The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has endorsed Senegalese President Macky Sall to take over as the Chairperson of the African Union from 2022.

The decision was made at an extraordinary summit held on February 2, via videoconference.

President Sall said he accepted the decision made by ECOWAS, which will see him take over from Democratic Republic of Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi at the helm of the AU.

“I welcome the conclusions of the extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS of this day. Senegal was endorsed as the sole candidate to occupy the post of current President of the African Union reserved for the ECOWAS West African sub-region for the period 2022-2023,” he wrote on his Twitter.

The position of the African Union chairperson is a rotating seat among member states that lasts one year.

ECOWAS’ nomination of Senegal as the next head of the AU is set to be formalized at the ordinary summit of the African Union slated for later this month. (CGTN Africa)

Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh has pooh-poohed claims former President Yahya Jammeh is on his way home.

Claims have abounded online of Jammeh’s final return to the country prompting excitement among his supporters and anxiety among those who loathe him.

But the government spokesperson Sankareh said in a statement on Wednesday: “It has yet again come to the attention of The Gambia Government that false reports and insinuations predicting the imminent return of former President Jammeh are being amplified by some news and social media outlets.

“Significantly, these baseless reports have provoked anxiety and tension among members of the public. Equally, the misinformation has given rise to acts of deception particularly, among supporters of the former President, who have been terribly misled to believe in these fairytales over the purported imminent return of former President Yahya Jammeh.

“The public is reminded that former President Jammeh’s asylum in Equatorial Guinea is an ECOWAS/AU arrangement. Under these arranged diplomatic circumstances, the host country is obligated to ensure that the former President remains in Equatorial Guinea until agreed and decided otherwise by the parties in consultation with The Gambia Government.

“The Gambia Government hereby assures the public, members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, that Mr. Yahya Jammeh remains in Equatorial Guinea and rumors of his recent flight to Guinea Conakry as well as his planned return to The Gambia are meritless tales being peddled by detractors.

“In the same vein, The Gambia Government urges those detractors to desist from rumor mongering and spreading of false information calculated to cause public anxiety and undue alarm.”

Momodou Sabally has vowed he will not apologise to businessman Abubakary Jawara – dramatically setting the stage for a possible legal battle.

Lawyers for businessman Jawara wrote to Sabally demanding he apologises to the businessman within seven days for ‘falsehoods’ or be to sued at the high court.

The lawyers say Sabally at various periods made unfounded statements damaging to the reputation of Jawara. Sabally confirmed receiving a letter from Jawara’s lawyers.

The former secretary general reacted publicly as soon as The Fatu Network broke the news by saying: “An apology from Momodou Sabally? That will NOT happen in a BILLION years, inshaa Allah. Let Barrow and his cronies try another channel to silence me. This one will not work! #CantCageMe.”

According to Jawara’s lawyer Christopher Mene, Sabally  “on or about the 11^th of January 2021, you made a widely shared post on your Facebook page on which you posted a picture of my client and sought to draw a link between my client and the drug seizure.”

The lawyer argued comments from Sabally linking his client to the Banta Keita drug seizure are clearly defamatory of his client as “it disparages the reputation of my client or tends to lower him in the estimation of right thinking members of the society generally or exposes him to hatred, ridicule, scandal, odium, contempt and similar feelings”.

The lawyer then says his client demands that Sabally ceases and desists from continuing to propagate ‘unfounded’ stories about his client.

“You are further given seven days to publish a detailed withdrawal of your post and tender an unreserved apology to my client for the false statements made against him on all social media platforms through which the falsehoods were perpetrated (WhatsApp Voice Notes, Freedom Radio and Facebook). Should you fail to comply with the above request within seven days from receipt of this letter, I have instructions to bring an action against you before the high court of The Gambia for damages, including exemplary damages for defamation without any further warning,” Mene said in his letter.

Lawyers for businessman Abubakary Jawara have written to former secretary general Momodou Sabally warning him to desist from comments ‘defamatory’ to their client – but also gave him seven days to withdraw his initial comments or be sued.

In a bombshell letter seen by The Fatu Network, Jawara’s lawyer Christopher Mene is seen telling Sabally “it has come to my client’s attention that at various periods during the month of January 2020, you Momodou Sabally by means of a number of social media and media platforms made unfounded statements damaging to my client’s reputation”.

“On or about the 11^th of January 2021, you made a widely shared post on your Facebook page on which you posted a picture of my client and sought to draw a link between my client and the drug seizure,” the lawyer told Sabally in the letter.

The lawyer argued comments from Sabally linking his client to the Banta Keita drug seizure are clearly defamatory of his client as “it disparages the reputation of my client or tends to lower him in the estimation of right thinking members of the society generally or exposes him to hatred, ridicule, scandal, odium, contempt and similar feelings”.

The lawyer then says his client demands that Sabally ceases and desists from continuing to propagate ‘unfounded’ stories about his client.

“You are further given seven days to publish a detailed withdrawal of your post and tender an unreserved apology to my client for the false statements made against him on all social media platforms through which the falsehoods were perpetrated (WhatsApp Voice Notes, Freedom Radio and Facebook). Should you fail to comply with the above request within seven days from receipt of this letter, I have instructions to bring an action against you before the high court of The Gambia for damages, including exemplary damages for defamation without any further warning,” Mene said in his letter.

Sabally confirmed receiving a letter but says he has not read it.

Police have asked members of the public to volunteer information that may be useful to their investigation into the attack on Ousman Camara.

A cruel mob attacked Sierra Leonian Camara and outrage erupted when a video of the savagery was shared online.

Police issued a statement on Tuesday evening slamming the act as ‘barbaric’ while announcing an investigation has been opened.

“Members of the public are urged to volunteer any information that may be useful to the investigation. The cooperation and understanding of the public is highly solicited,” police said.

The army has announced two firing exercises involving troops at its Lance Corporal Bojang Memorial Range.

The first of the exercises began on February 2 and it will last until February 12. A second exercise would begin on February 8 and end on February 26.

In a statement, the army called on those living in towns such as Brikama, Kassa Kunda and Jalanbang to not panic. They’re also asked to avoid the area.

A high court judge has ordered a 14-day blockage of Ecobank and Zenith Bank accounts belonging to wanted Banta Keita and two others.

The Drug Law Enforcement Agency had filed an ex-parte motion at the high court seeking an order from the court to restrain Banta Keita, his privies, servants or agents from ‘disposing of or removing of or otherwise dealing with funds’ at one Zenith Bnk account and three Ecobank accounts for 14 days pending the outcome of the investigation.

The agency also prayed the court to Zenith and Ecobank banks to make a full disclosure of all accounts and the balances therein belonging to Banta Keita and two companies, Circuit Long Trade LTD and La Petite Parisiene By DK Beauty.

Judge Sainabou Ceesay Wadda in a January 28 ruling said her court is satisfied the ‘applicants’ (DLEAG) have shown reasonable and cogent reasons to grant their ‘reliefs’. She proceeded to grant the reliefs.

Banta Keita is wanted by the state following the seizing of nearly three tons of cocaine at the port last month. The cocaine is worth an eye-watering 4.5 billion dalasis. Banta himself has been on the run.

Police say they have opened an investigation into a mob attack on Ousman Camara, vowing to take the law to anyone found wanting.

A video showing a cruel mob attacking Sierra Leonian Ousman Camara has sparked outrage online. The victim himself alleged it’s UDP supporters who attacked him.

But police have now taken up the issue saying in a statement Tuesday evening: “The Office of The Inspector General of Police has learned with dismay, the unwarranted attack on one Ousman Camara a Sierra Leonean national who frequents the West Field Junction area chanting the name of the President.

“In a video circulating on social media, certain unscrupulous individuals are seen jointly hitting, kicking and violently assaulting him causing injury.

“This ugly and barbaric act is totally condemned and seriously frowned upon as it has no place in any civilized society.

“To this effect, the public is hereby informed that an investigation has been opened and anyone found wanting will be strictly dealt with according to law.

“The public is further advised to report matters to the appropriate authorities for redress and never must they take the law into their own hands.

“The Inspector General’s Office wishes to stress that, in a democratic and pluralistic society, individuals are entitled to their opinions, religious beliefs and political affiliations and therefore, no one deserves to be brutalized for such.

“The Gambia has been known to be a peaceful country which has cordial relations with countries within the sub-region and beyond including Sierra Leone which has strong historical ties with The Gambia. Therefore, no individual or group is allowed to treat citizens of other countries in such inhumane manners.

“Members of the public are urged to volunteer any information that may be useful to the investigation. The cooperation and understanding of the public is highly solicited.”

The Sierra Leonian man who claimed UDP supporters attacked him is mentally unstable and goes about verbally abusing women, according to one person.

There was huge public uproar on Tuesday after a video was shared online showing a man being beaten by a mob. The man spoke in the video saying it was UDP supporters.

One woman who says she had an encounter with the man said he abused her when she sat near him at Westfield.

“He cursed me and said all kinds of bad things to me when I sat near him waiting for someone, I didn’t know he was unstable mentally. It was people who told me he is mentally unstable,” the woman told The Fatu Network.

According to the woman, she knows another woman who the man goes about verbally assaulting whenever he goes past her store.

“I have seen reports that he attacked a lady which caused the boys to beat him. I will not rule that out,” the woman said.

The Gambia suffered a general internet outage on Tuesday causing distress to internet users across the country.

The outage which began early Tuesday afternoon lasted until around 6pm. Service provider Africell sent messages to its customers saying there was a fibre cable cut. The cut apparently caused all services to go down.

One internet user told The Fatu Network: “We’re in the 21^st century yet you have a country that could go for hours without internet which is in fact life.”

Another said: “It was depressing for me. I was always wondering what must have happened online while Gambia was in a complete blackout.”

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has said no one but him will be declared president-elect in December’s presidential election.

Speaking to his supporters over the weekend in New Yundum, Darboe said he has never made such comments.

“I want to assure you this… Wallahi this is not a [political] platform statement. In the past I only say let’s campaign and ensure we win. But what I’m telling you today is that… Anyone who believes the statement fine but also who doesn’t believe it you can leave it but you will see it. On the 5th of December this year, president-elect is going to be Alhaji Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and nobody else,” Darboe said.

But Darboe however called on all UDP supporters to get registered and make sure they vote in the December election.

“Like I told you during the closing of the congress that each and every one of us should look for a voter’s card. When we get it, we should also go after others to make sure they also get a voter’s card and also make sure on the day of voting, the vote is cast for the UDP candidate,” Darboe said.

Three people have died from coronavirus while 49 people tested positive for the disease, the health ministry says.

In its latest report on COVID-19, the health ministry says the country’s coronavirus fatalities has gone up to 131 following the deaths of three people. They’re all men.

According to the ministry, all three had their samples collected and processed posthumously. They’re aged aged 65, 68 and 78 years and had comorbid conditions.

This as the ministry also disclosed 49 new cases were registered bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 4,139.

According to the ministry, all three had their samples collected and processed posthumously. They’re aged 65, 68 and 78 years and had comorbid conditions.

This as the ministry disclosed 49 new cases have been registered bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 4,139. The cases were discovered at various dates beginning January 29.

UDP has issued a statement dismissing claims its supporters descended on a man in one particular act of cruelty.

A video of a man being kicked by a cruel mob was posted to Facebook by Barrow Media Empowerment amid claims it is a UDP mob. The man himself spoke in the video saying ‘I swear it’s UDP people’.

But UDP in a statement said: “It has come to our attention that a video making the rounds on social media purportedly shows an individual being beaten for exercising his democratic right to support a political figure.

“We strongly condemn the unlawful behavior exhibited on the viral video and urge the relevant authorities to mount a thorough and complete investigation into the matters surrounding the incident.

“The UDP also vehemently objects to any insinuation or allegation that the act was politically motivated by supporters of the party. Neither the party nor its supporters have anything to do with the illegal act. The accusation is far from the truth.

“The United Democratic Party is a disciplined organization that has since its inception attached paramount importance to the rule of law, civility, and tolerance in all its activities. No amount of smearing or falsehood can tarnish the good image and record of our party.”

A Sierra Leonian man who is a constant at Westfield, wears President Barrow’s t-shirt and shouts his name in support of the Gambian leader has been attacked by a cruel mob.

In a video that has emerged online, a mob is seen kicking the man as he rolled on the ground in pain. The man later spoke in the video alleging it’s UDP people who attacked him.

“I swear to God they’re UDP,” the man says in the video which was shared online by Barrow Media Empowerment.

Watch video below;;

National Assembly Member for Banjul Touma Njie has announced her candidature for the coveted role of secretary general and party leader of People’s Progressive Party.

PPP announced over the weekend it will hold a congress later this month to choose its new set of leaders.

And Touma Njai in announcing her candidature on Monday said: “I shall be running for the SG and party Leader of the PPP. Vote for change.”

She could be running against current interim leader of the party Kebba Jallow.

By Ousman Jatta

Police chased and apprehended a man after he started a fire at the Bakoteh dumpsite, authorities say.

The unidentified man was arrested on Saturday at around 5:30pm, municipal police commissioner Malamin Ceesay told reporters on Monday.

“He went to a certain point and sat down, took matches and light the area when we were focusing [towards] where the smoke was. After a while, the fire sparked and the suspect ran away. The police chase after the suspect and he was apprehended,” Ceesay told reporters.

Ceesay spoke on Monday alongside KM mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda over the situation of the Bakoteh dumpsite.

According Mayor Bensouda, it has become clear that the Bakoteh dumpsite is a problem “without borders”.

“Last week’s fire reveals that the Bakoteh dump site is a national problem, and if not contain it will cause a big problem in the country,” he said.

The Malaysian High Commissioner to The Gambia Dr Shazelina Zainul Abidin presented copies of her Letters of Credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr Mamadou Tangara in his office in Banjul on Monday.

According to a statement by the foreign ministry, the Government of The Gambia and the Government of Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation for the mutual interest of both countries.

The statement said: “Following exchange of diplomatic pleasantries, Minister Tangara welcomed the Malaysian Diplomat to The Gambia and extended felicitations and best wishes from the President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, to the Prime Minister, Government and people of Malaysia.

“The Honourable Minister used the opportunity to assure Ambassador Zainul Abidin of Gambian support and collaboration in strengthening the excellent bilateral relation between the two countries. The Foreign Minister expressed Gambia’s appreciation to the numerous support rendered to The Gambia especially in the field of education. He informed the Malaysian High Commissioner that The Gambia withheld its hosting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in 2019 due to the situation of the country at the time.

“For her part, the Malaysian High Commissioner to The Gambia Dr. Shazelina Zainul Abidin expressed Malaysia’s resolve to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation with The Gambia in a host of areas notably in capacity building for junior Diplomats and Gambian students aiming for University education in Malaysia. Ambassador Zainul Abidin expressed Malaysia’s readiness in helping The Gambia host a successful OIC summit in 2022.”

Two Gambian women who live in Sweden have been named in a tie-dye fabric scam.

The women whose names are withheld for now allegedly duped African fabric Gambian businesswoman 14 pieces of the ‘Thiob’ tie-dye fabric costing up to $3,000.

One of the women got in touch with the businesswoman over a month ago and told her she is interested in her fabric. She later told the businesswoman her friend is also interested in the fabric. Both later signed papers of receiving the fabric after it got delivered by DHL.

However, the owner of the fabric later got a notification that the women who were supposed to pay with their credit cards filed a claim with their banks saying they did not purchase anything. The women have since black-listed the businesswoman.

“I have not been able to be in contact with any of them,” Basen Jobe, the businesswoman told The Fatu Network.

Attempts to reach the women proved futile.

Jobe’s Dakar-based BelleAfricCreation helps Africans who live in Europe and elsewhere and need African clothing. Customers usually purchase the material online and it gets shipped to them.

The management of singer ST through its publicist Picasso Global Communication has issued a statement over the resolution of the row between the artist and authorities at the Independence Stadium.

The statement reads;

We are pleased to announce that the Dinding Mansa Album launching will proceed on February 6th, 2021 as planned. The challenge we had in relation to the venue – the Independence Stadium, has been resolved amicably following candid and fruitful engagements with relevant stakeholders.

We would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the Management of the Stadium, the Ministry of Youths and Sports, and the entire Gambia government for their cooperation and support.

Special thanks to the fans, well-wishers, fellow artists of ST for their solidarity throughout this difficult period. It means a lot and is hugely appreciated by ST and his management.

The massive public support is demonstrative of the fact that ST is truly a Gambian pride and man of the people – a love affair that stems from years of fidelity to the values of excellence, community service, and selflessness.

It goes without saying that part of the proceeds from the album launching and all other shows are plowed back into our communities through the ST Foundation for Community Development and other private endeavors.

Musician ST met the general manager of the Independence Stadium Ebou Faye on Monday as a bitter row came to a dramatic end.

ST and Ebou Faye have been at war over the past days over the musician’s plan to hold his album launch there this coming Saturday.

“We are pleased to announce that the Dinding Mansa Album launching will proceed on February 6th, 2021 as planned. The challenge we had in relation to the venue – the Independence Stadium, has been resolved amicably following candid and fruitful engagements with relevant stakeholders,” ST’s management said in a statement Monday afternoon.

The statement added: “We would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the Management of the Stadium, the Ministry of Youths and Sports, and the entire Gambia government for their cooperation and support.

“Special thanks to the fans, well-wishers, fellow artists of ST for their solidarity throughout this difficult period. It means a lot and is hugely appreciated by ST and his management.

“The massive public support is demonstrative of the fact that ST is truly a Gambian pride and man of the people – a love affair that stems from years of fidelity to the values of excellence, community service, and selflessness.

“It goes without saying that part of the proceeds from the album launching and all other shows are plowed back into our communities through the ST Foundation for Community Development and other private endeavors.”