By: Christian Alpha Conte

The United States District Court in Maryland has handed down default judgment and Final Order of Forfeiture in the matter between the United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Real Property located in Potomac, Maryland, commonly known as 9908 Bent Cross Drive, Potomac, MD 20854, property which before this judgement belonged to former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh and his wife, Zineb Jammeh

Background

The matter which has finally been adjudicated started with a civil lawsuit on Wednesday 15^thJuly 2010 with prosecutors seeking forfeiture of the real property located in Potomac, Maryland. According to them, the ‘Defendant Property’ (the mansion) was acquired with proceeds derived from illicit bribes and stolen public funds misappropriated by the former President of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, and his wife, Zineb Jammeh in violation of U.S. and Gambian law.

The U.S. prosecutors laid their case that Yahya Jammeh could not have acquired the funds to buy a multimillion-dollar mansion in the United States from his legitimate earnings. They also argued that neither could have his wife, Zineb, who was neither gainfully employed nor had a source of income to afford the property in the U.S.

Prosecutors argued that neither Jammeh nor Zineb (who do not appear to have family wealth) could explain how they acquired their assets.

“Ex-Gambian President Yahya Jammeh and his wife thought that they could hide funds stolen from the Gambian people by buying a mansion in Potomac, Maryland. The United States will not allow criminals to profit from their crimes and will seek justice for crime victims both here and abroad,” said US Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland

Service of Process.

Several attempts were made to serve the Jammehs as by law established. Noticeably,  on or about February 4, 2021, the U.S. Department of State transmitted a Request for Assistance to the Central Authority of Equatorial Guinea pursuant to Article 18 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, to which both the United States and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea are parties, seeking assistance in determining the current location of the Jammehs and serving the Jammehs with notice of the commencement of the civil forfeiture action against the Defendant Property. Case 8:20-cv-02071-DKC

According to the Declaration by the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Susan N. Stevenson, despite good faith efforts, the United States was unable to confirm that the Amended Complaint was served on the Jammehs in Equatorial Guinea.

Ambassador Stevenson delivered the Request for Assistance to multiple government officials in Equatorial Guinea and delivered the original documents to be served on the Jammeh’s to the Minister of Justice in Equatorial Guinea on May 4, 2021.

Although the President of Equatorial Guinea told Ambassador Stevenson on July 13, 2021, that documents were sent to the Jammehs’ residence (implying that the Jammeh’s remain in Equatorial Guinea), the Minister of Justice subsequently advised Ambassador Stevenson that his ministry had been unable to locate the Jammeh’s and advised: “that the case should proceed with the understanding that the Governments of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the United States had made good faith efforts to advise the Jammehs of the complaint.”

The judgement confirmed that the prosecutors used all internationally agreed means of service reasonably calculated to give notice to the Jammehs.

Jammeh’s forfeited mansion on 9908 Bent Cross Drive is 818 square feet, has 11 bathrooms, and sits on 2.3 acres of land.

Alternative Service

On May 26, 2021, prosecutors sought an order permitting alternative service since the Plaintiff had been unable to serve the property owner. The court was convinced that multiple means for serving the property owner already completed were appropriate in the circumstances. Therefore, upon the request of the Plaintiff, and pursuant to the required legislation the court ordered that the motion to permit alternative service is granted.

“Accordingly, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 985(c)(2) and Maryland Rule 2- 121(c), the United States filed a motion to permit alternative service on August 13, 2021 (ECF No. 113), which the Court granted on September 1, 2021, (ECF No. 14). Specifically, the Court found that the property owner of the Defendant Property was served no later than March 4, 2021,” the judgement read.

After serving the Defendant Property, and since no extensions to these deadlines were requested, consented to, or granted by the Court and no person or entity filed either a claim to the Defendant Property or appeared to contest the forfeiture of the Defendant Property.

With the expiration of the time the Plaintiff (The United States) requested the entry of a Default Judgment and Final Order of Forfeiture, transferring title of the Defendant Property to the United States and directing the Attorney General to dispose of it according to law.

Judgement

In her Judgement Hon. Deborah K. Chasanow, United States District Judge made it clear that after following due process, it is ordered, adjudicated, and decreed that the court now has jurisdiction over the Defendant Property in this action. It also grants The United States’ Motion for Entry of Default Judgment and Final Order of Forfeiture.

The judgement further notes that since the United States, has filed a Verified Amended Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem [a lawsuit or other legal action directed towards a property, rather than toward a particular person] that complies in all respects with the legal requirements

and no person had filed a claim to the property within the time allowed, the Defendant Property, including the Trustees of the MYJ Family Trust, is hereby fully and finally forfeited to the United States.

“The United States shall have judgment as to the defendant’s property and no other person or entity shall have any right, title, or interest in the defendant’s property. The United States shall dispose of the forfeited property in accordance with the law. This Order shall constitute certification of the Court’s finding that there was reasonable cause for the seizure or arrest of the defendant’s property subject to forfeiture,” The judgement reads.

One of the nation’s leading Imams Muhammed Lamin Touray has said he is impressed by the character and religiosity of President Adama Barrow and declaring: ‘I Imam Touray will not oppose Barrow’.

The former Supreme Islamic Council president stated this while making clarification regarding his meeting with UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.

Imam Touray who is now the chief Imam of Gunjur said: “Accepting Allah’s decision is an act of faith. When the prophet asked Gibril to tell him about the pillars of faith, he told him about five pillars and the sixth one he told him to accept Allah’s decision. That he should accept it when it good or bad. Any person in any position in this world is based on Allah’s will. If you trust in Allah’s will, you should accept it when a person has anything good. If you refuse to accept, then you’re disobeying God. Since this country was established, the first president to the last has all been confirmed by God. I said it at Lawyer [Darboe’s] meeting.

“Firstly I said one should accept Allah’s will. Allah has willed that President Barrow is presently the leader. It’s God who put him there and no one. And it’s him alone who will remove him from power. As humans, our duty is to support him and pray for him so that this country can go forward.

“Secondly, I have not seen anything [conditions] that the prophet advised his people to disobey a leader. The prophet warned us against disobeying a leader. Unless a leader asked us to do something bad or prevent us from doing something good. The prophet said we should not obey him if he asks us to do something which is bad. Also, if he prevents us from the good, he [prophet] said we should not obey him. This is the reason why I Imam Touray will not be an opposition.

“Thirdly, anyone who wants to be opposition here would be opposing Adama Barrow. Allah has enabled me to travel this country with Barrow. During our tour of the nation and me getting close to him, I studied him well. I’m impressed by his religiosity and his character. I have not seena reason why I should oppose him. Barrow is the one whom you know must first pray before going to a meeting during our tour. That is something that was always obvious to us the imams. At State House, there are many times he will come out from his office and all of us will pray at together at the mosque. That’s a new thing I saw there.

“[Fourthly] I spent 12 years at Supreme Islamic Council. No one has ever given us money to help ourselves except Barrow. The time Barrow’s support came, we had debt of over D100,000. We were paying just our secretary, security and the cleaner. The president never got paid talk less of those under him. When it’s full month, I ask Ebrima Jarju to borrow me D5,000, I ask Dr Mbaye to borrow me D4,000 and I myself would add D2000 and then pay them. We did that for seven months and we settle those debts when Barrow’s money came. Right now, even though we cannot pay staff but anyone who comes for a meeting is given his transport allowance. This is why I Imam Touray will not oppose Barrow.”

By: Christian Conte

“The science is clear, we must act now to put the world on a path to net-zero emissions if we are to limit global warming and keep 1.5c within reach. This means all countries, businesses, and individuals have an important part to play,” says COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma

In November of 2021, all roads will lead to Glasgow where the UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). This event is considered one of the most significant climate events since the negotiation of the Paris Agreement in 2015. The Conference seeks to build the foundation for a more sustainable, resilient, and zero-carbon future as we enter this critical decade of climate action. Across the world, every country has a unique vision.

The Arabian Peninsula’s vision for a resilient, net-zero future welcomes the development of green deserts, improved water security, seawater greenhouses, and solar thermal power generation.

Brazil’s vision showcases the need for innovative businesses that harness and celebrate the Amazon’s biodiversity and agroecology practices that increase yields and make crops more climate-resilient. India’s vision harnesses the country’s best assets to power its homes with solar energy and uses nature-based solutions, like wetland waste systems, to supply communities with clean water,

Jamaica envisions implementing world-leading natural protection from hurricanes and floods through restored reefs and mangrove coastal swamps to protect its citizens and the environment. The United Kingdom’s vision makes the most of its resources as a coastal nation, championing its role as part of a global net-zero community that trades with and learns from other nations, always with a focus on sustainable business.

Africa will be top of the agenda since the continent is the hardest hit by climate change. This is so because the capacity for adaptation to climate change is low; poverty equates to reduced choice at the individual level, while governance generally fails to prioritise and act on climate change

At COP26 in Glasgow, countries will launch an adaptation goal and adopt a strategy for achieving such a goal. Glasgow, therefore, presents an opportunity to recognize and address the unique needs and circumstances of Africa

In June of 2021 ahead of the Climate Change Conference, Janet Rogan COP26 Regional Ambassador for West Africa visited The Gambia and engaged the government and stakeholders about ways to mitigate climate change.

Rogan engaged the government specifically on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) commitments ahead of the COP26 summit.

“Like in the Gambia, there is the possibility of saltwater making its way to the farmlands which will affect agriculture. We want to see how we can engage governments on how to mitigate climate change in The Gambia and all over the world at large,” she said at a press conference during her visit.

Kenya’s vision sees solar-powered drip irrigation systems, greater use of indigenous crops, and health systems that can withstand climate change and remain accessible for all

In Sierra Leone, the British High Commission has supported a group of young talented filmmakers from the Freetown Media Centre to produce

5 inspiring films around key environmental issues. These films will be shown in Glasgow in November 2021 during COP26. They will showcase some of the environmental issues in Sierra Leone especially in the capital city of Freetown, they include waste disposal, environmental sanitation, deforestation, sand mining, and plastic waste.

Lisa Chesney is the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, she said these films are going to be taken to the climate change conference and they are going to play a pivotal role in telling the Sierra Leonean story to the world, and convincing them why everyone needs to take notice and support the country as it faces the impact of climate change.

“We will continue to work with government on a shared objective not just for a successful COP26 but beyond as well and to get an idea of the global realisation of the importance of climate change,” Lisa Chesney said

Global action to tackle climate change she further noted is the top issue at every international engagement now.

“We need to urgently up our action to tackle the threat of climate change to have any chance to limiting the threat of global warming to 1.5 degrees. We need to ensure a cleaner greener future for all of us, including the most climate-vulnerable countries and communities such as those in Sierra Leone which will be one of the most impacted countries globally by climate change,” Lisa Chesney said.

She noted that she is just about six weeks in the country and she is absolutely struck by the beauty that she has seen in Sierra Leone and also the biodiversity which is recognised internationally as significant

“Making climate-smart decisions, policies and investments now will directly impact our ability to safeguard our environment for future generations and also support sustainable economic development that Sierra Leone needs,” Lisa Chesney emphasised.

Lansana Mansaray popularly known as Bami Boy is Director and Co-founder of Freetown Media Centre a multimedia company based in Freetown. He revealed that within a tight timeline of three days his team worked on research development, filming, and post-production

We have done five (5) short films all under four (4) mins with different thematic areas from sand mining, to deforestation, to Biodiversity, to plastic in the ocean and faecal sludge

“There are a lot of climate change issues, these short films are just meant to ignite the dialogue around our actions as a people towards we environment and the climate generally. We hope these films put Sierra Leone at the forefront of the discussion especially when it comes to climate change funding for our government,” Bami Boy said.

Mohamed Rahman Swarray is Minister of Information and Communication he said that the topics that have been spoken about in all the films are the things that matter.

“President Bio during the UNGA speech made exclusive references about the key and critical challenges facing our country in terms of climate change and the environment. He has assured his government will continue to take the top right decisions to ensure the preservation and integrity of the environment,” Minister Swarray said.

He further noted that President Bio has joined the call alongside other world leaders to establish the green climate fund, whilst congratulating the filmmakers for what he described as an incredibly great job.

Sandra Baldwin is Deputy Development Director, British High Commission Development Office in Sierra Leone

She said as a key partner to Sierra Leone they want the country to be on the international stage and want people to understand that there are climate activists in the country that recognise the issues and can draw attention to them in a bid to solicit help to make the future safer and greener for the next generation

“The films will serve as a call to partners, it is expected that after the films there would be an opportunity for people to come and talk to the delegation from Sierra Leone. There would be the immediate understanding that these are the key issues the country is dealing with and there will be a chance for people to network. We want Sierra Leone to be on the world stage so it can attract the kind of financing needed for it to have solutions and address the problems,” Sandra Baldwin said.

The National People’s Party (NPP) has issued a statement welcoming the recently published CepRaSS survey and commending the pollsters and the respondents.

In a statement signed by NPP deputy spokesman Seedy Njie, the party said the survey is a testimony to the “democracy we continue to nurture and enjoy under President’s leadership; a society where all citizens participate in the conduct of the affairs of the state without any hinderance”.

The party said: “While taking solace in this significant development, NPP, will continue to promote a greater culture of tolerance, openness and respect for fundamental rights.

“President Adama Barrow continues to enjoy support from Gambians as a result of his unwavering efforts in transforming the country to a city state where all amenities: water, electricity, roads infrastructure, sports, recreational facilities, agriculture, educational and health facilities are provided in every nook and cranny of The Gambia. As a party, we are encouraged to live by our ardent desire of fulfilling our shared goals and policies of delivering services to improve the lives and livelihoods of our people.

“There should be no illusions that the Party will seriously examine the entire report to see how to improve its rating in future polls.

“His Excellency’s just concluded constitutionally mandated nationwide tour, speaks to the appreciation with which Gambians hold him. Thousands greeted him with enthusiasm and fanfare in meeting venues while tens of thousands lined up the streets and waved the motorcade of a man they described as “development oriented”. Appreciative of his remarkable development, the electorate have promised him a landslide victory come December 4th Presidential election by sweeping all constituencies with an emphatic margins.

“The Secretary General and Party Leader of NPP led grand coalition re-assured Gambians of our relentless commitment to continue serving them on the path of good governance, democracy, rule of law, a just and free society necessary in a democratic space post 2021 InshaAllah.”

The family of Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, that has dominated the country’s politics since independence, secretly owned a network of offshore companies for decades, according to a huge leak of financial papers.

The Pandora Papers – 12 million files – is the biggest such leak in history.

Mr Kenyatta and six members of his family have been linked to 13 offshore companies.

They have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The Kenyattas’ offshore investments, including a company with stocks and bonds worth $30m (£22m), were discovered among hundreds of thousands of pages of administrative paperwork from the archives of 14 law firms and service providers in Panama and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and other tax havens.

The secret assets were uncovered by an investigation, published earlier on Sunday, by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Finance Uncovered, Finance Uncovered, Africa Uncensored and other news organisations.

Documents show that a foundation called Varies was set up in 2003 in Panama, naming Mr Kenyatta’s mother, Ngina, 88, as the first benefactor – and Kenya’s leader as the second benefactor, who would inherit it after her death.

The purpose of the foundation and the value of its assets are unknown.

Document grab showing president Kenyatta is listed as inheritor of a secret foundation
IMAGE SOURCE,PANDORA PAPERS
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Panamanian foundations are much sought after because the true owners of the assets are only known by their lawyers and they do not have to register their names with the Panamanian government, ICIJ reports.

The assets can also be designed to be transferred tax-free to a successor.

There’s no reliable estimate of the Kenyatta family’s net worth but its vast business interests span transport, insurance, hotels, farming, land ownership and the media industry in Kenya.

In 2018, Mr Kenyatta told the BBC Hardtalk programme that his family’s wealth was known to the public, and as president he had declared his assets as required by law.

“As I have always stated, what we own – what we have – is open to the public. As a public servant I’m supposed to make my wealth known and we declare every year,” My Kenyatta said.

“If there’s an instance where somebody can say that what we have done or obtained has not been legitimate, say so – we are ready to face any court,” he added.
In the same interview, Mr Kenyatta said he wanted fighting corruption and promoting transparency to be his legacy.

He promised to work with parliament to create a law that would oblige public officials to declare their wealth, but MPs are yet to pass this bill.

Other world leaders named in the Pandora Papers include the King of Jordan Abdullah II, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba and President of Congo-Brazzaville Denis Sassou-Nguesso.
It’s unclear if President Kenyatta, who retires next year after 10 years in office, knew about the Varies foundation but the timing of its opening may be instructive.

Seven months earlier, he had lost the 2002 presidential election to opposition candidate Mwai Kibaki, who had vowed to redress historical crimes as well as launch a war against corruption.

At the time, the family of outgoing president Daniel arap Moi, a friend of the Kenyattas, allegedly moved money out of the country, according to a 2014 leaked report by the international risk consultancy Kroll.

The Kenyatta family established its political and business interests during the rule of Kenya’s first president, Uhuru’s father Jomo. He has been accused of using his position to amass wealth.

Jomo Kenyatta, takes the oath during a swearing-in ceremony, June 01, 1963 in Nairobi as he becomes Prime minister of the autonomous Kenyan governmen
IMAGE SOURCE,AFP
Image caption,Jomo Kenyatta established the family’s business interest by amassing vast wealth during his 15 years in power
After his death in 1978, Ngina Kenyatta, his fourth wife, played a pivotal role in expanding the family’s business interests.

In paperwork seen by the BBC, the Pandora Papers reveal that in 1999, Mrs Kenyatta and her two daughters, Kristina and Anna, set up an offshore company – Milrun Internatinal Limited – which was incorporated in the BVI.

According to the ICIJ, Mrs Kenyatta and her daughters were advised by experienced international wealth experts from the Swiss bank Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), which recruited Alcogal, a Panamanian law firm specialising in setting up and administering offshore companies.

The consortium says invoices from Alcogal to the bank show that the Swiss advisers referred to the Kenyattas with the code “client 13173”.
Alcogal provided a registered office for Milrun on the largest of the BVI islands, Tortola, and supplied staff members to act as the company’s official directors.

The result was an entirely anonymous company that could not be traced back to the Kenyatta family.

This company was used by Mrs Kenyatta and her daughters to buy an apartment in central London, which it still owns, according to filings at the UK Land Registry seen by Finance Uncovered.

The prime property, which was until recently rented by British Labour MP Emma Ann Hardy, is now estimated to be worth close to $1.3m.

Ms Hardy’s spokesperson said the MP, had “absolutely no knowledge” of who owned the property.

“She is shocked at what this investigation has uncovered, and believes it shows why more transparency is urgently needed,” her statement said.

According to Finance Uncovered, the Kenyatta family has used other offshore companies to buy two more properties in the UK. $30m in stocks and bonds

UBP private-wealth advisers also helped Mr Kenyatta’s brother, Muhoho, set up a Panamanian entity called Criselle Foundation in 2003.

The foundation was registered to the offices of Alcogal in Panama City, and was nominally run by board members from the Panamanian law firm.

It was set up for the benefit of Muhoho Kenyatta, with his son Jomo Kamau Muhoho, as successor.

Another BVI company which Mr Muhoho owned had a $30m valuation in stocks and bonds as of November 2016.

A search of public records in BVI and Panama found that most of the companies linked to the Kenyatta’s are now dormant, some of them as a result of non-payment of regulatory fees.

It’s not illegal to run secret companies, but some have been used as a front to divert money, avoid taxes and for money laundering.

The Pandora Papers, however, show no evidence that the Kenyatta family stole or hid state assets in their offshore companies.

Pandora Papers banner
The Pandora Papers is a leak of almost 12 million documents and files exposing the secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires. The data was obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Washington DC which has led one of the the biggest ever global investigations.

More than 600 journalists from 117 countries have looked at the hidden fortunes of some of the most powerful people on the planet. BBC Panorama and the Guardian have led the investigation in the UK.

Credit: BBC

By Batou Saidy

Fortune FC, alias the Petroleum Boys, are the defending champions of the Gambia Football Federation Division One League. They have achieved this maiden success in the 2020/21 GFF Division One season, thanks to an outstanding performance that they have put across throughout the campaign.

But like always, outstanding performances attract rewarding accolades. This was justified in the Gambia Football Players Association Awards Night on Saturday.

The Petroleum Boys have shown remarkable performances collectively en route to their title success. This was evident as they won the league in style, their maiden league title in the Gambian top flight. However, there have been some players in their title-winning side that have shown tremendous individual performances that deserve some honors.

Yankuba Sabally, their goalkeeper, went home with the Goalkeeper of the Season award after his remarkable season of wowing saves and stunning blocks. He has also managed to keep a lot of clean sheets en route to their glory.

Bernard Sylva won himself the GFF Division One Goal of the Season award under the male category for his belter against Brikama United. Ben boast a very lethal shooting technique that defies normalcy.

The Player of the Season accolade went to Lamin Saidykhan, Fortune FC midfield maestro. He has a famous moniker in Lefoe. With his consistency, accurate passing strength, agility and stamina, as well as his outstanding accuracy with dead balls and free kicks; the Fortune FC midfielder outperformed everyone else to the big gong.

Petroleum Boys – the team that doesn’t make noise.

A peacekeeper has died and four others seriously injured in Mali’s volatile north, near the Algerian border when an improvised explosive device went off, the United Nations said.

“One dead and three seriously injured after one of our teams hit an improvised explosive device near Tessalit,” close to the Algerian border, the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, said on Saturday.

This incident is a sad reminder of the permanent danger hanging over our peacekeepers and of the sacrifices made for peace in Mali,” the head of Minusma, El-Ghassim Wane, was quoted as saying in a statement.

“Today’s cowardly attack only strengthens MINUSMA’s determination to support Mali and its people in their quest for peace and stability,” he said.

In April, four Chadian peacekeepers from MINUSMA were killed in an attack on their camp in Aguelhok, also in northeastern Mali.

The UN mission has deployed more than 13,000 soldiers to contain violence by armed groups in the north and the centre of the country.

It has recorded about 255 deaths since 2013, making it one of the deadliest of the UN’s more than dozen peacekeeping missions.

Armed fighters linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) have stepped up activity in Africa’s Sahel region in recent years, displacing thousands.

Credit: Al Jazeera

Independent presidential aspirant Essa Faal on Saturday thanked his supporters for the love after they filled the Buffer Zone for a big rally.

“We thank all the fan clubs that are here. If you check Facebook you see 73,000 [members] but we have reached 700,000. The love is real. Thank you Gambia,” Mr Faal told his supporters.

Mr Faal expressed surprise at the amount of people who have turned out for his Buffer Zone rally.

“If I look at this crowd, I find it unbelievable,” he said.

Mr Faal also thanked Kitabu for his ‘humility’ and his decision to throw his weight behind him.

UDP leader Darboe has asked for prayers from his supporters as he prepares for a grueling tour on Monday.

“We hope to meet again in the next 14 days. We hope to meet around this area, maybe in Wellingara, maybe in Brikama. But then Monday, you should pray for me. We will go out on Monday to meet Gambians,” Mr Darboe told supporters in Latrikunda Sabiji on Saturday.

UDP will tour the nation beginning on Monday to intensify their engagement with Gambians ahead of the presidential election in December.

In a statement earlier on, UDP said the tour “will give Hon. Darboe a chance to touch base with Gambians, especially UDP party sympathizers particularly on the 5-Points Agenda, the manifesto and policies of the party, as the presidential election approaches”.

“During the tour, the party leader will hold rallies at different communities and towns to hear firsthand, the problems facing the populace, especially those in the province. He will also make visits to places,” UDP’s statement had said.

Gunjur’s chief Imam Momodou Lamin Touray has said he was surprised after seeing himself at the gate of UDP’s political bureau after he had been informed UDP leader Darboe will be in Gunjur to ‘greet’ imams.

Darboe was in Gunjur two days ago but Imam Touray has been in the headlines after gracing a meeting held at UDP’s political bureau in the town.

The Imam while setting the record straight in an audio explained: “It’s important for relatives and Muslims know what happened. I was home and someone came to tell me Ousainou Darboe is touring the country and he was in the Kombos these days. That he was meeting elders and Imams and Islamic school owners to greet them. That he will be in Gunjur today and I should be present.

“As Imam Ratibi, Gunjur has right over me to be where they want me to be. But that doesn’t mean I have to be in agreement with what they must be doing at that place. But it’s their right. But I showed them a driver and told them I summoned him from Serrekunda to take me because I was travelling. But the person said I must try and be there and I told him okay.

“While away, there were a lot of calls for me to come back as the guests would be in Gunjur soon. I told them I didn’t have a car but they asked me where I was and I told them and they said a car will come to get me. The car came to pick me from Mariama Kunda junction and brought me home. But they said Lawyer is coming to greet Imams and Islamic School owners. When I came, I called my older brother and told him to come home as they said lawyer is coming. I also called my younger brother and told him to be on standby, that he too should come once he sees the guests. I also informed those I thought it’s important for them to be informed.

“I was sitting and waiting and then a driver came and said the guests have arrived, that we should go. I was surprised. Because if someone comes to greet the imam, there are two things: either they come to his house to greet him or we go to the mosque. But when he told me ‘they said the guests have come and we should go’ I thought maybe we will go and have the meeting at the alkalo’s house or the council of elders. I then boarded the car.

“When this car drove off, I then saw myself at the gate of UDP’s bureau. With the elders there and the situation and the guest involved in terms of his stature, it would not be nice for me to do anything that’s strange. So I surrendered totally.

“But now things have changed from a guest coming to greet us. Because if you have come to greet me, you will either come to the house or we go to the mosque. But to come and pick me at my house and take me to a bureau is the first time in my history. To go to an opposition bureau to greet their leaders, it’s the first time.”

If you are currently living in this country, but you are not aware of her current affairs, or her present widespread striking hardship, then you must be very cavalier. If you do not know how costly the price of commodities are, essentially foodstuffs, or even how high the utility bills are, then someone must be under the sun for you, or you’re simply being an inconsiderately ruthless person of no compassion. And if you aren’t worried about all these, then you must be very cold in the heart.

Dear average Gambians, I know the hardship you’re enduring. We don’t need to wait until we are directly affected to realize that. In fact, if we aren’t directly affected, there are people within our family circles or neighborhoods that boil and toil under the sun, from dawn to dusk, just to make ends meet.

I am evenly aware of the under par quality of the service you seek, from health to education. Also, I have realized how much you struggle to send your children and wards to schools, considering the dismal salary within and across Banjul, via the countryside, all the way to Bungkiling. And this isn’t what you’ve wished for. I understand that through and through. It’s true. I know that it’s a duress. So you cannot rest.

Dear average Gambians, I know it’s you whose wives and sisters die of post-partum hemorrhage at our health facilities. It’s you whose children struggle to ply to Gambia High and Muslim, and all the faraway schools across the country, especially during this time of anarchy where drivers impose their own tariffs and decide the places they wish to alight those on board, depending on the time of the day and service demand. Gambia College students can also corroborate this.

You pay all the tax. They evade all the tax. Yet, they pay their tasks with the money from your taxes. They chill all the chill whilst they bill you all the bills. Haha. Hodgepodge – shove it. They take loan in the name of The Gambia and siphon it to the Bus that’s driven by the Bus Driver. Who is the conductor? Oops, call the founder of the nouveau riche foundation for me. ‘Bari kumo feleh’. Teasing sarcasm a bit, the ‘nguru gi’ cares about you. They would prefer death to shame for not driving The Bus well.

Dear average Gambians, this is a conspiracy against you. On concern grounds, we cannot downplay it, but if you want us to simplify it, we’d say it’s a neglect, a sheer politics-y neglect. The should-not is overpowered by the shall-be through the connivance of the leeches and economic bloodsuckers of The Gambia. If they party in solitude, that’s not a national ‘puntung pantang’. Those whose fate you’ve decided some nearly five years ago are now deciding how you’re gonna live. Politics must be a love-child.

If a certain village in suburb CRR can have streetlights at the neglect of the very Brikama per se, just because a certain Bus Driver comes from there, and you still want to call that equality, then shove your equality. If you also want to equate the hardship that an average Gambian is enduring to the lifestyle those people carved for themselves, then also shove your equation.

Tell me what equity is. If it cannot empower equality, and doesn’t provide equal opportunities for every Gambian, irrespective of race, complexion, religion, connection and suchlike; then shove that, too. And if someone can job without even needing their high school certificate at the expense of those with degree, and you still want to call that equality or equity whatsoever, then shove that as well. Shove it south. What do you make of a Director whose highest educational level was ninth grade? Haha. They deserved the position, said the system. Here is Jollof.

Dear average Gambians, this isn’t what you deserve. If they cannot give you anything, or at least improve your lives, they shouldn’t take from you or subject you to abject hardship. Honestly, if they cannot add anything to the little water in the jug, then they shouldn’t also empty the jug. If they cannot build factories for you, they shouldn’t build prisons for you. If they cannot create jobs for you, they shouldn’t deport your people from Europe. I told you this is a conspiracy against you. It is the shall-be that is winning. The should-not is a political lie. Oops, they said politics is a game – a game where you can lie to deceive and succeed – a game where you can do anything to succeed. If politics were a religion, lies would be the doctrines. Haha. Hodgepodge – shove it.

Amidst the insecurity, protection is what you need. If they cannot protect you, they shouldn’t also allow intruders to kill you. And whenever the undesirable happens, it gets sad that they don’t even trace the culprits for apprehension. They formed Anti-crime, which is good, but don’t you also need Anti-corruption? Weed isn’t good, but drugs are good? You’re apprehended for the former but it’s okay to drink alcohol – because the latter pays tax? What’s that? Poetic justice or egalitarian justice? Prolly Jollof justice. Oops, they said justice is justice. Haha. ‘Waagi’ – ditch the hodgepodge – the politically inspired Jollof hodgepodge of concentric neglect.

In a nutshell, things are the way they are. Your struggles and tribulations are apparent. And this is the reason you barely have sang-froid.

About the author:

Batou Saidy holds a degree in Public and Environmental Health. Aside from his profession, he is a writer. His writing extends to current affairs, contemporary life issues, politics, sports, and health.

Algeria has recalled its ambassador to France for consultations, though the reason was not immediately clear.

The office of the president said on Saturday that a statement on the issue would be issued later.

On Thursday, the government said it summoned the French ambassador to Algiers after Paris decided to slash the number of visas it issues to nationals of Algeria and other countries in North Africa’s Maghreb region.

“We will reduce the number of visas very significantly,” French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in Paris on Wednesday.

The number of visas issued for Algeria and Morocco will be reduced by 50 percent, while visas granted for Tunisian nationals will be reduced by two-thirds, he added.

Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move, which France said was in response to Maghreb governments’ refusal to take back illegal immigrants and refugees sent home by Paris, as a “unilateral decision of the French government”.

Migration has become a key issue among the conservative and far-right camps in the run-up to France’s election campaign.

Far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen gave qualified backing to the visa reduction on Tuesday, but suggested that President Emmanuel Macron’s government waited too long before acting.

Le Pen was Macron’s main rival in the 2017 election and is seen as his principal opponent.

Morocco’s foreign minister on Tuesday slammed the French decision as “unjustified”.

Nasser Bourita said his country has issued 400 consular documents to Moroccans being expelled from France, but the number was limited because many of them refused to take a coronavirus test, which is required to re-enter Morocco.

That is “the problem of France, which must deal with it”, Bourita told a news conference in the capital Rabat.

Tunisia took a more conciliatory public stance. President Kais Saied’s office said: “We are among countries that are cooperative in this domain, and we have excellent relations with France.”

The two countries’ relations are tense following France’s decision to cut the number of visas it issues to Algerians.

Credit: Al Jazeera

In contemporary Gambia, politics is apparently the universal set of all these frequent frenzy fusses. Avalanche of attacks, avatar of disarrays, jibes and jeers, we’ve seen them all. Political party formation is escalating like COVID-19 cases. Even comedians have their own political party. Perhaps musicians will also form theirs very soon. Such is the Gambia we are living in.

Aside all these political party enterprise, the language with which politics is spoken is a dirty one. Quite vulgar and disgusting. So obscene and invasive and penetrative. Gambian politics has evolved in such a way that, insults have become part of the game. If you’d overtly pledge your loyalty to the party of your desire or interest, you’d not be surprised to receive insults and intimidation on legitimacy.

Is there any loyalty left in politics, in Gambian politics? Well, positions and bucks undoubtedly bought the remainder.

What about justice? Legality? Well, it’s in this country where:

You’d go behind bars if caught with two baggies of Marijuana, but you’d be free if you were to be caught with 5000kg of Cocaine!

A domestic thief would go to jail if he steals 1k, but a government official would go scot-free if he steals millions from the national coffers!

You can be in the civil service without a degree, but with a degree, you’d struggle to be in that same civil service.

People holding governmental positions are looking for degrees whilst those with degrees are left unemployed!

A land dealer who sells a plot of land twice to two different people is a criminal, whereas a minister who sells a government position to his allies is clean.

People in the Cabinet and their families would travel abroad for treatment, but an ordinary Gambian could die in a regional health center out of neglect and unavailable service.

Children of the Executives could attend universities in the West, whereas an average Gambian would struggle to go to UTG.

A Minister’s wife would travel to the West for delivery, but an ordinary Gambian could die at EFSTH of a mere lack of blood.

A Minister’s sister and wife could have a Diplomatic Passport, but a headmaster’s wife is just an undiplomatic
wife.

Politics will continue to split opinions amongst the citizenry, but splitting relationships, compatriotism, bonds, respects and tolerances shouldn’t be the case. Sadly, the splitting gets worse, aggressive and even extensive. Family members that share different political loyalties, spouses that aren’t in the same political dimensions, tribesmen in opposite parties and suchlike; all tend to upkeep a fair degree of resentment and politico-contempt for the other party.

Apparently, Gambians do politics with their hearts. We give very little regard to competence and vision, education and goodwill. The past would corroborate that.

At the National Assembly, it’s sad to hear some members speak. Quite disheartening. Maybe they should just tell us what ‘furufurundum’ and ‘Anthony General’ mean. Maybe some of them should be charged for raping Queen Elizabeth. You see – this is what happens when you put square pegs in round holes – as they’d say.

If partisans could go on stage and insult their counterparts, without any remorse whatsoever, then there’s something to start worrying about. That something is national peace. Unless insults like that, bigotries of that kind, sarcasm of suchlike, and attacks of melancholy are buried in the very depths of Banjul; politico-mayhem will continue to be a menace to national cohesion.

About The Author:

Batou Saidy holds a degree in Public and Environmental Health. Aside his profession, he is a writer and a football fanatic.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, congratulated the State of Kuwait for its consistent role in conjugating efforts to bring about peace and stability in the crisis that engulfed the Gulf States in 2017.

H.E. Tangara made this assertion during an audience with his Kuwait counterpart, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah on the margins of the 76^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York.

The Gambia’s Foreign Minister used the opportunity to extend appreciation to Kuwait for their usual support to The Gambia’s hosting of OIC Summit amongst others through the Kuwait Fund.

The two Foreign Ministers renewed commitment and willingness to strengthen both bilateral and multilateral relations between The Gambia and the State of Kuwait. Amongst their discussions, were to forge solutions for current issues in the two regions.

Essa Faal has revealed his campaign will reach out to opposition parties for support with regard to December election.

“We will tour the country and tell people what’s happening. [We will] invite other political parties to come and join us and all of us work in reversing the problem we have here and make a turnaround,” Mr Faal told thousands of supporters at the Buffer Zone Saturday evening.

It’s been five weeks since Mr Faal rolled out his campaign for president and he was impressed by the Buffer Zone turnout.

“When I look at this crowd, it is unbelievable,” Mr Faal said.

Gambians have reviewed the IEC favourably regarding its administration of the December presidential elections.

Centre for Policy Research and Strategic Studies’ first pre-election opinion poll revealed a massive 53% of Gambians believe the IEC has done a ‘good’ job in the registration process while 36% believe it’s ‘excellent’.

Overall, citizens gauged the IEC to have done a ‘very’ good job in the administration of the upcoming election.

A new poll by CePRASS has shown National People’s Party leading United Democratic Party in the December presidential election.

Centre for Policy Research and Strategic Studies conducted its first pre-election opinion poll where voters drawn from 969 households across the country were interviewed, with 28% women respondents and 63% men between the ages of 18 and 44.

“There is still a large pool of undecided voters (40 %), but the incumbent’s party, NPP, leads the polls on intention to vote among the 60% decided voters, followed by UDP, APRC, and GDC,” the investigation said. NPP led in the poll by 29% whereas UDP struggled at 13%. GMC came last in the poll with -1%.

According to CePRASS, 95% of the respondents are registered voters and willing to vote in the December Election.

UDP will hit the road on Monday October 4 for a nationwide tour of the nation, a statement said.

As the December presidential election draws ever closer, parties are constantly seeking to engage voters for support.

UDP’s tour is expected to commence on 4th October, 2021 and “will give Hon. Darboe a chance to touch base with Gambians, especially UDP party sympathizers particularly on the 5-Points Agenda, the manifesto and policies of the party, as the presidential election approaches”.

“During the tour, the party leader will hold rallies at different communities and towns to hear firsthand, the problems facing the populace, especially those in the province. He will also make visits to places,” UDP’s statement said.

By CGTN Africa

Guinea junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya was inaugurated as interim president on Friday to oversee what regional powers hope will be a short transition to constitutional rule after the September 5 overthrow of President Alpha Conde.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Mohamed VI Palace in the capital of Conakry with the marked absence of most West African heads of state, who agreed last month to impose sanctions on junta members and their relatives.

West and Central Africa have seen four coups since last year, political upheaval that has intensified concerns about a slide towards military rule in a resource-rich but poverty, stricken region.

Wearing military dress uniform, a red beret and wraparound sunglasses, Doumbouya held up a white-gloved hand as he took the oath of office.

“I fully appreciate the magnitude and immensity of the responsibilities entrusted to me,” he said in a speech afterwards.

He promised to oversee a transition that would include the drafting of a new constitution, fighting corruption, electoral reform and the organization of free and transparent elections.

The junta has said its members will be barred from standing in the next elections but has not made clear when these might take place, saying this will be decided by an 81-member Transitional National Council.

The Economic Community of West African States, a regional bloc, has frozen assets and imposed travel bans on the junta, hoping to encourage a swift return to democracy.

Coup leaders have said they ousted Conde because of concerns about poverty and corruption, and because he was serving a third term only after altering the constitution to permit it.

Fears that the political crisis would hinder Guinea’s production of bauxite, a mineral used to make aluminum, have eased. The country’s largest foreign operators say they have continued work without interruption.