New UDP convert Babadinding Jobarteh has insisted UDP leader Ousainou Darboe is on his way to ruling The Gambia.

“Whether one likes it or dislikes it, what Allah destines can never be stopped. Lawyer Darboe is the one who will rule this country,” Mr Jobarteh said while speaking at UDP’s Saruja meeting on Saturday where he officially announced joining UDP.

Mr Jobarteh who served as Justice Minister during former President Jammeh’s rule has however seen his conversion to UDP much savaged.

Citizens among them UDP supporters have condemned UDP for allowing a man who is accused of committing serious human rights violations join the party.

Mr Jobarteh is accused by former rebel leader Balo Kanteh of cutting his nipple. He was also justice minister when former President Jammeh executed nine deathrow inmates illegally and he even went to the extent of defending the illegal act.

US-based Zakaria Kemo Konteh has blasted as egregious political and moral blunder the decision by UDP to accept Babadinding Jobarteh as its newest member.

Mr Jobarteh, accused of serious human rights violations during former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule joined UDP in Saruja on Saturday.

There has been widespread condemnation of the development including from among UDP supporters.

Zakaria Kemo Konteh is one of them and he said in a write-up shared on his Facebook: “I was itching to add my voice to chorus of shock disgust, disappointment and condemnation over UDP Leadership’s decision to not only welcome the disgraced and criminally complicit Lawyer, Lamin AMS Jobarteh, to their party but giving him the center stage at their Saruja rally much to the horror of his victims in particular and the country in general. However, I am retrained by the outpouring of rejection and feeling of repulse from UDP supporters and members who express, in no uncertain term, their displeasure and outright disagreement with their party’s echelon. It was a distasteful, repugnant and insensitive political decision devoid of every morality and decency.

“It is so alarming that the party that had been victimized for decades and home to many victims of perpetrators like Lamin Jobarteh, could turn out to give a national platform to an unrepentant torturer, is the height of sheer political hypocrisy that should not stand.

“I call on the UDP to immediately dissociate itself with Lamin Jobarteh, offer genuine contrition and publicly apologize to victims and Gambians for this egregious Political And Moral Blunder….We expected that the party should be bigger, decent and honorable than providing home and sanctuary for criminal fugitives like Lawyer Jobarteh not matter the political expediency. Our values and principles must not be short changed for political gratification.”

Former army chief General Lang Tombong Tamba has called on the people of Foni to support President Adama Barrow if they want former President Jammeh to return to the country.

General Tamba made this call during President Barrow’s meeting in Mayork on Saturday as part of his continuing tour of the nation.

General Tamba said: “Aside God who can bring back President Jammeh? Who has that power and that wish? It is President Adama Barrow who has that wish.

“So you if the people of Foni if you want your son to return to this country, I ask you to support President Adama Barrow and for him to win the election.”

UDP has come under fire for welcoming former Justice Minister Lamin Babadinding Jobarteh to its fold.

Mr Jobarteh officially joined UDP on Saturday in Saruja during UDP’s rally there and UDP leader Ousainou Darboe personally welcomed him to the party.

But there has been a fall-out regarding the development as even some UDP supporters have condemned the move.

Team Essa Faal member Ahmed Manjang reacted: “What happed to your moral compass? The kettle should stop calling the pot black, NPP and their parent party the UDP are 6 and 9. How can you justify adding within your ranks the man who added legal touch to the brutal killing of the Mile II nine? How could you put my brother Amadou Scattred Janneh in such funny position? Winning the election by ANY MEANS is too cheap, this will not bring the desire change we all yarning for. I call on many victims of Yahya Jammeh to protest against this blatant disregard for their pain, grossly insensitive.”

Mustapha Ceesay wrote: “Do you see why I sometimes do not take their complaints seriously. If you were out there just a few weeks ago complaining about the NPP/APRC alliance and you are okay with Babadinding’s return to UDP, you just need to quit.

“Jobarteh was not only complicit in many of the tortures at the NIA, but he was the Justice minister who presided over the summary execution of the Mile Two 9 in 2012. He did not only stop at physically overseeing the midnight executions but he went to the national television and defended every bit of it. He was one of the indigenous machinery judges who used our criminal justice system to send innocent citizens to Jammeh’s Five star hotel for his pleasure until he himself was send there.

“You claim to stand for the victims, but here you are welcoming one of the principal torturers in your midst with celebration. I just don’t get the double standard in our politics.”

Momodou Lamin Kanagie said: “This guy is worse than the current Executive members of the APRC. UDP must not cry ? about the NPP/ APRC alliance.

“Here is a guy who supervised the extrajudicial killing of the Mile 2 nine and yet the so called activists are muted.. My conscience will not allow me to silent on this one.. Just like Sabally just like jobarteh…”

Lamin Jobarteh has joined United Democratic Party and has been welcomed by UDP leader Ousainou Darboe for rejoining the UDP.

“I want to tell Babadinding Jobarteh welcome back to the United Democratic Party. You said it all that they is no family dumpsite. You refuse to have people choose your own relative without you and you regret. But I want to thank you for the hospitality you accorded by guests,” Darboe said while welcoming the former justice minister.

Mr Jobarteh served as justice minister during former president Yahya Jammeh’s rule. In February, he appeared before the TRRC where he pushed back at claims by former rebel commander Balo Kanteh that he cut his nipple.

“I did not touch his nipple talk less of cutting it,” he said while pushing back at Balo’s allegations.

UTG governing council has approved 12.6 million dalasis to purchase two new buses for students.

Students of the UTG have been protesting over conditions at UTG including libraries and buses.

But a statement on Thursday said the Governing Council of University of The Gambia, has finally approved D12.6 million to purchase two new buses for students.

“This was in response to the protest demands,” the statement by the striking students said.

It added: “Accordingly, the UTG procurement department and Facilities are required to take necessary actions for purchasing the buses in 90 days. This is different from the two other busses expected to be donated by HE President Adama Barrow on Monday. This will amount it to four busses all together.

“We wish to thank the UTG management under the new leadership of Professor Gomez for the swift response to almost all our major demands. This is exactly what the students deserved and expected from the management of the UTG.

“While we remain committed in attaining our ultimate objectives, we thank the general students for their trust and confidence in the student leadership.”

Internet went down in the country on Thursday leaving citizens in a state of disappointment.

The internet went down at around 6pm on Thursday and lasted for some time.

In a statement, the Gambia Submarine Cable Company said it confirmed that the problem was at the sea level after preliminary findings.

The company’s statement added: “The GSC, GAMTEL and ACE Cable consortium’s Network Operations Center (NOCin Dakar, Senegal) are closely working by carrying out series of tests (here in The Gambia and Senegal) to identify the exact location of the fault at the sea.

“After the identification of the exact location of the fault a Repair Ship would be mobilized to carry out a repair on the damaged part of the cable at the sea level.

“Through Gamtel and the other operators the country’s terrestrial traffic on the part of Senegal (as back up) is connected to ease the traffic congestion.

“The GSC and its entire membership, and on behalf of ACE Consortium apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

UDP’s delegation has started journeying to Saruja in the Central River Region for a huge rally of UDP.

Party adherents gathered at UDP leader Ousainou Darboe’s house in Pipeline on Friday for the trip.

UDP’s Saruja rally comes a week after the party made a big statement of intent by holding a massive rally in Sukuta.

President Adama Barrow has said the massive welcome accorded to him by citizens is a clear signal to the opposition that nobody can stop him from winning the December election.

“We’ve listen to what people are saying. People are saying in Wollof ‘jehna’ other are saying ‘abantaleh’. And I think this is a clear signal to the opposition that nobody can stop President Barrow,” President Barrow told The Fatu Network Friday evening shortly after arriving at State House.

President Barrow returned to Banjul on Friday after completing the first part of his nationwide meet-the-people tour.

The huge welcome afforded the president started in Kalagi and it took President Barrow nearly 11 hours to reach Banjul.

President Barrow described his tour as a ‘very very successful’ tour and ‘we were welcomed by large crowds’.

The president said: “I thank the Gambian people for the supporting they have given me. I cannot ask for more than the support [they have given me]. I think the welcome is the biggest welcome. Even my homecoming welcome, this is bigger welcome. [But] it’s because the Gambians appreciate what we are doing.”

Essa Faal’s campaign has set up a fundraiser seeking contribution from Gambians to support his campaign.

The fundraiser was announced on Essa Mbaye Faal official Facebook page on Thursday

A short statement accompanying the D1.2M gofundme link read: “Essa Mbye Faal and the ‘Turn Around Campaign’ humbly request your support so that we can take our country back from the clutches of ineptitude and turn it around for a better Gambia for all.”

The fundraiser has so far raised $3,500 of the $25,000 target.

The Gambia has won a court battle against Facebook regarding content the social media network it deleted from the banned Myanmar accounts relating to anti-Rohingya hate speech and incitement to violence.

In June 2020, The Gambia initiated discovery proceedings before the United States D.C District Court to compel Facebook to provide content it deleted from the banned Myanmar accounts relating to anti-Rohingya hate speech and incitement to violence.

On Wednesday 22nd September, 2021 Judgement was granted in favour of Gambia Government at the US District court for the District of Columbia granting almost the entirety of The Gambia’s discovery request from Facebook under 28 USC 1782.

A statement by the justice ministry said: “As a result of this Order, Facebook will now be required to produce all of the content it deleted from the banned Myanmar accounts relating to anti-Rohingya hate speech and incitement to violence. It must also produce its nonprivileged documentation that relates to the internal investigation of its role in the Rohingya genocide.

“This is welcoming news for The Gambia’s case against Myanmar as it means that compliance of this Order by Facebook would ensure a significant production of information that could support the Gambia in its current case against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“In the course of delivering the judgement, the judge, Honourable Zia M. Faruqui noted and concluded that:

“‘After seventeen years of existence, Facebook has grown self-aware. It has realized that ‘[t]he need for extensive content moderation is inherent in any platform that is built upon user-generated content, and with over 2 billion users, this is a task of immense complexity and intensity for Facebook’. HRIA at 25. Indeed, the internet is littered with ads by Facebook touting their support for updated content moderation and internet regulations to handle ‘today’s toughest challenges’.

“‘Although an update to the SCA is sorely needed as it ‘was written prior to the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web,’ Konop v. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., 302 F.3d 868, 874 (9th Cir. 2002), none is needed here. Facebook’s concern was that the SCA prevented the requested disclosure. However, the SCA has a well-established path for disclosure of deleted content.

“‘Facebook can act now. It took the first step by deleting the content that fueled a genocide. Yet it has stumbled at the next step, sharing that content. Failing to do so here would compound the tragedy that has befallen the Rohingya. A surgeon that excises a tumor does not merely throw it in the trash. She seeks a pathology report to identify the disease. Locking away the requested content would be throwing away the opportunity to understand how disinformation begat genocide of the Rohingya and would foreclose a reckoning at the ICJ.

“‘Facebook describes its remediation efforts for its role in what happened in Myanmar as ‘some of the most important work being done at Facebook. . . . The weight of this work, and its impact on the people of Myanmar, is felt across the company.’ Su, supra. The Court’s decision compels Facebook to live up to its words.

“‘For the foregoing reasons, The Gambia’s request for de-platformed content and related internal investigation documents is GRANTED and its request for a deposition with Facebook is DENIED’.”

The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has commenced a mapping and property identification exercise of homes and businesses in collaboration with the ???????? ?? I?????????? and ????????????? ??????????????.

The exercise will create a comprehensive system to locate properties and navigate within the municipality, a statement by KMC said.

The statement added: “KMC has established a ?????????? ??????????? ?????? (GIS) unit, which is leading this mapping exercise. KMC has a functional ?????????? ??????????? ?????? (GIS) that utilises spatial and geographic data to enhance service delivery in the municipality. The GIS unit uses this spatial data to create maps of the municipality.

“In order to located properties within the municipality, KMC’s GIS unit started collecting data on 1st of June 2021. The unit has commenced tagging properties in the municipality with a unique identifier referred to as a GOOGLE PLUS CODE. An example of a Google Plus Code is F89C+HR5, Bakau, which refers to Independence Stadium in Bakau. Residences are encouraged to type these codes into Google Maps, in order to see their location on a phone or computer.

“The data collection exercise is expected to be concluded by the end of October 2021, at which point every residence and business in Kanifing municipality shall have a unique code for identification purposes.

“The enhanced GIS system and introduction of Google Plus Codes will improve access to information for planning purposes, enhance communication with fire services and medical ambulances regarding one’s location in times of emergency, and improved business operations, especially for financial institutions, logistics companies, and delivery operators.”

Amnesty International has issued a statement saying former President Yahya Jammeh’s legislative legacy remains almost on untouched despite a pledge by President Adama Barrow to rip it apart.

Amnesty’s statement reads: “In December 2021, The Gambia will have its first presidential election since the departure of Yahya Jammeh, five years after President Barrow took power.

“In 2016, when Adama Barrow became president, he committed himself to change Gambia and to respect human rights. Unfortunately, almost five years later, the legislative landscape has not changed as much as national and international human rights organizations expected. Indeed, Jammeh’s legislative legacy remains almost untouched.

“Criminal laws on sedition and publication of false news which were used to oppress civil society during Jammeh’s rule are still in force. The Criminal Code still contains several clauses restricting freedom of expression, and permission from the police to protest remains in force and has been used to unnecessarily restrict public gatherings.

“The death penalty continues to be applied and the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Bill has been pending at the National Assembly since last year.

“The current parliamentary session, which is expected to end by next week, represents one of the latest opportunities to make significant changes before the presidential election in December. We decided to issue a legal analysis of oppressive laws remaining and bills pending because we want significant legal reforms before the end of the year.

“We also want to put pressure on the Gambian government to implement the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) recommendations that are meant to be published on 30 September, and to avoid that the recent agreement between President Barrow and Yahya Jammeh political party (APRC) leads to impunity for human rights violations committed during the previous regime.

“Amnesty International is calling the Gambian government and Parliament to pass as many pending law reforms enhancing human rights as possible before the end of the year.

“As well as seeking the full commitment of the Gambian government to implement TRRC recommendations, especially those ones regarding accountability for human rights violations and avoiding impunity.”

GDC National Youth President MC Cham Jnr has said he is optimistic of a deal for an opposition coalition.

Mr Cham Jnr stated this during an exclusive interview with Star FM, an interview he shared with The Fatu Network.

Cham Jnr said: “I have hope there could be an agreement in the talks between the political parties for a coalition. We are talking but the talks are yet to be conclusive. I think having a coalition to be stronger to face the incumbent is more important.

“Throughout history there has never been a case where you have the incumbent scavenging for a coalition to win an election. It has always been the opposition who does that.

“So we the opposition should also reassess our position and talk amongst ourselves. What I am hearing regarding the talks, I am confident there will be an agreement.”

Ahmad Gitteh has announced preparation has been completed for President Adama Barrow’s welcome.

The president will return to Banjul on Thursday after spending the last 10 days meeting citizens in the interior parts of the country.

NPP infantry soldier Ahmad Gitteh shared photos of his meeting with President Barrow on Thursday and wrote: “All is set now for the president to depart Mansa Konko LRR to West Coast.

“We just finished briefing our #Bus_Driver at his residence on the level of preparedness of West Coast and general organization of the events. The president is impressed and all is set for the ball to Start rolling.”

President Adama Barrow has called for unity among Gambians in order to develop the country, saying that the country can only be developed when we have peace and unity among the people, according to State House.

“Only unity will serve our common good. Let’s come together and move this country forward,” the president said on day ten of the Meet the People Tour in Jirof and Soma.

State House added: “Earlier in the day, President Barrow laid the foundation stone for the expansion of the School for Community Health Nursing in Mansakonko. The expansion will increase the number of student intakes and build dormitories for accommodation.

“The President also visited the OMVG hydroelectricity substation in Soma due to be inaugurated next month. He proceeded to Jali, Kiang West, where he also laid the foundation stone for a health centre.

“President Barrow assured the people of his commitment to serve their interest, highlighting that the Kiang electrification and roads project is his governmet’s determination to leave no community behind in terms infrastructural development.”

The country’s political parties will converge in Janjangbureh on Saturday where they are set to recommit to peaceful elections.

The nation’s political parties have been meeting through the Inter-Party Committee – and the committee has announced its next breakfast meeting will take place on Saturday in Janjanbureh.

At the meeting, parties are expected to recommit to peaceful elections and dialogue during the campaign period by signing a peace pledge dubbed ‘The Janjanbureh Peace Accord’, the co-chair of the committee Musa Amul Nyassi said in a statement on Thursday.

“The cardinal objective of the meeting is to reinforce political parties’ commitments to fully abide by all the rules and regulations as laid down in the legal frameworks for elections in The Gambia…,” Mr Nyassi added.

A military truck crashed into a police station in Kiang Sankandi on Thursday after an accident.

The speeding State Guard truck ran into trouble after encountering a speed bump in Sankandi.

A witness told The Fatu Network the driver of the truck lost control of the truck after climbing a speed bump. The truck then crashed into the police station as panic-stricken natives fled for their lives.

A pregnant woman got injured after the wall of the police station fell on her.

Former deputy ambassador to the UN Samsudeen Sarr has said he doesn’t think Essa Faal will make it regarding the December presidential election.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network on Wednesday, Mr Sarr also said Mr Faal should be investigated and charged for deceiving the nation.

He said: “I don’t think he (Essa) is gonna make it. He is not the type of leader The Gambia want. Essa at the back of his mind is ready to prosecute Jammeh, prosecute anybody who has been implicated or accused doing anything at the APRC including this Samsudeen Sarr.

“I don’t think he is gonna win because Essa is not to me an honest person. And he deceived The Gambia by using the TRRC as a political platform, disguised as somebody who is apolitical when he is not. I was ready the TRRC act… [it] says that anybody with political ambition or political affiliation should not be part of it.

“If he had disclosed his political ambition or his affiliation to the UDP which he disclosed the day he was launching his party I don’t think Adama Barrow would have appointed him as lead counsel. That was deception, it is unlawful.

“I think they should investigate him and probably even charge him for deceiving the country, for not being honest to the country.”