Foreign minister Dr Mamadou Tangara on Monday 4 May addressed Non-Aligned Movement member states during a virtual summit where he declared: ‘we are in this together’.

NAM is an international organisation dedicated to representing the interests and aspirations of developing countries. It has 125 members.

The foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday: “The special online summit of the heads of States and Government of Non-Aligned Movement member states was convened at the initiative of His Excellency Mr. llham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan.

“Dr. Tangara who was part of 45 speakers who made statements at the summit called for concerted efforts in the fight against COVID-19. He maintains that: “No one is safe until when everyone is safe. We are in this together. Viruses have no respect for borders.”

“Foreign Minister Tangara used the opportunity to inform the summit that The Gambia currently registered seventeen (17) cases, one death and nine treated and discharged. He revealed to the summit that The Gambia has taken the following measures to fight coronavirus pandemic; upgrading the health care services, provision of social support and security enforcement; assessment of COVID-19 holding centres across the country completed with one thousand hospital beds being prepared in case of mass escalation of infections; food stock available for public consumption and distributed to the vulnerable members of the population; significant numbers of prisoners were pardoned in the spirit of decongesting the prison and social distancing to avoid infections; [and] massive testing campaign being conducted in the country.

“Dr. Tangara said in light of COVID-19, The Gambia continues to struggle with high debt burden, drastic reduction of tourism and remittances and also anticipating potential decline in agricultural activity. He said the current plight prepares ground for food insecurity adding that recovery process could be slow, painful and hard.

“He used the summit to calls for debt relief which according to him is one of the major avenues to enable developing countries cope with the burden of COVID-19. He further extended gratitude and appreciation for the steps taken by IMF, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank, G7, G20 and the European Union towards debt cancellation.

“He said beside the adverse socio-economic impact COVID-19 would have on societies, he thus called for the strengthening of global health systems and multilateral institutions.

“At the conclusion of the summit, Non-Aligned Movement member states adopted a declaration amongst which is the establishment the Non-Aligned Movement Taskforce. The said Taskforce which will be tasked to work-out a database that will include the basic humanitarian, medical needs and requirements of NAM member states, which will be submitted by the Chairman to all donor countries, International Humanitarian Organisations, Transnational Private Entities implementing social responsibility projects and others for possible support and assistance.”

By Sarjo Brito

The deputy spokesman of the opposition Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction has told The Fatu Network during an exclusive interview that he believes Gambia has no COVID-19 cases.

Dodou Jah accused Government of making what he described as ‘fake cases’ in order to access funds from the international community. The wild allegations did not stop there as Jah alleged Gambia’s first reported coronavirus death was in fact due to pneumonia and not COVID-19. Jah argued the preacher could not have died of the virus as all the people he met tested negative.

“Somebody who travelled from Bangladesh with a group of people, through Mali to Senegal, interacting with people through preaching. All those people were tested but came back negative. But the guy was positive and died, let them show us the proof,” he said.

He has also criticized the massive sample testing at the Bakau community centre after five new cases were confirmed by the ministry on Saturday.

“They are just adding up their numbers, to keep it long and make more money. They are going around asking people to come out so they can be tested. The other cases we had, where were they detected? Why are they not doing mass testing in those communities? Those people also belong to communities. What happened to the people they interacted with? It does not add up’’.

Conspiracy theories, false claims, a deadly virus and a fight by government to contain it; the coronavirus pandemic has surely been accompanied with an outbreak of misinformation and wild accusations around the world and The Gambia is no exception.

The European Union (EU) is reinforcing its Technical Assistance to The Gambia, with an additional financial support of 550,000 Euro (around 30 million Dalasi). This is another move in support to Government’s efforts to tackle the covid-19 crisis, and to address the main democratic transition challenges ahead in 2020-2021 This complements the donation of 9 million Euro (around 500 million dalasi) of Budget Support to help the country to implement its responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This additional assistance is another contribution by Team Europe in addressing the socio-economic consequences of the covid-19 in The Gambia. At the same time it reflects the European Union constant attachment to democratic transition. 2020 and 2021 will be decisive years for The Gambia. The EU will be there and stand firm in its support” says Ambassador Attila LAJOS, the EU Head of Delegation in The Gambia.

The EU is refocusing and strengthening the ongoing Technical Assistance under its first State-Building Contract with The Gambia on the immediate needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, in the areas of Public Financial Management, Statistical Reform, Business Environment and Security Sector Reform.

The experts funded under this project assist the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, the Gambia Public Procurement Authority, The Gambian Bureau of Statistics, and the National Security Adviser Office

The initial budget of this project was 2,5 million Euro (around 140 million Dalasi). It has now been increased to some 3,050,000 Euro (around 170 million Dalasi) with an extended duration. This enables the EU to quickly strengthen its response to the COVID-19 crisis in The Gambia, including the socio-economic recovery phase whilst not jeopardizing the main democratic transition challenges ahead.

By Lamin Njie

Muhammed Manjang has turned down a role at the Senegalo-Gambia permanent secretariat, telling the government in a letter his skillset will not let him do a good job there.

Mr Manjang was among 12 officials that got blown away by the air of a major shake-up of the civil service and government parastatals by President Adama Barrow last week.

He was sensationally preened as managing director of Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation and shipped to the Senegalo-Gambia permanent secretariat as ‘executive secretary’.

But Manjang on Monday turned down the offer saying in a letter seen by The Fatu Network “my training, professional experience and skillset is in finance, management and control of financial institutions”.

“Therefore, I will not be doing justice to thegovernment or myself in taking up a role that requires diplomacy and or expertise in foreign affairs,” Mr Manjang told the secretary general and head of the civil service in his letter on Monday.

The dramatic event comes as UDP leader Ousainou Darboe poured praise on Manjang in a live address to his supporters on Monday.

“An investment banker, you take that person and ask him to do a diplomat job? The work Manjang is doing at social security is known by all.

“He protected pensioner’s money and brought over 100 million dalasis. You want to remove him and bring back those who had been there and ravaged the place?” Darboe said on Monday.

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has called on UDP supporters to stop insulting people.

In a serious message on Monday via video, Mr Darboe said: “I want to speak to all UDP members, that this party is founded on respect and honour. That’s what we know. This is not a party which insulting elders is part of this party. Not just insulting people but people’s elders. That’s something we loathe.

“Those insulting people are not doing it for the progress of this party. Their acts are actually against the party but they are not taking the party’s cause forward. Stop insulting. Let’s try to woo people to UDP but let us not do things that will make people vomitous towards the party.”

By Fatou Camara

The people of Bakau on Sunday filled the town’s centre to get tested for the deadly coronavirus.

Two people at the weekend tested positive for coronavirus in Bakau prompting the ministry of health to act fast by way of mass testing.

“It is important for one to know his status, and if you are positive you can be treated earlier,” Lamin Dibba the councillor of Old Bakau Cape Point Ward told The Fatu Network at the community centre.

The mass testing saw health workers also use the town’s primary school where others went to, to get tested. The Fatu Network understands 366 people took the test as of Sunday.

The number of coronavirus cases in The Gambia stands at 17 following the confirmation of five new cases over the weekend. It was the biggest number of caes confirmed in a single day in the country.

By Lamin Njie

Momodou Sabally lashed out at ‘neophyte’ Citizens’ Alliance after political scientist Dr Ismaila Ceesay’s veiled dig at UDP.

Dr Ceesay in a tweet over the weekend said UDP lost the game as he alluded to the party’s Sheriffo Sonko debacle.

“With a star studded team of lawyers, a constitutional lawyer as a striker, yet they missed the goal and lost the game,” Dr Ceesay humorously tweeted as he reacted to the disaster.

Momodou Sabally, a UDP member took on Dr Ceesay today in what is a tit-for-tat exchange.

Sabally wrote: “At least we are a #team and still in the game… As neophytes, the CAP party leadership is clueless about #strategy.

“Those living in glass houses should not throw stones… #AttayaVous.”

The Gambia Press Union on Sunday called for journalism that is untainted by fear or favour, as journalists in The Gambia joined the rest of the world to mark the 27th edition of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD).

May 3rd has been set aside by the United Nations to pay tribute to journalism and journalists who have been killed in line of duty.

The GPU president, Sheriff Bojang Jr., said, according to a statement by GPU: “Journalism has never been more endangered. Not only are journalists being killed but also media houses are overstretched in human and financial resources terms.”

He added: “But this is also the time for the media to persevere and rise to the challenge. Information has never been more of a life and death issue, but misinformation can be as dangerous as the lack of information. So, we have to up our game.”

The GPU’s statement then said: “Meanwhile, the theme for this year’s commemoration of World Press Freedom Day is ‘Journalism without fear or favour’. In this view, the GPU calls on journalists in The Gambia to honour their social contract with people, more so in these trying times.

“We call on the public to support journalists, bearing in mind the words of Nelson Mandela that ‘none of our irritations with the perceived inadequacies of the media should ever allow us to suggest even faintly that the independence of the press could be compromised or coerced’.

“In the wake of the rising number of coronavirus patients in the country, we wish to renew our call to the government, through the Ministry of Health, to provide support that is critically needed to promote effective reporting and protect journalists from COVID 19. Reporters are frontline workers who are putting their lives at risk in order to keep the public informed.

“The GPU notes with appreciation the improvements that The Gambia has made in the latest world press freedom index released by Reporters Without Borders. Out of 180 countries surveyed, the country has been ranked 87 in 2019, up from 92 in 2018.

“Despite the improvements, the year 2019 is particularly remembered for the attack on the four journalists by supporters of the President. This incident, like dozens of similar incidents that happened since the new government took over in 2017, was never investigated as promised by the authorities.

“The Union remained deeply concerned by the new wave of attacks in 2020, including the arbitrary arrest of four media workers and the unlawful closure of two radio stations over coverage of anti-government protests.

“We therefore call on the government to address the issue of impunity for crimes against journalists and carry out the media laws reforms with speed and purpose.”

By Lamin Njie

Five new people have tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of people who have caught the disease in The Gambia to 17.

The ministry of health announced at a news conference on Saturday five new cases have been recorded.

“Five new positive COVID-19 cases have been reported, one of the highest number of cases confirmed in a single day. Of these, one case was reported from the Central River Region and this is the first confirmed case from that region,” the ministry’s Dr Abdoulie Bittaye told reporters on Saturday.

Saturday’s announcement comes on a back of fleeting progress made in the country’s fight against the infection.

The Gambia just last week edged closer to defeating coronavirus after the number of active cases in the country declined to just one case. It has now shot up to seven.

By Usumaan Ceesay, our reporter in Dakar

President Macky Sall, after a vast operation of food distribution in all regions of the country, on behalf of more than a million households, has just taken other measures well received by the Senegalese people.

Following the introduction of a curfew in the country, which has plunged many workers into insecurity, President Macky Sall and his government have initiated social aid measures to alleviate the suffering of the population.

Today, in the face of an opposition that demanded lower electricity and water prices, the Senegalese government, on the recommendation of President Macky Sall, simply preferred to pay for electricity and water for households that do not consume more than 25,000 CFA francs.

At least 80 percent of the Senegalese people will be affected by the new mesure.

The measure only covers a period of two months as it has emerged its continuity or cessation will depend on the coronavirus crisis.

The number of coronavirus cases in Senegal has exceeded 1,000.

The ministry of health will conduct a mass testing exercise in Bakau on Sunday after a woman tested positive for coronavirus in the town.

Health ministry communication officials on Saturday embarked on community engagement exercise in Bakau ahead of a planned mass COVID-19 sample collection exercise in the locality. The officials conducted the exercise in partnership with National Youth Council’s Bakau youth wing.

“The mass sample collection exercise will be held on Sunday 3rd May 2020 at Bakau Community Center starting from 9:00am onwards. All residents of Bakau are encouraged to grab this opportunity so as to keep safe and protect themselves, their families and others from COVID-19,” the health ministry said in a statement on its official Facebook page.

An official of the ministry told The Fatu Network the mass testing is voluntary.

By Lamin Njie

Madi Jobarteh has boldly said he’s expecting a hiring of former president Yahya Jammeh by President Adama Barrow, as he lashed out at the Gambian leader over his persistent removal of officials.

The Barrow administration has become notorious in removing officials and assigning them fresh roles, the recent one which took place last week hitting 12 officials.

Madi Jobarteh said in an opinion piece today: “For example instead of weeding out all of those Yaya Jammeh enablers from our public service, Barrow decided to retain them. He brought back Yaya Jammeh’s key Cabinet ministers into his Cabinet. He brought back or maintained Yaya Jammeh’s top security chiefs in our security institutions. He kept or brought back top Yaya Jammeh officials into our parastatals and other state institutions. He went for Yaya Jammeh politicians to bring them into State House for his politics.

“Therefore, is Barrow not telling us that Yaya Jammeh is ok? Will we be surprised if this evening he also brings back Yaya Jammeh and Isatou Njie Saidy to make them Co Vice Presidents!? I will not be the least surprised! Am expecting that.”

By Lamin Njie

United Democratic Party has dramatically walked back its decision of sacking Sheriffo Sonko from the party – for now.

UDP in March sacked Mr Sonko and two councillors from the party after accusing them of ‘straying from the party’s cause’. He was notified in a letter.

Last month, Mr Sonko wrote back to UDP slamming his expulsion from the party as baseless, then hinting he could take the party to court if ‘compelled to do so’.

It has now emerged the party has cancelled its decision in a stunning move.

A UDP official told The Fatu Network the cancellation took place ‘a few days ago’. It was triggered by ‘internal procedural irregularities’, the official added.

The Fatu Network understands the withdrawal affects all three officials; Sheriffo Sonko, Bilal Faal and Momodou Bojang.