The leader of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP) Ebrima Tabora Manneh has said that PAP is ready to take back the country and ensure Gambians benefit from it. Manneh was speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network immediately after completing his nomination process at Election House.

“There is extreme poverty in this country, and we will take ownership of this country. We will live together grow the economy together and prosper together in this country,” Ebrima Tabora Manneh said.

He lamented about the challenges the average Gambian faces including the quality of life, lack of drugs in hospitals, lack of good roads and inadequate pipe born water.

“It is because of these numerous challenges that is why I will contest to make the change Gambians deserve,” Manneh said.

He further stated that they as a party haven’t started yet, when they start, he said there is going to be a tsunami and change will come to the Gambia.

When asked about his history of having the IEC reject the registration of his PAP party for failing to meet some of its standards, he said they have had some hiccups in registering the party, but what happened was an error and he is of the firmest conviction that is served as a learning process for the IEC.

Speaking about a possible alliance he said he cannot rule out a possibility that there may be a coalition

Key among Ebrima Tabora Mannehs campaign message is the call for the increase in the minimum wage to D10,000.

“The amount of money paid to workers is peanuts. They should have a salary minimum of D10,000” he said.

Adding that “we have everything to make this country the best in the world. Why can’t we be like Singapore, it’s possible, they are no more intelligent than us,” he revealed.

Ebrima Tabora Manneh is an independent candidate in the 2021 presidential elections, he is the son of the late popular chief of Niumi, Alhaji Tabora Manneh. He was born in the small village of Buniadu in the Lower Niumi District of North Bank Region. He holds a bachelor’s in accounting and finance

BB Darbo will not be contesting for president in December as his GFA party has agreed with throw its weight behind UDP and its leader Ousainou Darboe.

Party chiefs met at UDP leader Darboe’s office on Saturday evening to put pen to paper regarding a deal that will see the two parties work together. The development could see UDP streamline votes in Kiang.

UDP had on Friday confirmed efforts aimed at collaboration between the two parties. The party said a mutual friend of the two Darboes initiated the talks.

Mathew Gomez has pulled out of the presidential race after coming to Election House with empty hands.

Mr Gomez was the last person to appear before IEC officials but he only came with a letter to give to the officials.

He told officials he was withdrawing is candidature.

Mr Gomez who came alone to Election House refused to speak to reporters.

One of the Independent Candidates in the 2021 presidential race, Mathew Gomez has officially withdrawn his nomination for president.  Not much is known about Mr Gomez except for the fact that he was a former teacher.

He is the first candidate to withdraw from the race. He declined a media interview when asked about the reason why he withdrew his nomination.

So far three candidates have successfully gone through the nomination process.  Joseph Henry Joof, Alhaji Mamadi Kurang and Marie Sock Jobarteh

The process continues tomorrow.

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.