By: Alieu Jallow

The Brikama Area Council (BAC) has expressed strong objections to a directive issued by West Coast Region Governor Ousman Bojang, which led to the demolition of vendor stalls near the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The council contends that this action undermines their efforts to support local vendors and develop the region.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, the Public Relations Officer, Sheriffo Singhateh, alleged that Governor Ousman Bojang was the mastermind behind the tension and had attempted to use his authority to command the Brikama Police to execute the demolition.

Singhateh explained that the governor was trying to emphasize his authority, which, in turn, prompted the council to respond in the interest of vulnerable people. He noted that the governor’s office and the council should act as partners in development.

“You cannot compare the authority of an appointee or an appointed staff to an elected position. Does it make sense? Governors are appointed, and chairmen are elected. So, his position can never be more powerful than the position of the chairman of the council. Yet, instead, he chooses to go around or act with the intention of using the police to carry out his plans because he believes the police have all the necessary equipment and materials. But why, in the first place, would you wish to see your populace suffering?

“What pleasure do you derive from seeing those you claim to govern endure hardships, police brutality, and injustice? What is the satisfaction in that? That’s the question we are asking. What pleasure does he derive from such actions?” Singhateh stated.

He emphasized that the relocation of vendors had been conducted in consultation with relevant authorities to ensure compliance with the “Operation Clear the Road” initiative. On January 14, 2025, officers from the operation inspected the area and confirmed that the stalls were well-aligned and did not obstruct traffic flow.

“Even though we have the statutory mandate to do it, we didn’t want to act unilaterally. We held consultations, and in fact, the command of Operation Clear the Road gave us the green light to reallocate some of these stall owners there. So we did that,” Singhateh explained.

The council reiterated their determination to resist actions that undermine their mandate to promote sustainable development in the West Coast Region.

“Our position is that we will never sit back and watch our populace or taxpayers suffer. Remember, I don’t have a stall in that place, and neither does the chairman or any of his immediate family members. But that doesn’t matter. Leadership isn’t about thinking selfishly. Whosoever occupies that space is just as important to the chairman and the council officers as their own family members.

“Sitting back and watching these people cry, struggle, and go through suffering is not leadership. True leadership means that when we suffer, we all suffer, and when we progress, we all progress together,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Governor Ousman Bojang denied the allegations, stressing that he was not the architect of the Road Clearing Exercise and does not have the authority to order the police.

“The road-clearing exercise is a national program, and everyone needs to follow the law. The office of the governor is a stakeholder, like any other stakeholder. I am not involved in peddling fabricated, attention-seeking issues,” he clarified.

Following the brief tension, a stakeholder meeting was held to restore relationships and ensure smooth collaboration. The council affirmed their commitment to advancing development, emphasizing that they do not view the office of the governor, the Office of the President, or the Inspector General of Police as competitors but as partners in development.

By: Seringe ST Touray

Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, Hamat NK Bah, today released the findings of the Kamalo Taskforce investigation, fulfilling his earlier commitment to transparency. “By the time I assumed office, the KAMALO Taskforce was already commissioned; however, in my first media engagement with you, I promised that once the Taskforce has completed its mandate, I will make the report public,” Minister Bah stated.

The Multi-sectoral Taskforce was established through an executive order following what the minister described as “numerous complaints from the general public.” The investigation aimed to review the land allocation process at the Kamalo layout and determine the extent of any impropriety.

“The Taskforce, upon completion of its responsibility, submitted a 34-page report with 14 recommendations to my office,” Minister Bah explained. “Upon receipt of the report, my Ministry transmitted the same to the Attorney General’s Chamber requesting for a legal advice. Consequently, the Attorney General’s office proffered two options for my consideration.”

Regarding the Kamalo layout’s status, Minister Bah announced a key modification to the original recommendations: “This is hereby varied and substituted with option number 2 of the legal opinion. Accordingly, Kamalo proper is hereby maintained, and Kamalo extension is hereby revoked in its entirety.”

The minister outlined several specific measures to address irregularities, including the development of a National Land Policy, which he confirmed is making progress: “Implementation is on high gear for the completion of NLP.”

Other adopted recommendations include:

• Revocation of allocations within Kamalo proper without ministerial approval
• Cancellation of allocations lacking proper documentation
• A requirement for company rather than personal bank statements
• Forfeiture of multiple allocations, with Minister Bah stating, “Allotees with multiple allocation hereby forfeit one to the state within Kamalo proper”
• Comprehensive environmental impact assessments before further development

In a specific case highlighted in the report, “The allocation given to one Modou Mbye without Ministerial approval is hereby revoked as per taskforce recommendation in Kamalo proper,” the minister announced.

Addressing accountability concerns, Minister Bah emphasized that the recommendation “to hold those officials accountable for the missing Kamalo file is hereby adopted.”

In his concluding remarks, the minister addressed staffing implications: “The Ministry has also noted with concern the Taskforce recommendation on staff of the Ministry adversely mentioned by the report and consequently adopted the taskforce recommendation against them.”

The implementation of these recommendations sets new parameters for land management in the Kamalo area, with specific focus on proper documentation, environmental considerations, and administrative accountability.

By: Seringe ST Touray

Henry Gomez, leader of the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP) and adviser to President Adama Barrow, has publicly dismissed recent threats made by former President Yahya Jammeh about returning from exile to challenge the current administration. Jammeh, who has been in exile in Equatorial Guinea since January 2017, described his envisioned return as “a day of reckoning” for President Barrow’s government.

In a widely circulated video, Gomez strongly criticized Jammeh’s authoritarian history, stating, “All Yahya Jammeh knows are guns and brute force,” referencing Jammeh’s use of violence and coercion to impose his will during his 22 years in power.

Addressing the general public, Gomez sought to ease fears about Jammeh’s potential return: “Those afraid of Jammeh returning should know that Jammeh isn’t returning anywhere.”

He also sent a clear warning to Jammeh’s supporters and the public about the consequences of any attempted return: “In the event of Jammeh’s return, he’d be captured and taken to court.”

Gomez urged Gambians to move past the Jammeh era and focus on addressing the country’s pressing challenges. “We should be focused on solutions to move the country forward, including solutions to solve youth unemployment and inflation,” he said.

He concluded by cautioning against giving Jammeh any political relevance. “Gambians shouldn’t flirt with the idea of reintroducing Jammeh back into our political system,” he said, emphasizing that “Jammeh represents the past and should be erased.”

By: Madi Jobarteh

When Ousainou Darboe or Essa Faal raise critical and legitimate issues about the Barrow regime, immediately we would see Barrow get into fits to respond to them. When journalists and activists report or raise critical concerns about the government, we would see Barrow respond with so much venom and anger.

His handlers and surrogates would then follow suit to harangue and fret at these political leaders, critics, journalists and activists. These handlers include Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie, the Minister of Information Ismaila Ceesay, Chief of Staff Mod Ceesay or spokespersons such as Ebrima Sankareh, Dou Sanno, Saihou Mballow, Henry Gomez, and Sulayman Camara among others.

These handlers will spare no effort in insulting, ridiculing, threatening and demonizing Ousainou Darboe, Mamma Kandeh, Essa Faal, Coach Pa Samba Jow, Alagie Saidy Barrow, Madi Jobarteh, as well as the journalists and others. Yet these people are not fugitives nor are they criminals, murderers, or people who looted this country as public officials as Yaya Jammeh did.

But it is now more than 48 hours since Tinpot Dictaor Yaya Jammeh went on the rampage to insult, threaten and ridicule Adama Barrow personally. He went further to trash the Barrow administration as useless, corrupt and incompetent. Yaya went further to even dare the entire government that he will return and nothing will happen to him!

But, no response from State House, nor from Minister of Justice or Minister of Information or from Deputy Speaker or from the NPP headquarters or from the offices of the presidential advisors!

Why is Adama Barrow and his army of handlers silent? Are they afraid of Jammeh? Or are they protecting him?

Why is the Minister of Justice Dawda Jallow failing to defend the transitional justice process and reassure victims by responding to Jammeh? Why is the entire government ignoring the statements from Yaya Jammeh? Why is Ismaila Ceesay silent like he is not in this world?

Yaya Jammeh is no ordinary person. His comments cannot be easily ignored like that. Not only was he the very reason and focal point of the entire transitional justice process but also until today, Jammeh has representatives who are inside the country’s top decision making body! There are 4 NAMs who are disciples of Jammeh with the sole objective of protecting him from justice. Jammeh Enablers can be found right inside the Cabinet and holding other key government positions.

Furthermore, Jammeh has influence over the government because it was Barrow who first capitulated to Jammeh by forming an alliance with the APRC. Even if the APRC is split into two, the significance of Jammeh remains undeniable and cannot be ignored.

Therefore, why is Pres. Barrow and his ministers, NPP officials and presidential advisors still silent? Is it that they perceive Ousainou Darboe and Essa Faal to pose a greater threat to the Gambia than Yaya Jammeh? Is that they are more scared of Pa Samba Jow and Alagie Saidy Barrow than Yaya Jammeh? Why are they avoiding Yaya Jammeh?

By their silence, Barrow has shown his total lack of interest in the transitional justice process because he is not interested in bringing Jammeh to justice. Otherwise, he and his officials would have responded to the threats and interference posed by a former dictator. He would have sought official means to immediately seek the extradition of Yaya Jammeh. But none of that is happening. So does this mean Barrow is protecting Yaya Jammeh?

I call on all citizens especially victims, CSOs and indeed political parties to protest against the silence of the Barrow government over the threats and interference from Yaya Jammeh. We need to protest to demand answers as to why this regime is treating Yaya Jammeh with kids gloves. We need to demand to know if Barrow is ever interested in the arrest and prosecution of Yaya Jammeh.

There is more to their silence than meets the eye! Their silence can only mean protecting Yaya Jammeh. That’s a disgraceful and disgusting betrayal of the Gambia and victims in particular! 😡

For The Gambia 🇬🇲 Our Homeland

By: The Fatu Network Editorial

On January 12th, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda A. Jallow announced that former President Yahya Jammeh would face trial in Banjul by an ECOWAS tribunal, unless security concerns required otherwise.

In a separate development, on January 22nd, Jammeh, in an audio message, declared he was reclaiming leadership of the APRC, stating, “I have decided to take over my party myself, and it will not be entrusted to anyone again.”

Jammeh also criticized the ECOWAS tribunal, dismissing it as “a bunch of nonsense,” and vowed to return to The Gambia soon.

By: Seringe ST Touray

Former President Yahya Jammeh has dissolved the APRC executive committee led by Yaya Tamba, announcing his personal takeover of the party amid internal divisions. In a strongly-worded address on January 22, 2025, Jammeh cited “internal division, hatred, and backstabbing” as key challenges facing the party.

“That being the case, today the 22nd of January 2025, I have decided to take over my party myself, and would not be entrusted to anyone again,” Jammeh declared, relieving Tamba of his chairmanship and interim party leadership.

Addressing rumors of potential mass resignations, Jammeh remained defiant: “Let me be very clear – those people can leave. I will not succumb to blackmail.” He emphasized his vision for APRC as “a clean party, a party of God-fearing, God-loving, and God-worshipping human beings.”

Jammeh also launched scathing criticisms of President Barrow’s administration, highlighting issues in healthcare, education, and public safety. He pointed to maternal mortality rates, school dropouts, and unprosecuted crimes as evidence of national decline.

Responding to threats of prosecution, Jammeh challenged: “Threats of taking me to jail – let them wait until I arrive there and we see who’s going to jail.” He concluded by warning Barrow of a coming “day of accountability,” reiterating his intention to return to The Gambia despite opposition.