Guinea President Alpha Conde has accepted his party’s nomination to run in October’s election, the party said on Monday, taking advantage of a new constitution to seek a third term that his opponents say is unconstitutional.

Conde, who was first elected in 2010, pushed through a change to the constitution that was approved by a referendum in March that was boycotted by the opposition. Talk of a potential third term sparked widespread protests that have killed at least 30 people over the past year.

Conde’s supporters say the constitutional change acts as a reset button on the two-term limit.

The ruling Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) nominated Conde earlier this month to represent it in the Oct. 18 poll. At the time, Conde said he took note of the nomination, but he stopped short of formally accepting it.

“We have the immense privilege and joy of informing the Guinean population that (Conde) has granted our request: President Alpha Conde will be our candidate,” the RPG and allied parties said in statement read on national television.

Conde is a longtime opposition leader whose election raised hopes for democratic progress. But his efforts to stay in power have raised concerns Guinea will go the way of other African countries whose rulers have refused to step down long after their mandates expired.

Guinea is Africa’s largest producer of the main aluminium ore, bauxite. It also has significant reserves of iron ore, including the massive Simandou reserve, the largest known deposit of its kind with more than 2 billion tonnes of high-grade ore. (Reuters)

Madi Jobarteh on Tuesday appeared elated as he announced he has tested negative for coronavirus.

“I Am COVID Free! Alhamdulilah,” Mr Jobarteh wrote Tuesday.

He quickly added: “Text from Ministry of Health: “Your Covid19 test performed in Western 1 is Negative”.

“Thank you all for your prayers, best wishes & guidance! The task of nation building continues unabated! Forward…”

Mr Jobarteh last month announced he tested positive for coronavirus and had been on self-isolation.

By AP

American R&B singer Akon says construction will begin next year on his $6 billion plan to build a futuristic pan-African city in Senegal.

Akon first announced his idea for the utopian city, dubbed “Akon City”, back in 2018. The project has been described as a “real-life Wakanda,” comparing it to the technologically advanced fictional African place portrayed in the blockbuster film “Black Panther.”

On Monday, Akon said he hoped his project would provide much-needed jobs for Senegalese and also serve as a “home back home” for Black Americans and others facing racial injustices.

“The system back home treats them unfairly in so many different ways that you can never imagine. And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way,” he said.

“So if you’re coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop.”

Akon, who was born in the United States to Senegalese parents, spent much of his childhood in the West African country.

On Monday, he traveled with government officials to the grassy fields in Mbodienne some 100 kilometers (62 miles) outside the capital where construction has yet to begin.

Tourism Minister Alioune Sarr said Akon’s launch comes at a time when private investment is scarce and badly needed. International flights have resumed in Senegal, but at the moment are only for citizens and residents with a few exceptions.

Akon said the project already has secured about one-third of the $6 billion needed, but declined to publicly identify his investors, citing non-disclosure agreements. After construction begins in early 2021, the first phase of the project alone could take more than three years, he said.

Akon City is promising a bit of everything: a seaside resort, a tech hub, recording studios and even a zone dubbed “Senewood” that developers hope will help develop Senegal’s film industry.

Plans eventually call for Akon City to have its own hospital, police station and even its own cryptocurrency already named AKoin. Without giving specifics, the singer also said he’s considering franchising the concept to other countries on the continent.

Gambia Democratic Congress will scrap Police Intervention Unit when it takes power, according to the party’s manifesto.

GDC over the weekend launched its website and manifesto as the party stepped up preparations ahead of next year’s presidential elections.

According to the party’s manifesto, the PIU will be “abolish[ed], the police forces to be localised under the umbrella of local government”, once it comes to power.

The party said elsewhere in the manifesto, about the police: “A GDC government will provide: first class training to our police forces to enhance their knowledge in policing by consent, meanwhile empower the communities to work with the police forces as stakeholders and partners in keeping communities safe for everyone.

“Community groups, civil society and other stakeholders shall be given seats in newly establish local Safeguarding boards. The Safeguarding board shall comprise of the respective positions in each administrative area, police chief, major or mayoress, Chief/Alkalo, NAMs representing the area and civil society groups base in the area. These boards shall hold quarterly meetings about keeping the administrative area safe.”

Gambian women in Lebanon have asked the governemnt to stay off their business as they also slam members of the public that are attacking them.

The distressed women are pushing to return to the country as the continue to face hardship in Lebanon.

The women came out on the streets in Beirut on Monday to say they were forced to sign a fake declaration by the government.

One of them said in videos shared with The Fatu Network: “We want to tell Gambians we asked for help from the government. For nine months we have been in this country suffering. Nobody helped us. We then went to Facebook where we shared our video and Lovette Jallow came forward to help us to go back to Gambia.

“We came here for work, nobody came here for play, nobody came here for sex work. There is a lot of talk, everyone speaking their mind. We are tired. You should leave us alone. Whether it’s Saikou Ceesay and his kind, you guys should leave us alone. We now have someone who’s standing up for us.

“We didn’t come here for sex work. If it comes to sex work, it’s rampant in Gambia. Is it not sex workers that built storey houses? Is it not sex workers that are driving cars? We are living in poverty even food is a problem and we came here to live by out sweat and there is a lot of dirty talk. Keep your dirty talks to yourselves.”

Sixty-six new cases of coronavirus have been registered taking the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 3,029.

The health ministry said today 66 people out of 319 people has tested positive for the killer virus.

This represents a 20.7% test positivity rate, the health ministry said adding the median age of the new cases is 38 years (range: 19 to 89 years).

The Government said late Monday it is pleased to announce that Finance Minister, Mambury Njie and colleague, Energy Minister, Fafa Sanyang, have fully recovered from the Covid-19 Virus after their repeat tests turned negative.

“Accordingly, both ministers have since been discharged and can report to work as they are both well and asymptomatic,” government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said in a statement.

He added: “It can be recalled that both ministers tested positive after taking the COVID-19 test on August 1st 2020.

“Subsequently, Hon. Fafa Sanyang tested negative after a repeat test on 8th August 2020 and Hon Mambury Njie tested negative after a repeat test conducted on 22nd August 2020.

“Hon Sanyang was discharged on the 15th August, 2020 while Hon Njie was discharged on the 23rd August, 2020.

“The Gambia Government urges members of the public to continue following the Regulations outlined by The Health Ministry and World Health Organization on the Covid-19 pandemic. Hand washing, face covering, social distancing and limited social gatherings are the new norm and all are encouraged to follow.”

Forty doctors and eleven nurses at the Kanifing General Hospital have been trained coronavirus prevention and control amid plans to convert the largest hospital in Kanifing Municipality into a coronavirus treatment centre.

The hospital wrote on its official Facebook page on Monday: “Following the announcement by the Ministry of Health to re-purpose Kanifing General Hospital to a COVID-19 Treatment Center, the Hospital Management in collaboration with partners conducted two major trainings on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and COVID-19 Case Management.

“A total of forty doctors and eleven nurses received intensive training of IPC and Case Management.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr. Sunkaru Touray and his team and Dr. Darwin Pardon Gomez- Critical Care Physician/Intensivist at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.”

The government has dismissed claims it is working with Lovette Jallow and her Action for Humanity NGO over the repatriation of distressed Gambian women in Lebanon.

Lovette Jallow had last week claimed the government has agreed to work with her in getting the women back to The Gambia.

“The Government of The Gambia is neither working with her nor working against her,” spokesperson Saikou Ceesay told The Standard.

He refused to give any further details, The Standard reported further.

It comes a day after the women accused the government through its consulate in Beirut of making them sign a fake declaration in their bid to return home. The foreign ministry spokesperson Saikou Ceesay ignored requests for comment from The Fatu Network.

Upper River Region governor Fanta Bojang Samateh Manneh has been redeployed to the ministry of interior as deputy permanent secretary for Admin and Finance, according to GRTS.

Bojang Samateh Manneh has been URR governor since 2018.

According to GRTS on Monday, the local government official has been deployed to the Ministry of The Interior, as Deputy Permament Secretary, Admin and Finance.

She is replaced by Samba Bah who served as her deputy during her time as Governor, GRTS said.

A The Fatu Network reader has slammed the police accusing them of freeing thieves if they are taken to them.

Lamin Jaiteh said: “Personally was a victim of thievery in my compound sometimes back. I refused people to deal with the thief and drove him to the police station. The following morning I went there to give my statement only to find out that the guy have been released.

“I was made to understand that the guy is not well and due to covid 19, the police release him. What do you expect if it happens to me again. Of course to deal with the thief mercilessly.

“Our problem with the thieves are the law enforcement officers. If you hand over the thieves to any police stations nowadays, the guy may leave you lingering in the police station while he will be stealing somewhere. Can you imagine.”

His comments come as police announced the arrest of a mob that mercilessly dealt with an alleged thief in URR.

The police said such barbaric act has no place in any civilized society and of course not in the Gambia.

Sixty-eight people have newly tested positive for coronavirus taking the number of cases to 2,963.

According to the health ministry, 199 people underwent coronavirus testing and 68 of them tested positive.

This represents a 34.2% test positivity rate, according to the ministry adding those that tested positive are between the ages of 4 to 78 years.

Gambia Democratic Congress has launched its website and manifesto 15 months to presidential elections.

The party launched its website at a subdued ceremony held at its HQ in Latrikunda Sabiji on Sunday.

“We recognise your relevance in the politics and development of all nations but due to the Covid-19 rules and social distancing, we limit the numbers for a low key inauguration,” the party’s MC Cham Jnr said while regretting not inviting all of the nation’s media.

The party’s website address is www.gdc.gm

Police on Sunday railed at an act of savagery meted out to a man after he was accused of being a thief.

A video emerged this weekend online of a man tied to a tree and being tortured during an interrogation session by a mob. The incident reportedly happened in URR.

Police released a statement Sunday saying: “The Inspector General’s Office hereby notifies the public that it’s officers in Basse area have followed up on a video circulating on social media, in which a guy speaking in the fula dialect was tied with a rope on a tree and tortured for allegedly stealing cattle.

“Such barbaric act has no place in any civilized society and of course not in the Gambia.

“While the alleged offence is under investigation, the public is informed that all the perpetrators of the torture are currently under police custody being processed for prosecution.

“Members of the public are strongly cautioned to desist from taking the law into their own hands and report all crime related matters to the police for appropriate actions.

“The usual cooperation and understanding of the public is highly solicited.”

It comes a day after Madi Jobarteh called on the police to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

“Wherever this happened in the Gambia must be investigated by the IGP so that the torturers are brought to justice ASAP. Mob justice is criminal and illegal,” Mr Jobarteh had said.

Gambian girls in Beirut set to return to the country have claimed the government has taken advantage of their desperation to leave Lebanon by making them sign a misleading declaration. Below is a screenshot photo of the letter.

By Lamin Njie

Staff of Africmed will on Monday protest in front of the facility over the non-renewal of the contracts of three employees.

Africmed was locked in a bitter war with its staff after the clinic slashed their salary by 25 percent. The staff then launched a fightback that caused the clinic to capitulate and restore their salary.

The staff have said they will now go on to protest over the redundancy of three of their compatriots.

In letters seen by The Fatu Network, Amadou Sanyang, Landing Jaiteh and Ambrose Bangura are seen being told by the clinic through hospital administrator Modou Sise that it has no intention to extend their contracts. They’re then asked to return all hospital property.

The staff will on Monday protest in front of the hospital in Brusubi.

Hospital administrator Modou Sise said he could not comment on the laying off of the three staff as it was an internal matter. He then blasted that no one was stopping the staff from protesting.

By Lamin Njie

Top medical facility Africmed has back-pedalled on a move to cut the salary of its staff by 25 percent after it was challenged by the staff.

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown Africmed into financial turmoil and the clinic in a bid to get by slashed the salary of its staff by 25 percent.

In a 19 August memo seen by The Fatu Network, the management of the clinic is seen regretting cutting the salary of the staff earning more than D5,000 while indicating the monies would be paid back.

Some staff that spoke to The Fatu Network said the decision was taken without their consent. They also said they’d written to the clinic’s administrator and threatened to stage a strike on Monday if their monies are not given to them.

The clinic’s administrator Modou Sise told The Fatu Network coronavirus informed the move.

“This was applied due to some financial difficulties the institution is facing and any deductions was to be paid back in due course,” he said.

He added: “However, management met on Friday and it was announced that all deductions will be refunded on Monday latest.

“The CEO has sent a message to all staff that they should see the finance manager to get their monies refunded and has apologised for inconveniences caused to the staff and their family.”

Fatou Camara II

Gambian girls in Beirut set to return to the country have claimed the government has taken advantage of their desperation to leave Lebanon by making them sign a misleading declaration.

Tens of Gambian girls that travelled to Lebanon for greener pastures have been scrambling to return home after coronavirus ensured all didn’t go as planned for them in the Middle East nation. A lot of them have lost their jobs and some told The Fatu Network they are struggling to get even food to eat.

A concerned Gambian then rushed to their aid as they called on the government to help them return to the country.

Lovette Jallow and the Gambia government have however struggled to get along as the government has accused the activist of using the plight of the girls for monetary gains. The government also accused Lovette of tarnishing its image. Lovette has pushed back at the claims as false.

Last week, Lovette paid the air ticket of 38 of the girls after the government through its consulate in Beirut finally released their passports.

The girls have now railed that the government has made them sign a misleading repatriation declaration.

One who spoke on behalf of the women told The Fatu Network: “The information on the repatriation letter is not our words. We were asked to signed that misleading letter if we want to come back home, so we had no choice but to sign it. But those are not our words.

“The worst is it was not indicated in the letter that Lovette Jallow paid for our tickets and nothing was included as to why we chose Lovette over the government , this is not fair . We are not happy about the actions of the government.”

The Fatu Network saw a copy of the declaration of one of the girls and in it, the girl is seen admitting she doesn’t want the government to assist her return home and that she lived in Lebanon for two years illegally.

Minstry of foreign affairs spokesperson Saikou Ceesay ignored requests for comment.

By CGTN Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said on Saturday the leader of the yet to be formed Transitional government will not be allowed to run in the country’s next elections.

A declaration by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government urged the military junta which has remained in power since the ouster of President Ibrahim Boubacar to transfer power to a civilian-led transitional government.

The body said the transitional government will remain in power for one year, after which national elections will be held.

In the declaration, ECOWAS said the leader of the transitional government should be someone “known for his/her professional qualities as well as intellectual and moral probity.”

“The Transition President will not stand as a candidate in the next presidential election,” it added.

The latest development comes after the regional body said earlier this week it would also consider a transitional government led by a retired army officer.

ECOWAS deployed a mediation team to Mali last weekend in search of a peaceful solution to the political crisis there following the ouster of president Ibrahim Keita last week.

Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were arrested alongside other government officials after the military took power on 18 August following weeks of protests in the West African country. They were released earlier this week.

ECOWAS led other countries and organizations in condemning the ouster, but thousands of Malians later took to the streets to show their support for it.

Not-for-profit organisation Side By Side on Saturday left a green mark on Yundum Barracks Upper Basic School following a tree planting exercise.

“This project furthers our goal in environment by promoting green initiatives that strengthen sustainable development,” the group said of the exercise on its official Facebook page Saturday.

The initiative came amid a partnership between Side By Side, the Gambia Armed Forces through its Education Unit and Earth Network The Gambia.

“We thank the GAF Education Unit and Earth Network The Gambia for partnering with us on this project,” Side By Side said.