Alieu Sowe on Sunday emerged as presidential candidate of Gambia Action Party more than a year of firing former army general Lamin Bojang.

Mr Sowe, 46, will lead GAP into the December presidential election. But who is Sowe?

According to a biography shared with The Fatu Network, Mr Sowe was born on the 10th of October 1974 in Cheedi Wolof, Upper Baddibu, North Bank Region.  He attended Minteh Kunda Primary School and Farafenni Senior Secondary School from 1989 to 1993. In 1996, he was enrolled in paramilitary training course at the Guards Training School at Bakau. He studied Computer Science and upgraded his skills through diversity at Bahai Centre; also studied criminal investigation through Gambia Police Force Prosecution Department in 2004. He later studied International Relations and Diplomacy at the Management Development Institute.

Career-wise, Mr Sowe worked as a private soldier from 1995 to 2006 and extended his military career to Lance Corporal from 2006 to 2009. He became Corporal in 2009 and Staff Sergeant in 2012. In 2015, he became a Captain from 2015 and then a Major in 2016.

He was Commanding Officer of Defense Platoon 2017 to 2018 and General Manager of the entire Kanilai family group from 2014 to 2017.

Supporters of former President Yahya Jammeh will march on Monday in Banjul, a press release by APRC on Sunday said.

The ‘peaceful’ march will be between the Arch at the mouth of Banjul to the Ministry of Justice.

A top APRC official told The Fatu Network the march is about the TRRC recommendations.

APRC’s press release said the party will hand over a petition to the minister of justice for onward delivery to President Adama Barrow.

Mai Fatty suddenly rowed with Modou Lamin Jammeh on the latter’s Ifang Bondi show on EyeAfrica TV that saw the GMC leader dramatically walk out of the interview.

“Mr Jammeh, if you want the interview to proceed, don’t cut me,” Mr Fatty began after the interview had gone to over 50 minutes, to which Jammeh replied he was not cutting him. Jammeh insisted he needed to ask Mr Fatty questions but Fatty warned he would view Jammeh cutting him as disrespect.

As the back and forth continued around the issue of Semlex, Mr Fatty dropped the mic on the table and blasted: “You’re not here to know the facts. I think you’re here with an agenda.”

The GMC leader moments later stood up and repeatedly said that the interview was over. Jammeh remain seated.

Mr Fatty had earlier on said: “You didn’t come to my house to argue with me, you’re not respecting me. I’m putting an end to this interview. The interview is over.”

He later walked out.

By Sarjo Brito

Former Interior Minister and Leader of the Gambia Moral Congress Party Mai Fatty is hitting back at critics who say he is not thick skinned following an interview with Eye Africa TV which was terminated by the GMC leader mid production. The question which did not sit well with the GMC leader has to do with corruption allegations involving him and Belgian company Semlex. Mai Fatty was accused of accepting bribes to the controversial awarding of a contract to Semlex to produce the country’s national documents including identifications cards and passports. Mai Fatty vehemently denied the allegation and was later vindicated by parliament after a committee probing the matter made no mention of his involvement. While Mai was cleared by Parliament, the allegations of corruption continue to follow the former Interior Minister.

Mr Fatty explained Friday: “I encourage viewers to watch my interview with Eye Africa Africa TV this evening. I terminated the interview at some point after enduring almost an hour of sustained contempt. As a result few people wrongly attributed the reason to the Simlex question. Let me remind them again: I was absolutely cleared by the Gambia Government of not doing anything wrong or illegal, through Cabinet via Ministry of Justice. That wasn’t enough for my political enemies. They Petitioned the Gambian Parliament to conduct independent parliamentary investigations into the matter. After two years of exhaustive investigation by the National Assembly, I was completely cleared again. When Hon. Halifa Sallah presented the Report of the investigation before the full House of parliament, my integrity was further consolidated. Those who are not satisfied by this, can demand further investigation by the United Nations Security Council, ECOWAS or the African Union. Each investigation will further prove me as a Leader of honesty and integrity in public office.

“I terminated the interview because I felt being disrespected and treated with contempt by the interviewer. It is a known fact that I have never ran away from the media or failed to answer a question. Yet, I will NOT permit any person to treat me with contempt simply because I am a public figure. Everyone, whether politician or not, has a right to human dignity, and fair hearing, including me. You can’t ask a question and condition me to give you the answer you want. Yours is to ask and mine to answer. Let the public decide. Lastly granting an interview is not the right of a journalist. It’s my choice to grant or not. If I do, be professional and allow me the opportunity to respond without putting words into my mouth or extracting from me a preconceived answer in your mind.”

Journalist Modou Lamin Jammeh responds

Journalist Modou Lamin Jammeh who interviewed Mr Fatty has however reacted amid Mr Fatty’s comments.

He wrote: “Yes, I like Hon. Mai Fatty naturally and I will continue to treat him with dignity and respect like any other person. But hey – that won’t stop me from asking him tough, tough relevant questions anytime he is on “Ifang Bondi”!

“Wokoolaa, my style will remain the same, nothing absolutely will make me change it. Muq abadan!

“And those critics out there, I want to commend you for a job well done. Don’t stop criticising me, because if you do, I will put a stop to my programme. Keep them coming let’s keep the red fire burning. You guys are the best!”

APRC on Thursday held a quran recitation to mark 27 years of former President Yahya Jammeh overthrow of former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.

Mr Jammeh on July 22, 1994, toppled Jawara who had been in power for over 30 years. But Mr Jammeh himself lost power in 2016 after 22 years.

APRC members gathered at the party’s bureau in Manjai on Thursday to mark the event’s 27th anniversary.

According to the party’s deputy spokesman Dodou Jah, they have never been allowed to commemorate 22nd July since the coming into being of the coalition government.

“We resorted to doing it peacefully, reciting the quran and making prayers for ourselves and the nation,” Mr Jah said.

APRC Thursday issued a statement dismissing as false claims by a member of the party Pa Modou Mbowe that he spoke with former President Jammeh who reportedly said APRC should not form an alliance with any political party including NPP.

The claims have been making the rounds online in the past few days.

APRC however in a statement signed by first deputy leader Ousman Rambo Jatta insisted Jammeh never spoke with anyone to dissuade APRC supporters from going into an alliance with any political party.

“All we can confirm to the Gambians at this moment is that the former president is in support of the executive and our political efforts to help the party move forward and restore his legacy as a great former president who deserves the respect due to him,” APRC said.

Press release by State House

President Barrow on Thursday received the General Inspector of the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Major General Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi. General Al Raisi was accompanied to the Presidency by the Inspector General of Police, Abdoulie Sanyang, Minister of Interior Honourable Yankuba Sonko and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Honourable Mamadou Tangara.

General Nasser Al Raisi told the Press that his visit was to express his appreciation to the President and the Government of The Gambia for the support accorded to him as the official candidate for the UAE vying for President of Interpol in 2022.

Dr Al Raisi is an expert in forensics, management and international anti-crime coordination. The General said that his discussions with the President centred on “shared priorities for international security and policing, especially the critical role of Interpol in supporting regional policing efforts”. He added that discussions included fostering cooperation between The Gambia and the UAE in infrastructure and diplomacy.

General Al Raisi highlighted that the partnership between the two countries would help strengthen peace and security in The Gambia and beyond its borders.

He thanked the President for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation while also expressing similar sentiments towards his counterpart, the Minister of Interior Honourable Yankuba Sonko and the Inspector General of Police Abdoulie Sanyang.

Gina Bass and Ebrima Camara have arrived in Tokyo Japan to represent the nation at this year’s Olympics.

Athletes Gina and Camara will be competing in the Tokyo 2020 games, in the 100 and 200 meters races.

Gambia National Olympic Committee posted a photo of the duo on Thursday afternoon saying they are in Tokyo finally.

The event will officially begin on Friday through August 2.

President Adama Barrow has lifted the lid on why he did not honour a 2016 pledge to leave office after three years.

The president agreed with coalition partners to serve for only three years if he should be elected in the December, 2016 presidential election. He went on to win the election.

But President Barrow later flipped and said he would serve for five years instead of three, which led to rise of the Three Years Jotna movement.

But speaking to QTV in an exclusive interview, the president explained: “I didn’t change my mind. I think there was a condition attached to three years. But people try to forget about those conditions. We wanted to do a lot within that three years, when we were outside. That’s what we thought. But we found out that it’s impossible.

“These reforms we’re doing right now, we cannot do it in three years. The constitution, we cannot do it in three years. The TRRC, we cannot do it in three years. So these were the things that were attached…

“So you want us to abandon that and just go because other people want to be president or we want to go for elections? And at the same time, I think even the arrangement was also wrong. It was a very hasty thing we did.”

Police say they received reports of a tragic stabbing incident at Dippa Kunda where Foday Jatta allegedly entered the compound of Yusupha Tabally and stabbed him with a knife.

This incident occurred in the early hours of the morning today Tuesday 20th July 2021.

Police said: “The victim was rushed to the Serrekunda General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Medical examination is currently being arranged.

“The suspect is currently in custody helping Police in their investigations after his attempts to flee the jurisdiction proved futile as he was quickly apprehended.

“The IGP’s Office wishes to strongly warn the general public to desist from all forms of violence and lawlessness as anyone found wanting will face the consequences to the fullest extent of the law. The cooperation and understanding of the public is highly solicited.”

Interim Mali President Assimi Goita, a special forces colonel who orchestrated two coups in the last year, said he escaped unharmed after an assailant tried to stab him during prayers at a mosque in the capital Bamako on Tuesday.

Security agents overpowered two men in the mosque and threw one into the back of a military pickup truck, video obtained by Reuters showed, as Goita, dressed in a sky blue embroidered robe, was ringed by bodyguards.

The president’s office said investigations were ongoing. It did not immediately advance a motive for the attack, which occurred during services marking the Muslim Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) holiday at Bamako’s Grand Mosque.

Mali, the theatre of French-supported operations against al Qaeda and Islamic State-linked insurgents for a decade, was thrown into political turmoil after a military junta led by Goita toppled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020.

Goita served as vice-president to transitional leader Bah Ndaw until the latter’s ouster in May.

“Everything is fine, there is no problem. It’s part of being a leader,” Goita told state television hours after the attack. “There are always people who are unhappy. There are people who will try to destabilise.” (Reuters)

The US Embassy in a statement on Wednesday revealed over 304,000 vaccine doses are what the people of the United States donated to The Gambia.

“As President Joseph R. Biden committed earlier this year, vaccines donated by the American people have arrived in The Gambia. On July 20, 151,200 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-shot vaccine donated by the United States government arrived in The Gambia, the first tranche in an initial donation of over 304,000 doses, the US Embassy said.

This single-dose vaccine has proven highly effective in preventing serious illness from the COVID-19 virus, it added.

The United States is pleased to partner with the African Union, COVAX, WHO, and UNICEF to support the Gambian government’s vaccination efforts led by the Ministry of Health.

Sharing these vaccines serves as example of the importance of the longstanding ties between the Gambian and American governments and people, the US Embassy said, adding these are the same safe and effective vaccines that have saved countless lives in the United States.

At the airport in Yundum on Tuesday when the first tranche arrived, US Ambassador Richard Carl Paschall said the US will continue to donate vaccine supply.

“This delivery is only the beginning. We will continue to donate vaccine supply, as it is available to us, and we will soon begin delivering on our contribution of 500 million Pfizer doses for distribution by COVAX to countries around the world, including The Gambia. Only by working together – and by getting vaccinated! – can we combat and end the COVID pandemic,” said U.S. Ambassador R. Carl Paschall.

These vaccine doses are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s global efforts commitment to share U.S. vaccine supply with the world and are on top of the $2 billion provided by the United States to COVAX in April to buy vaccines for distribution. As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic at home and work to end the pandemic worldwide, President Biden has promised that the United States will be an arsenal of vaccines for the world.

The United States has donated a total of 151,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine to boost the national vaccination campaign currently underway.

With the support from the COVAX Facility, the vaccines arrived in the country on Tuesday, 20th July 2021 and were received at Banjul International Airport by officials of the Ministry of Health, other Government Officials and Development Partners, a press release by the health ministry said.

The contribution of the Government of the United States comes at a moment when COVID-19 cases are escalating rapidly in The Gambia as more than 925 positive cases have been confirmed between 23rd June and 16th July. Since the confirmation of the first COVID-19 case in March 2020, The Gambia has registered a total of 6,920 cases and 190 deaths.

“President Joe Biden committed that the United States will be an “arsenal for vaccines” and we are pleased to partner with the African Union, COVAX, WHO and UNICEF to support the Gambian government’s vaccination efforts led by the Ministry of Health. This initial delivery from the U.S. contribution of over 304,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine – on top of $2 billion provided by the United States to COVAX in April to buy vaccines for the world – is only the beginning.

We will continue to donate surplus vaccine supply, as it is available to us, and we will soon begin delivering on our contribution of 500 million Pfizer doses for distribution by COVAX to countries around the world, including The Gambia. Only by working together – and by getting vaccinated! – can we combat and end the COVID pandemic,” said H.E Richard Carlton Paschall III, U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia, according to the press release.

The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organization under the Emergency Use Listing (EUL) as well as by the Gambia Medicines Control Agency. This donation will significantly close the gap towards achieving the national target of vaccinating 60 per cent of the population by June 2022. In order to urgently scale up the COVID-19 vaccination program, the Ministry of Health will immediately introduce the J&J/Janssen vaccine into the nationwide campaign which is currently underway and implemented in communities and health facilities across the country, as well as in different strategic locations such as bantabas, points of entry and other identified areas.

Gordon Jonathan Lewis, UNICEF Representative, underscored that “this generous contribution of shared vaccines from the Government of the United States will go a long way towards achieving vaccine equity in The Gambia and will ensure that we can vaccinate a larger number of individuals in a shorter period of time, especially now that new cases are rapidly rising. Getting vaccinated is the right thing to do, getting vaccinated is the ethical thing to do.”

Dr Desta Tiruneh, WHO Representative, added that “WHO welcomes the substantial contribution of vaccines from the Government of the United States through COVAX at a time when The Gambia is witnessing a significant spike in the number of COVID19 cases. Global vaccine sharing is the only way we can vaccinate at least 10% of the population of every country by the end of September 2021.”

In receiving the contribution, Minister of Health Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, noted that “The Gambia is currently witnessing its third wave of the epidemic and therefore this donation could not have come at a better time. These vaccines will not only complement our national vaccination program but also strengthen overall preventive public health measures. On behalf of our government, I extend our sincere appreciation to the United States of America, through the U.S. Embassy in The Gambia, for its significant contribution of lifesaving vaccines to our people, as well as to our development partners – WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, CEPI and WB – for their continued technical and financial support towards the country’s COVID-19 response.”