Female Presidential Nominee, Marie Sock Jobarteh has told Gambians that she is running for president to be a voice for every Gambian. She was speaking to the Fatu Network immediately after completing her nomination process at Election House.

“I want to be a voice for every Gambian, it is only us that can make a change for us and our children,” Marie Sock said.

When asked about what inspired her Marie noted that she was inspired by the struggle of her people.

“I was inspired by the struggle of my people. I am a mother, and if this is what I must do to help so be it,” she said.

Ahead of the December 2021 polls the Independent Electoral Commission of The Gambia has today 30th October 2021 started the nomination process for Presidential Candidates.

The requirements for Nomination include: The person must be a Gambian Citizen of at least 30 years old with a minimum educational qualification of Senior Secondary School.

The candidate must have also been resident in the Gambia five years preceding 4th December 2021 and should be nominated by 5000 voters; at least 200 from each region.

The Presidential Candidate must also have sworn asset declaration with a tax clearance certificate and a deposit sum of D10,000. Other requirements include, a symbol, colour and photograph and strict adherence to IEC Code of Campaign Ethics

Today’s nomination schedule features Joseph H. Joof (Independent Candidate), Marie Sock Jobarteh (Independent Candidate), Alhaji Mamadi Kurang (Independent Candidate) and Mathew Gomez (Independent Candidate)

Gambia Democratic Congress leader Mamma Kandeh has been unanimously selected as the standard-bearer of an alliance featuring his GDC, GANU and former President Jammeh’s No Alliance Movement.

This story is developing…

United Democratic Party has reached out to Gambia For All for an alliance as Gambians get set to vote for a new president in five weeks time.

According to people familiar with the issue, UDP approached GFA for an alliance that will be led by UDP.

GFA chiefs are said to have taken the invitation under advisement.

The development comes as GFA appeared to have pulled out from a five-party opposition alliance dubbed Alliance for Change 2021.

Party leaders including that of GFA were supposed to put pen to paper regarding an MoU but BB Darbo did not turn up sparking speculation the alliance is on the brink of collapse. Only CA’s Dr Ismaila Ceesay, APP Dr Ibrahim Jagne and GMC’s Mai Fatty signed the agreement.

One of the last remaining victims of the Bilal Boarding School has succumbed to injuries he sustained from the fire.

Five boys died while seven got hospitalized after they got trapped in their room as fire tore through it earlier this month. At least four of the seven injured have died.

On Friday, 11-year-old Seedy Lamin Ceesay also succumbed to his injuries. He had been receiving treatment in Senegal.

Gambia Press Union has gotten a new president.

Foroyaa journalist Muhammed S Bah has become the new president of the GPU after winning a vote that featured three candidates.

Thirty-six journalists gave Mr Bah the nod with his close challenger Omar Wally garnering 28 votes. A third candidate, Kerr Fatou Editor Mustapha Ceesay got nine votes.

Mr Bah replaces Sheriff Bojang Jnr who has elected not to seek re-election after the end of a three-year term.

Gambia Democratic Congress has agreed to a coalition with Gambia Alliance for National Unity and former President Yahya Jammeh’s supporters under the banner of No Alliance Movement.

A source said the opposition GDC has agreed to the coalition and officials are now scrambling to put pen to paper on Friday before the nomination of candidates for election begins on Saturday.

A flagbearer will also be announced, according to the source.

A tragic car accident that happened on Thursday morning at Nyakoi Taibatu is reported to have claimed three (3) lives, leaving many others in critical condition.

According to Basse Multimedia, of the 17 people involved in the accident three (3) people were confirmed dead on the spot while six (6) others who remain in critical condition were referred to Bansang Hospital.

Among them were 9 Mauritanians, including 2 minors less than 5 years old.  2 Gambians, and 1 Senegalese. The nationality of the 3 others was not confirmed at the time of publication.

The two minors according to the nurses at the Basse District Hospital. are all well and stable.

According to sources, the vehicle was hired by the Mauritanians who were en route to their country, unfortunately, it crashed into a tractor along the way, a few kilometres from Basse, due to alleged overseeding.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Gambia Port Authority (GPA) has on Thursday, 28^th October 2021 organized a security exercise in the form of a ‘fire breakout simulation’ in case of any security risk at the seaport.

During the security exercise, it was considered that there was a fire breakout at the port, in response the National Navy Forces rushed to the port to evacuate officials and keep them away from the risk zone. The Gambia Fire and Rescue Service also arrived at the scene at high speed to put out the fire.

Almost immediately ambulances from the Ministry of Health were deployed to evacuate casualties to health facilities. The Navy also conducted a search and discovered a bomb at the port.

According to Lieutenant Abba Nyassi everyone must go about their normal activity and not be afraid as the bomb discovered was harmless and part of the simulation exercise.

The activity conducted on Thursday morning at the ports brought together different security personnel and staff of the port. It was meant to help strengthen the security and safety of the ports as it serves as the first entry point for goods, services and people.

Recently, in line with security protocol, the Office of the National Security conducted A Critical National Infrastructural (CNI) Mapping Assessment and the port was identified as one of the key critical infrastructures in the country.

Superintendent Touray expressed hope that the knowledge and skills obtained from the exercise will be put into practice. As part of the training, The Gambia Navy conducted a bomb detective exercise at the ports to strengthen their efforts in exposing harmful weapons that may be discovered at the port.

The training is a requirement from all states that are signatory to the ISPS code, a code that provides a framework through which ships and port facilities can co-operate to detect and deter acts that pose a threat to maritime security. The conduct of training for stakeholders is expected to happen every 12 months and not more than a period of 18 months.

The Commander of the Gambia Navy, Fara Jobe said this year’s security exercise shows that their performance has been improved compared to last year. He said the role of the navy is combating threats at the port. He also called for the improvement of the equipment that is needed to make their work effective.

He used the opportunity to call for collaboration in responding to emergency drills and exercises noting that the government alone cannot eradicate threats and criminal activities.

APRC deputy spokesman Dodou Jah has said the APRC Fabakary Tombong Jatta executive feel disappointed over the way former President Yahya Jammeh treated them.

“We feel disappointed, all of us. We were taken aback. Not only saying we’re removed but he called us traitors. That really shocked people.

“People who stood for you, defended you at every corner. When we pass and people insult us, it’s because of Babili Mansa. When we go to places they throw stones at us, it’s because of Babili Mansa,” Mr Jah told The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview.

Former President Jammeh earlier this month shocked the nation when he called from his base in Equatorial Guinea and fired Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his team as leaders of APRC. Jammeh complained that the leaders are traitors who entered into an alliance with NPP with his approval.

However, on whether the love he has for Jammeh is still intact, Mr Jah said: “Yes, love and respect. It’s definitely in tact. But when it comes to trusting him, I have some question marks.”

By: Christian Alpha Conteh

“I felt like I had been killed on that day,” says Isha as she sobbed incessantly. A little over a year ago, her 16-year-old son was gunned down by the Sierra Leone police as he came home from school.

Isha ran to the township after receiving several distress calls. On arrival, she found her son’s lifeless body on the sidewalk and a large crowd of onlookers standing around it.

The boy was one of six people shot dead during a demonstration over the relocation of a standby 1.65 megawatts generator plant from the Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency’s (EDSA) Makeni outlet to the Lungi International Airport in Port Loko District, in the country’s North West Region.

Khadijatu’s son was also shot dead that day by the police.

“My son was 17 years old,” she says, her voice breaking. “He loved football and music. He was attending the Saint Francis Secondary School here in Makeni. This year, he should have taken his senior secondary school exam.

On the day he was killed, I told him to go and buy me something. Later there was panic, and tear gas followed, people running everywhere. Someone told me they [the police] had shot him. I fainted,” Kadijatu explained.

She appealed to the Julius Maada Bio government to give them (herself and other families who lost loved ones) the much-needed justice which they seek.

A similar shooting happened in Kabala, a small hilly town in northern Sierra Leone several years ago.

Reports reveal that young people from the town decided to hold a peaceful protest over government plans to move the construction of a planned “youth village” from their district to another district. The proposed youth village would have offered training and trade opportunities for young people in the area.

Youth leaders requested permission from the police to hold the demonstration but were told they had to request this 21 days in advance.

Youth groups decided to meet the next day to discuss what to do. Eyewitnesses revealed that the police fired tear gas outside the meeting venue to disrupt the meeting and stop the youth from protesting. People started to run, scared by the loud noise and smell of tear gas. Some people started to throw stones at police officers.

The police fired bullets back at them, in violation of international standards which state that firearms must never be used to disperse a crowd and should only be used when there is a real and imminent threat to life.

The shootout left four men injured. Samuel was shot in the back. He now permanently uses a wheelchair. “I used to do construction work. Now I cannot do anything.” He said looking sad. “I long to see the day when the person who has put me in this condition pays for his action,” Samuel noted.

The people of Makeni and Kabala are not alone. Across Sierra Leone, there are survivors of police brutality who are still waiting for justice or compensation.

Abdul a university student was shot during a student protest in the southern city of Bo last year. He lives with a bullet in his heart and needs medical treatment abroad but cannot afford it.

He has not received any compensation and no police officer has been disciplined or investigated, let alone brought to justice in connection with his shooting despite recommendations made by the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB).

“Maybe the government will do something if there is enough pressure,” a family member of one of those shot dead in Makeni said.

In response to these killings over the years the country’s Human Rights Commission has urged the country’s police to stop taking firearms containing live rounds at scenes of protests and demonstrations except where it is extremely necessary; thus, recommending they should instead use rubber bullets and other lawful devices and means to dispersing protesters or quelling down protests.

Marcus Bangura the Secretary-General for the Consortium for Good Governance, Human Rights and Democracy (CGHRD) said over the years the country’s security forces have used excessive force and meted out unwarranted human rights violations against citizens. Describing the recurring incidents of police brutality as unacceptable.

He reiterated the Consortiums earlier call on the government which include the establishment of an independent judge-led investigation into the various incidents; all suspected perpetrators of police shootings be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and all those found guilty of killing be made to face the full penalty of the law.

Amnesty International has also persistently urged the Sierra Leone government past and present to allow peaceful protest and law enforcement attitude towards citizens with the group in recent times urging the Bio led administration to prioritize ending police crackdowns on peaceful protesters.

“For 10 years, police in Sierra Leone have been getting away with murder as peaceful protesters and bystanders have lost their lives, or been seriously injured, with no one held to account. If the authorities are as serious as they say about upholding human rights, they should start by repealing repressive laws restricting peaceful assembly and addressing entrenched impunity for police abuses,” Amnesty International said in its 2018 report.

All survivors of police brutality can do now is continue to be hopeful that they will receive justice and compensation someday.

Former secretary general and head of the civil service Dr Njogu Bah has organised a big rally in Medina Serign Mass to ramp up support for President Adama Barrow ahead of the December election.

Dr Bah made his first public appearance for years in Sukuta earlier this month when President Barrow held a meeting there. He vowed to repay President Barrow’s development efforts North Bank region.

The Madina Serign Mass rally held on Thursday was attended by hundreds of citizens who all vowed to vote for President Barrow in December.

CA leader Dr Ismaila Ceesay has called on Halifa Sallah and his PDOIS party to change their system before seeking system change, going after the party in extraordinary fashion.

The respected political mind fired back that Mr Sallah said his party will not give credence to press releases that emanate from certain parties and personalities. CA had issued a statement saying PDOIS were invited for coalition talks but they never responded.

At a news conference on Thursday, Mr Sallah said: “We have seen certain statements issued. We believe that those issuing the statement may not be doing so in an official capacity. What we anticipate is that the people meet to form a coalition, then they will have a secretariat which will issue press releases on their behalf.

“We do not expect separate people to be issuing press releases. That’s why we cannot give importance to press releases issued by certain parties and personalities. What we will give credence to is what is issued by a group of people who officially declared themselves to be working to build a coalition.

“But it is important for the sake transparency and accountability to explain to all of you that prior to my ailment, I have been approached by people who felt that CA and PDOIS should form a coalition. Whether those people were sent by their leaders or not but what we were told is that CA is a young party and would want to support PDOIS in this presidential election, so that through this association it would build itself.

“But that CA was also talking with other parties and they wanted PDOIS to engage in that. We told them that coalition building is very sensitive. You need to talk to each party to know their interest. Because we do not want to sit and each party will say select my presidential candidate otherwise I will not be part of the coalition.”

Dr Ismaila Ceesay reacted by saying PDOIS always wanted to be answered when they call but do not answer when they are called.

He wrote: “Change your System before you call for System Change. You want to be answered when you call; but you don’t want to answer when called. Things don’t work like that.

“If, for 35 years, you are not able to transform your party into a modern political organization, how can you transform The Gambia into a modern state in 5 years? We are on a mission to save the next generation from the failures of the past and we can’t afford to be distracted.”

Police have arrested two men who go about robbing citizens using motorbikes.

The two Nigerian men, Solomon Obilo and Mentus Tunde, were paraded on Thursday.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie explained: “They follow their victims to their banks and observe them. In fact they lay a kind of surveillance for the individual while he or she goes on withdrawing cash from the bank. They also mark out people who withdraw bulk cash from their banks. One of them will be in the bank while the other one will sit on a motorbike outside waiting for him to withdraw.

“The moment you withdraw your cash and out, he will signal or call this other individual and tell him he is coming out and the motorbike owner will mark you. As soon as the other person comes out, they will follow you on their bike. Wherever you go they will be following you without your knowledge until you park your car at any point. They will come over, break the car glasses and steal the money.

“These people are sort of like migrant criminals. What they do is they come to the Gambia seasonally. From the passports that we are having, they entered The Gambia just this past Saturday. Meaning that it was just on Saturday that they come into The Gambia and Sunday, they bought this motorbike, brand new, not registered and they are using it running around in town. They do this once, twice and they gather the money and they flee out of the country.”