Nyang Njie said ‘congratulations in advance Mr President’ as he reacted to claims by the president’s supporters of him already securing the December election.

Gambians will vote in a presidential election in December this year, the first presidential election of the post-Jammeh dictatorship. Supporters of President Barrow who will seek re-election say he will win the election.

“Well, that’s good for him and congratulations in advance Mr President,” commentator Nyang Njie reacting to the claims told The Fatu Network.

The commentator however insisted the president’s ambition when he came to power should have been to unite the country.

He said: “But Mr President, remember from whence you came and what the people of this have done for you. If you do so, you will make sure you find us a bridge for us to cross. President Barrow must have been the one who united the country.

“Why? If you look at the total votes that Kandeh and Jammeh got, this country is highly polarised and highly divided. So his ambition should have been to bring our diverse peoples together. But Gambia more divided today than ever before and I cry in my heart because we suffered so much to get to where we are today.”

Former TRRC deputy executive secretary Musu Bakoto Sawo has emerged winner of the 2020 Daily Trust African of the Year award.

The leading Nigerian daily described Mrs Sawo a Gambian changemaker and tireless women rights advocate who was announced winner on Jan 4, 2020 by a seven-member award selection committee led by the former President of Botswana, His Excellency, Dr. Festus Mogae. It came after rigorous virtual selection meetings which commenced on December 10, 2020.

According to a statement, the 30-year-old lawyer won the 2020 award for “her continuous commitment to ending violence against girls and women including child marriage and female genital mutilation”.

“Married at the age of 14 and widowed at 21 with no inheritance, Musu, who had also gone through female genital mutilation as a child, still strove to earn quality education that has catapulted her to her current position as a university lecturer, who is also striving to address the injustices that women face daily across Africa,” a statement signed by Daily Trust acting CEO Nura Daura said.

The statement added: “She uses her experience in capacity building, research, networking, programme development to engage with human rights mechanisms and grassroots, national, regional and international organisations and platforms. “I say to the girls: come out and be the change that you can be because your children may be victims,” says Musu while explaining her motivation.

“Musu started advocating for girls’ rights at age 9, including against child marriage, which she fell hostage to 5 years later. She lectures at the Faculty of Law, University of The Gambia (in international human rights law).

“National Coordinator for Think Young Women, she is a recipient of the 2017 Vera Chirwa Award (from the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. South Africa; recognized as one of the 100 most influential young persons in West Africa by the Confederation of West African Youths in 2018; and a recipient of ‘Inspiring Gambian Award 2018’ by the People’s Choice Award for Excellence in The Gambia.

“A key consideration for Musu Bakoto Sawo’s selection was that in this period of COVID-19, women have been particularly impacted negatively, especially during the lockdown when a lot of husbands lost their jobs, resulting in, among other tendencies, domestic violence in the homes. So, with Musu championing the rights of women in any part of Africa, which is largely a traditional society, she is deemed to be promoting a great cause, and therefore found worthy of selection for the award.

“Chairman of the selection committee, His Excellency Mogae said ‘Musu Bakoto deserves the award for her continuous work to end violence against girls and women, including child marriage and female genital mutilation’. He congratulated her for emerging the winner of the prestigious Daily Trust African of the Year Award for 2020. The award comes with a cash prize of $10,000. The presentation of the award will be done sometime in March, this year, in Banjul, The Gambia.”

The Prime Minister of India will today launch what’s dubbed the world’s largest Covid 19 vaccination drive, based on the principles of priority groups to be vaccinated. Health Care workers, both in government and private sectors including ICDS workers, will receive the vaccine during this phase. Below is a Press Release from the Office of The Prime Minister;
…………………………………………

– PM to launch Pan India Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccination drive on 16 January –

– Over 3000 sites across all States and UTs to be virtually connected during the launch –

– Around 100 beneficiaries to be vaccinated at each site on the inaugural day –

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch the pan India rollout of COVID-19 vaccination drive on 16th January, 2021 at 10:30 AM via video conferencing. This will be the world’s largest vaccination program covering the entire length and breadth of the country. A total of 3006 session sites across all States and UTs will be virtually connected during the launch. Around 100 beneficiaries will be vaccinated at each session site on the inaugural day.

This vaccination programme is based on the principles of priority groups to be vaccinated and Health Care workers, both in government and private sectors including ICDS workers, will receive the vaccine during this phase.

The vaccination programme will use Co-WIN, an online digital platform developed by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which will facilitate real time information of vaccine stocks, storage temperature and individualized tracking of beneficiaries for COVID-19 vaccine. This digital platform will assist programme managers across all levels while conducting vaccination sessions.

A dedicated 24×7 call centre – 1075 – has also been established for addressing the queries related to COVID_19 pandemic, vaccine rollout and the Co-Win software.
Adequate doses of both COVISHIELD and COVAXIN have already been delivered across the country to all States/UTs with the active support of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. These have been further delivered by the State/UT governments to the districts. All preparations are in place to initiate the programme on the principles of Jan Bhagidari.

Ends

Three samples of ice cream from a Chinese company tested positive for COVID-19, and thousands of boxes of the dessert have been confiscated as a result.

The contaminated ice cream caused Tianjin Daqiaodao Food Company to dump 2,089 boxes of the product, although officials believe more than double that amount — 4,836 boxes — has been contaminated, Sky News reported.

More than half the total boxes had already been distributed for sale when the positive tests were discovered. Market regulation authorities in other provinces outside Tianjin where the ice cream was sent were notified of the issue, and customers who may have purchased the product are being told to report their health to community officials.

According to the report, 1,662 employees were tested at the company Thursday and were quarantining.

Officials believe the coronavirus was able to survive in the ice cream due to the cold temperature and was likely transferred from a person who had the disease.

Dr. Stephen Griffin, a virologist based at the University of Leeds, told Sky News the instance of contamination was likely a “one-off” and not indicative of a broader issue with the plant itself. (Fox News)

By Lamin Njie

The country’s former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has been listed alongside seven others for AU deputy chairperson role.

The African Union in a letter to member states in September 2020 announced its elections for chairperson and deputy chairperson roles to be held during the 34th ordinary session of the AU assembly later this month and into next month.

In the letter, the African Union listed Mousa Faki Mahamat who is the union’s current chairperson as eligible for re-election.

The deputy chairperson role will be up for grabs with eight candidates including former vice president of The Gambia Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang vying for the coveted role.

Jallow Tambajang will battle it out with the likes of Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee of Ghana, South Africa’s Ndumiso Ndima Ntshinga and Rwanda’s Dr Nsanzabaganwa Monique. Others in the race are Hasna Barkat Daoud of Djibouti, Awale Ali Kullane of Somalia, Edward Maloka of South Africa and Pamela Kasabiiti Mbabazi of Uganda.

Meanwhile in her manifesto seen by The Fatu Network, Mrs Jallow Tambajang said one of her top first priorities would be to strengthen the Office of the DCP to become a centre of excellence for accountable and quality service deliver which entails “to critically assess, harness, and maximise staff capacity, ensure professional ethics, merit-based professional rewards, and policy compliance”.

Who’s Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang?

Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang is the former Vice President of The Gambia with a vast leadership background of over 35 years across Africa and the globe under her belt.

She was the nation’s Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs, Chairperson of the National Women’s Council and Women’s Representative to The Gambia National Economic and Social Council, under former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.

She also served as former UNDP Chief Technical Adviser on Gender and Policy Reforms to enforce of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and UN Resolution 1325.

Her other appointments include UNV/UNDP Adviser on Gender, Health and Population in Liberia; UNDP Gambia Financial Manager.

Jallow Tambajang in 2016 spearheaded a massive negotiation effort which saw her bring the country’s opposition together. The seven-party coalition went on to win the December 1, 2016 presidential election and end the 22-year-rule of former dictator Yahya Jammeh.

Jallow Tambajang is fluent in both English and French.

Uganda’s long-time President Yoweri Museveni has been re-elected, electoral officials say, amid accusations of vote rigging by his main rival Bobi Wine.

Mr Museveni won almost 59% of the vote, with Mr Wine trailing with about 35%, the Electoral Commission said.

Mr Wine, a former pop star, earlier vowed to provide evidence of fraud. The Electoral Commission denies there was vote-rigging in Thursday’s poll.

Poll monitors have criticised the government closure of internet access.

The say this undermined confidence. Mr Wine said he would provide evidence of fraud once the internet was restored. (BBC)

The government on Tuesday 12 January issued an international warrant of arrest for suspected cocaine trafficker Banta Keita.

Authorities are looking for Keita, 36, over cocaine seized at the port late last week. Over two tons of cocaine worth over four billion dalasis was seized in a discovery that has left the nation stunned.

According to government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh on Friday, the government on Tuesday 12 January issued an international bench warrant for the main suspect, Mr. Banta Keita.

He said: “On the request of The Gambia Government, an Interpol “Red Notice” was issued on 14th January 2021 for the worldwide arrest of Mr. Keita, born 2nd January 1984 in Passamas, Upper River Region in The Gambia. Keita also holds French nationality.

“Mr. Keita and his suspected local accomplice Mr Sheriff Njie, born on 6th April 1977, were charged by the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on three counts of Aggravated Drug Trafficking, Dealing in Prohibited Drugs and Conspiracy. While Mr. Keita remains at large, Mr. Njie is remanded at the Mile II Central Prisons in Banjul.

“The public is hereby warned that Mr. Banta Keita is currently a fugitive from justice and any person caught aiding, colluding with or harboring him, will be dealt with according to law.

“Citizens and residents are urged to comply with this notice and report any developments related to Mr. Banta Keita’s situation to the nearest law enforcement agencies or local authorities.”

President Adama Barrow has asked the nation’s security service chiefs to put together a taskforce over last week’s cocaine bust, according to the government spokesperson.

DLEAG last week seized over two tons of cocaine at the port worth an eye-watering four billion dalasis.

According to government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh on Friday, President Barrow during Monday’s National Security Council (NSC) briefing directed The Gambia’s security chiefs to “immediately constitute a multi-agency taskforce that shall conduct a robust, thorough and impartial investigation into the case and ensure that all legal means are utilized in bringing the culprits to justice”.

President Barrow unequivocally condemned drug abuse and trafficking, and declared zero tolerance for traffickers, according to Sankareh.

“Mr. Barrow reiterated his government’s continuous commitment and unflinching support to the Drug Law Enforcement Agency(DLEA) as well as his resolve to fight the drug menace. As a signatory to all major United Nations Drug Conventions and the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, The Gambia Government will strengthen the DLEAG in its crusade against drug traffickers,” Sankareh said in a statement.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced a ban on the importation of chicken from Senegal as the country battles H5N1 bird flu which has caused the death of thousands of chicken in the country.

According to a statement, the ban would be in place until such a time that the disease has been fully brought under control.

The statement said: “Pursuant to the public notification of a reported outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)/Bird Flu of the type H5N1 on the 7th January 2021 in our neighbour Republic of Senegal by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and the Ministry of Health through its Epidemiology & Disease Control Unit (EDC) joined by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and Department of Parks and wildlife Management (DPWM) under the Ministry of Environment, the national taskforce composed of EDC, NDMA, and DPWM and led by DLS has invoked the Integrated National Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Avian & Human Influenza (AHI) (2015-2019) for the implementation of the necessary response activities to address the risk posed by the presence of the virus in Senegal and to continue with efforts to further secure its absence in The Gambia.

“The Ministry of Agriculture through the Department of Livestock Services, guided by the response activities stipulated in the Integrated National Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Avian & Human Influenza, is imposing a ban with immediate effect on the importation on live poultry birds of all ages and all poultry products including chicken meat, eggs etc. from Senegal and all other countries currently experiencing HPAI H5A1 outbreak. Importers of live poultry birds and poultry products are therefore advised to source these only from countries currently not affected by HPAI.

“This ban will be effective until such time when the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Senegalese authorities confirm that the outbreak is completely contained, and new cases of the disease have not occurred in Senegal. The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Avian Influenza taskforce recognizes that this ban may cause a temporary unfavorable shortage of chicks and poultry products in The Gambia but implores every citizen to abide by the ban since Bird Flu is a highly contagious viral disease with a significant zoonotic risk and a major global public health concern and potential pandemic similar to Covid-19 or even worse.”

A Sukuta family is seeking help from members of the public in finding their loved one who they have not seen for days.

Albert Sambou has been suffering from amnesia for the past six years and left home on Monday 11th January between 7am and 8am and couldn’t be found since then, according to his son Chris Sambou.

“He was last seen around the sukuta traffic lights. He’s in his late 60s. He’s in the same outfit as in the photo,” his son said.

Should anyone know about his whereabouts or see him, kindly contact 3743311 / 9279590 / 2513104.

The man who calls himself a prophet in Senegal and set tongues wagging after claiming he was ordered to invoke God’s name in Fula has been arrested.

Senego reported on Thursday Baba Malabe was arrested for allegedly marrying an underage girl. He faces child abuse and paedophilia charges.

The prophet was reported to authorities by people from a neighbouring village. He was arrested at his village in Sare Ngange and kept at Senegalese gendarmerie camp in Kolda.

Baba Malabe Mbacke Rouhou Lahi stunned Senegal and The Gambia when he proclaimed himself a prophet.

He said he received an order to pray in Fula alongside his scripture dubbed Jam Jam Padarr.

The Minister of Health Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has confirmed that the highly contagious UK coronavirus variant has been seen in The Gambia.

“As we speak we have been notified of two UK variant in the country now. However we are delighted to say they have been picked up early. They were one of those who were tested on arrival and one of them was asymptomatic and they realised he was infected by a person who came from UK,” Dr Samateh told lawmakers led by Banjul North MP Ousman Sillah during an emergency session on Thursday.

The variant has left scientist and healthcare experts in UK scratching their heads as it sweeps through the country.

The variant contains 17 mutations and appears more transmissible and harder to control in terms of spread, according to scientists.

A herder who chopped off the thumb of a farmer last month in Sare Yero Glory village in CRR has pleaded guilty to the savagery.

Abdourahman Ngim pleaded guilty to the offence of causing grievous bodily harm to Amadou Touray by deploying a cutlass to his hand, according to The Point.

A quarrel broke out between the men after Ngim’s cattle entered the farm of Touray; the former then chopped the thumb of Touray with a cutlass during a scuffle, The Point reported on Friday. Ngim committed the crime on December 11 and he pleaded guilty when the charge was read out to him.

Bansang Magistrates Court Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang fine the violent man D5000 in default to serve a two-year jail term. He also ordered Ngim to pay D50,000 to Touray or do three years in prison, according to The Point.

GMC leader Mai Fatty has recollected the moment he offered ‘compelling’ ultimatum to former President Yahya Jammeh to step down.

Jammeh sparked a month-long impasse in 2016 when he refused to step down after losing the presidential election. Ecowas then sent heavily armed soldiers to yank him out of office, a move that saw him flee to Equatorial Guinea.

And Mai Fatty on Friday took a trip down memory lane on his contribution towards the ultimate defenestration of the dictator.

He wrote: ” Exactly four years ago today, the decision for military intervention to forcibly remove Jammeh by ECOWAS leaders was sealed at this meeting in Bamako, Mali, attended by President-elect Barrow and myself. The meeting was chaired by the Ecowas Authority Chairperson at the time, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, at the fringes of the Franco-African Summit.

“Acting the functions of foreign minister in the shuttle diplomacy within the Region & ensuing diplomatic negotiations at the time, I feel honoured to have played a leading exclusive role in this historic decsion, to enforce the electoral victory of 2nd December 2016.

“President Alpha Condé of Guinea was tasked with transmitting the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States’ decision to Jammeh, to prepare for war against the Region if he refused to cede power by January 19th 2017. Few days later, I addressed a packed hall filled of the international press for the second time outside The Gambia at a special media event during the diplomacy.

“There, I offered a compelling ultimatum to Jammeh to step down and cede power: arrest, prosecution and imprisonment or face the ultimate terminal penalty. ECOWAS military intervention was intended to be very swift, decisive, and totally comprehensive.”

A Gambian has alleged authorities in Germany have arrested him and taken him to a deportation centre.

In an audio message, the Gambian is heard saying his legs were shackled and put in a vehicle with authorities telling him he will be deported at the end of the month. He is speaking in Mandinka in the audio.

The audio was posted to Facebook by Germany-based activist Yahya Sonko on Thursday. The Fatu Network could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio.

Listen to audio below;

President Adama Barrow has thanked Gambians in the diaspora for their patriotism, immense financial input and other development contributions.

The Fourth Stake in the Nation Forum (SNF4) was held last week where Central Bank governor Buah Saidy revealed 29.6 billion dalasis was what Gambians in the diaspora sent back as remittance.

At the event, President Barrow spoke through Vice President Dr Isatou Touray acknowledged that despite their contributions, the diaspora face difficulties in acquiring relevant documentation from agents of government in “pursuing ventures, projects and programmes”.

He however said, according to a statement by SNF4: “Through the Office of the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, we will redouble our efforts to resolve implementation bottlenecks and operational challenges.

The president added, according to the statement: “I renew the government’s commitment to work closely with the MSDG project and others, to facilitate expanded and enhanced diaspora contributions.”

Gambia For All has said it is alarmed and concerned that the nation is ‘seemingly’ transitioning into becoming the Narco State of the subregion.

There has been shock and alarm among Gambians following the discovery of over two tons of cocaine at the port late last week.

GFA in a statement said: “As responsible citizens, we can no longer ignore frequent revelations of illicit drugs seized at our land and sea ports, much more in our neighborhoods.

“The hard working officers of the National Drug Law enforcement agency (DLEAG) appear to be overwhelmed by the constant challenge to their operational integrity by highly sophisticated international drug trafficking syndicates.

“Make no mistake about this, dangerous drug trafficking and associated criminality poses an existential threat to our very survival as a nation state. The drug trafficking syndicates have no moral ambivalence about hijacking institutionally weak states and wreak havoc on a helpless population.

“GFA has indicated on numerous occasions that it will wage a relentless war on corruption, and this will be escalated to an even greater battle against international drugs trafficking.

“The war against illicit drugs cannot be left to officers of the NDEAG, often under-resourced for the enormity of the task they are being asked to undertake. The political class must come out to strongly condemn the infiltration of drug traffickers in our country.

“In particular, the government at the highest levels must declare a zero tolerance policy for drug trafficking. There can be no equivocation on this matter to avoid accusations of complicity.”

By Sarjo Brito

The Citizens’ Alliance party on Thursday January 14th, 2021, held their second monthly press briefing to share information with the public and to state their position on some of the recent happenings the country is grappling with, particularly issues of national interest.

Addressing the recent voter registration postponement by the Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Ceesay challenged the IEC to make it clear what logistical reasons led to the indefinite postponement of this crucial process.

‘’What is important for us as a party and as citizens is that elections are no jokes. They are life and death issues. They are about democracy, peace, security and stability, and therefore we must get it right. We urge the IEC to make sure whatever they do, they do it right,” Dr Ceesay said at a news conference held in Kanifing.

Sharing his thoughts on what many call the biggest drug seizure in the history of the Gambia, Dr Ceesay said The Gambia has become one of the biggest transits and storage points for drugs. While he admitted that the issue of drugs has increasingly become a regional problem, it should a cause for concern for the Gambia considering how small the country is.

“For the Gambia as small as it is, for us to be having this amount of drugs into our country is a serious cause for concern,” he said.

And like many other politicians and Gambians outraged about the drug scandal, Dr Ceesay called for an urgent investigation into the matter and bring whoever is found culpable before the law.

“Our position is clear. We strongly urge government to investigate this drug issue and make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice and set a very good example. Failing to do so and letting people go scot-free will cause impunity,” the former UTG political science lecturer said.

The Presidential aspirant also touched on other issues like the recent maternal deaths in the country, urging government to invest more in the health sector.

A deadly bird disease has broken out in Senegal killing thousands of the country’s chicken, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.

H5N1 bird flu has caused the death of 58,000 chicken in Thies, Senegal with another 42,000 subjected to enforced slaying to stop the disease from spreading.

The National Disaster Management Agency will hold a press conference in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture through the Department of Livestock Services and the Ministry of Health thought its Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit.

The news conference will be held on Friday Jan 15.