The Executive Secretary of the TRRC, Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow last week resigned from his teaching job at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the TRRC has announced.

Until his resignation, Dr. Jallow was an assistant professor of African and World history at La Salle. Prior to joining the La Salle faculty in 2015, Dr. Jallow taught African history and was director of the African Studies Program at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Upon his invitation to come home and serve as Executive Secretary of the TRRC back in the fall of 2017, Dr. Jallow sought and was granted a two-year leave of absence by La Salle University to enable him to take up the position. However, in a recent communication, the University explained that it would not be able to extend Dr. Jallow’s leave of absence beyond fall (September) 2020 when it expires.

Part of Dr. Jallow’s letter of resignation to La Salle University’s Dean of Arts and Sciences reads: “As per the terms of my leave of absence, I was supposed to return to La Salle University in fall 2020. However, due to the fact that my work here requires at least an additional year of service to The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, I will not be in a position to do so. For that reason, and because you have indicated in a recent email that my leave will not be extended . . . please allow me to tender my resignation from my teaching position at La Salle University’s Department of History and the School of Arts and Sciences with immediate effect. . . . Please also allow me to extend my very sincere gratitude to La Salle University and in particular my colleagues at the Department of History for all the kind support they have rendered me during my period at the University.”

Dr. Jallow says while he will miss La Salle University, he has no regrets at all over his resignation. “In the absence of an extension of my leave, there really is no other option for me. I can’t leave the TRRC to resume my teaching at La Salle at this point. I also perfectly understand that the university needs to move on with hiring another full time African history professor. And so I am happy to resign and concentrate on completing the national assignment entrusted to me to the best of my ability. No regrets at all.”

By Lamin Njie

Ba Kawsu Fofana on Thursday declared ‘I’m a great marabout’ as he testified at the TRRC over problems he encountered during former president Yahya Jammeh’s rule.

He began with his education odyssey which stretches to as far as in Saudi Arabia.

In mid 2000, Mr Fofana returned to the country and took up a career in preaching, one that was to be shrouded in a lot of controversy and harassment.

His brand of preaching the word of God is one of fearlessness and calling people out for who he claims they are.

Mr Fofana wasn’t afraid of speaking truth to even former President Yahya Jammeh. As a result, he was arrested in May 2012 and taken to the NIA where he was detained for nine days and tortured twice.

In August of 2012, a group of NIA officials led by their boss Yankuba Badjie returned to Ba Kawsu’s house to arrest him for a second time but he managed to escape arrest.

On Thursday, Mr Fofana gave testimony to the TRRC and detailed how two top Gambian imams orchestrated his ordeal during former president Jammeh’s rule.

He told the probe it was Supreme Islamic Council’s Momodou Lamin Touray who went to President Jammeh and told him he (Ba Kawsu) was the person instigating religious division in the country.

On Imam Abdoulie Fatty, he said the top imam had told Jammeh he (Ba Kawsu) insults him and his tribe.

Ba Kawsu in his three hours and ten minutes testimony then went on to bare how he suffered arrest and torture on the orders of the former president.

On claims he disappeared when an attempt for him to be arrested for a second time, Mr Fofana declared smiling: “I am a great marabout, I always had God with me.”

He drank from his trademark kettle 11 times with TRRC counsel Essa Faal on occasions teasing him that he also needed to drink from the kettle.

By Lamin Njie

Ba Kawsu Fofana has began giving testimony at the TRRC, one week after his brother told the probe the top imam vanished into thin air when the NIA attempted to arrest him.

Mr Fofana, 51, is a fearless Islamic preacher who wasn’t afraid of speaking truth to former President Yahya Jammeh. As a result, he was arrested in May 2012 and taken to the NIA where he was tortured.

In August of 2012, a group of NIA officials led by their boss Yankuba Badjie returned to Ba Kawsu’s house to arrest him for a second time but he was not arrested this time as he disappeared, Omar Fofana, a brother to Ba Kawsu told the TRRC last week Thursday.

The top cleric Thursday after began his testimony at the TRRC after returning to the country from Guinea Bissau.

He first swore to speak the truth, then took his seat.

Moments later, Mr Fofana drank from the outlet of his kettle as he placed his staff on his lap. He then placed the kettle on the table only for Essa Faal to ask him to get it off there.

By Lamin Njie

Former governor of Central River Region Ganyi Touray has denied participation in acts of brutality meted out to the Seckens of The Gambia.

The Seckens of Ker Mot Ali were forcefully removed from The Gambia following the death of their leader Serign Ndigal. It came after they renounced the five daily action prayers.

A students of Serign Ndigal told the TRRC last week it was Ganyi Touray, the governor of CRR, who fronting their attempted extinction. The incident happened in 2009.

Ganyi Touray was given a chance to respond to the allegations when he appeared before the TRRC on Thursday. His testimony was however cagey one.

Essa Faal clashed with Mr Touray in a number occasions in which the latter would appear to say one thing and then another.

In one instance, the 70-year-old said the police did not take orders from him when they stormed Ker Mot Ali. Essa Faal then played a video showing the former governor inside a mosque in Ker Mot Ali thanking police leaders in the region at the time for putting across all his instructions. Mr Touray then changed and said the police did take instructions from him.

Also, on the removal of the Seckens, Mr Touray in one instance said it targeted non-Gambians while his written statement made no indication of that.

At the end of it all, he declared while responding to whether he accepts personal responsibility in the state-sponsored terror against the Seckens: “No, I do not accept that.”

By Lamin Njie and Adama Makasuba

The man allegedly at the centre of persecution against the Seckens of Ker Mot Ali this morning told the TRRC the people of the Upper Saloum village were branding Serign Ndigal God.

Former governor of Upper River Region Ganyi Touray is accused of spearheading gross tyrannisation against the Seckens whose version of Islam doesn’t include the five daily prayers. Their leader, the late Serign Ndigal reportedly got instructions from God to stop praying.

A student of Mr Ndigal Yunusa Ceesay last week appeared before the TRRC and told the probe Ganyi Touray was bringing police to Ker Mot Ali – who would beat and force them to pray.

Mr Touray today began explaining his own side of the story claiming people in Ker Mot Ali were calling Mr Ndigal God.

“If you get to Ker Mot Ali, all you hear is, ‘he (Serign Ndigal) is God’,” Mr Touray told the TRRC.

Mr Touray has also told the probe the Sering used gather his followers in a mosque for dancing sessions.

“They do nothing but only dancing and eating with no prayer and no religion will accept that. I can even produce a picture where I saw Sering Ndigal dancing while his followers drum inside the mosque,” he said.

His testimony continues.

By Adama Makasuba, in Banjul

Amina Saho Ceesay will in about an hour hand down a ruling on the bail application of eight Mile 2-detained Three Years Jotna leaders.

Lawyers in the case of the embattled activists squared off in spectacular fashion on Tuesday prompting Mrs Saho to adjourn the case to today for her to decide whether to grant bail to the accused persons or not. The ruling will be delivered at 12:30pm

Just as on Tuesday, a crowd comprising Three Years Jotna members has started forming at the High Court amid heavy riot police presence.

By Lamin Njie

The man allegedly at the centre of persecution against the Seckens of Ker Mot Ali this morning told the TRRC the people of the Upper Saloum village were branding Serign Ndigal God.

Former governor of Upper River Region Ganyi Touray is accused of spearheading gross tyrannisation against the Seckens whose version of Islam doesn’t include the five daily prayers. Their leader, the late Serign Ndigal reportedly got instructions from God to stop praying.

A student of Mr Ndigal Yunusa Ceesay last week appeared before the TRRC and told the probe Ganyi Touray was bringing police to Ker Mot Ali – who would beat and force them to pray.

Mr Touray today began explaining his own side of the story claiming people in Ker Mot Ali were calling Mr Ndigal God.

“If you get to Ker Mot Ali, all you hear is, ‘he (Serign Ndigal) is God’,” Mr Touray told the TRRC.

His testimony continues.

By Lamin Njie

Former Inspector General of Police Ensa Jesus Badjie has been appointed commissioner of police.

The former police chief in November last year wept at the TRRC as he detailed how former President Yahya Jammeh masterminded his 2010 arrest and jailing. He was then dismissed from the police.

Mr Badjie has now been reappointed by the Personnel Management Office as Commissioner of Police, police spokesman Lamin Njie told The Fatu Network on Wednesday.

“He will be working in the Crime Department of the GPF under the Crime Management Coordinator (CMC) who is an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG),” he added.

Mr Badjie is not the Crime Management Coordinator but a police commissioner who will be working under the CMC.

By Lamin Njie

Top political analyst Dr Ismaila Ceesay has said the failure and inability of the Barrow administration in solving the country’s basic problems has been established a ‘long’ time ago.

The senior political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia stated this in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network on Wednesday.

Dr Ceesay said: “I have graduated from discussing the failure and the inability of this government to solve our basic problems. That has already been established a long time ago. If some people beginning to realise that now, well, wake up from your slumber.

“I have realised a long time ago that this goverment doesn’t have what it takes, they lack the ability and what it takes to solve our basic problems. So for me that’s not the debate now.”

The United Nations have branded female genital mutilation a human rights violation, revealing that five in every ten girls in The Gambia between the ages of zero and 14 years going through the procedure.

UN twin agencies of UNFPA and UNICEF have rolled out a joint programme on Accelerated Abandonment FGM, the largest global programme to end this harmful practice, currently focusing on 17 countries including The Gambia and also supports regional and global initiatives.

And as the world commemorates the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on Thursday 6 February 2020, UNFPA and UNICEF have issued a joint statement calling for an end to FGM.

The agencies said: “When Mariama was growing up in rural Gambia, most of her peers were subjected to female genital mutilation – a human rights violation that 5 in every 10 girls in The Gambia between 0-14 years have gone through. Yet Mariama remains unharmed, thanks to her parents’ refusal to subject her to the practice, despite the enormous social pressure.

“On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, we join with Mariama and young people in The Gambia who are standing up for their rights with urgency and energy. They are engaging their peers, families, communities and the government with a call to end this harmful act of gender-based violence once and for all, as promised by the international community in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“While significant progress in eliminating the practice has been made in the last decade, in The Gambia, thousands of girls and women alive today have had their genitals mutilated. This can lead to long-term physical, psychological and social consequences.

“Support for the practice is dwindling. Up to 49% of women in The Gambia believe that female genital mutilation should stop. Evidently, young girls are at much lower risk of being subjected to female genital mutilation than their mothers and grandmothers were – 75% of women between 15 and 49 years old have undergone FGM/C, compared to 50% of girls between 0-14 years old.

“As the dominant demographic force in The Gambia, young people can play a critical role in ending FGM. Unleashing the power of youth means investing in youth-led movements to champion gender equality, an end to violence against women and girls and the elimination of harmful practices. This requires including young people as partners when designing and implementing national action plans, building relationships with youth-led organizations and networks that work to end female genital mutilation and recognize it as a form of violence against women and girls, empowering young people to lead community campaigns that challenge social norms and myths, and engaging men and boys as allies.

“But this is not a goal young people can achieve alone, nor can it be addressed in isolation from other forms of violence against women and girls. It also requires strong political commitment and the participation of all stakeholders including communities and the private sector.

“Last year, at the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development, governments, including The Gambia Government, civil society, faith-based organisations and the private sector recommitted to ending gender-based violence and harmful practices – such as female genital mutilation – in 10 years, the same timeframe for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In March, we mark 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, a global commitment to advance women’s rights across 12 critical areas, including the elimination of all harmful practices against girls and women. This year, we will announce the creation of a new Generation Equality to drive further investment and results for gender equality.

“Now is the time to invest, translating the political commitments already made into concrete action. Now is the time to do more and do it better and faster to end the practice once and for all. Now is the time to keep our promise to Mariama and all girls of reaching zero female genital mutilation by 2030.”

A huge fire has erupted in the bush in Alla Kunda spreading to Kanilai, an army commander has confirmed.

The fire started from the Alla kunda, a village near Kanilai, end of the forest and entered through Woni, the former President’s home, since on Tuesday 4 February 2020, Lt Col Krubally the head of troops in Kanilai said.

“With the help of fire fighters stationed in Kanilai, GAF soldiers and residents of Woni, they succeeded in putting the fire out by late nighfall, just for the fires to restart this afternoon,” he added.

Gambian bushes are particularly prone to bush fires in winter and the Kanilai fire comes amid comments by the spokesman of the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service that their fire engines are not built to battle bush fires. It followed claims that they are not doing anything about the frequent outbreak of bush fires.

President Adama Barrow on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 received a Special Envoy of the Muslim World League, led by its Secretary General, Abdulqader Ahmed Abobaker Al-Mashhor at the State House in Banjul.

The delegation is in Banjul to convey the gratitude and appreciation of the League for The Gambia’s case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice, and for the significant step of obtaining provisional measures that will now save more Rohingya lives.

Speaking to the press after the audience, Mr. Almatter reiterates the League’s efforts to peaceful resolution of the Rohingya case and other conflicts affecting Muslim countries around the world.

“We assure the President that we will stand by The Gambia in its efforts… that MWL as the leader in the Muslim world, is concerned and committed to use all peaceful means to solve this problem,” he said, noting that they are prepared for the next steps in this endeavour.

The Envoy also expressed a strong desire by the MWL to work closely with the Government of The Gambia to assist the Rohingya in Myanmar, Bangladesh and the entire Muslim Umma in general.

The delegation, comprising Director General of International Relief Organisation, Mr. Abdulrahman Mohammed Almatter, were led to the State House by the Gambian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OIC, Omar Gibril Sallah. (State House press)

By Lamin Njie

The amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Baba Trawally has said bigotry against the jama’at began in June 1997 when then-State House imam started castigating the sect.

Ahmadis in The Gambia have been on the receiving end of sustained prejudice and bigotry with most mainstream Muslim Gambians viewing them as non-Muslims.

Imam Fatty has been an outspoken critic of the sect and has in many occasions used his sermons to demand that they be banned in The Gambia. Ahmadis are accused of holding the belief that a new messenger would come after the Prophet Muhammad.

Baba Trawally appeared before the TRRC on Wednesday and told the probe the hate campaign against his sect started in 1997.

Mr Trawally said: “It was Friday 6 June 1997 when the Imam of State House that time Imam Abdoulie Fatty started castigating, attacking the Jama’at, saying so many things. That Ahmadis should be taken to the McCarthy Square to be killed.

“[That] they will recant or be killed. This was said by him. So this process went on for quite a well. From June up to September and beyond. And he claimed that we are not Muslims.”

Ousainou Darboe said on Tuesday he sent a letter to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubacarr Ba Tambadou over the banning of Operation Three Years Jotna.

The Gambia government announced last week Sunday that it was banning Operation Three Years Jotna from ever operating in The Gambia amid clashes between the police and the anti-Barrow activists at Sting Corner on 26 January.

The UDP leader has shared a copy of a personal letter he wrote to the Attorney General on on 3 February his official Facebook page. It reads:

“My Dear Colleague and Brother,

“Let me once again congratulate you for filing a case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for that country’s violation of the United Nations’ Genocide Convention 1948. Even if the ICJ had ruled against The Gambia on the issue of locus standi, the mere fact of filing the case is sufficient to prick the conscience of all decent human beings. With the unanimous ruling of the ICJ, the issue of the Rohingya Muslims can no longer remain unaddressed by Myanmar and the International community. Thanks for this historic service to humanity.

“But a few days after the ICJ agreed with you that the actions of the Myanmar Government where in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, our own government, on 26th January 2020 at about 3pm, by proclamation/declaration banned the 3 Year Jotna Movement (Movement) which in my view is not in accordance with the provisions of the Societies Act 1970, Cap 50:01 Laws of The Gambia (the Act).

“In an interview with Mr. Gomez, host of ‘Coffee Time with Peter Gomez’, the Honourable Minister for Information and the Government Spokesperson advanced reasons why the Movement was banned. Amongst these are the fact that the Movement was engaged in subversive actives and that it was un-registered. Despite its non-registration the government in good faith and guided by our democratic credentials accommodated and dealt with the Movement.

“I do not wish to comment on the validity/veracity of the allegation that the Movement was engaged in subversive activities. I however take liberty to state that the non-registration of the Movement does not vest authority in the executive branch of the Government to issue a banning Order on the Movement and make consequential orders for the implementation of the banning Order.

“Section 2 of The Act defines ‘society’ to include ‘any club, company or partnership whether registered under any law or not, or any group or association of two or more persons’. I am of the firm view that the Movement is a group/association of two or more persons. Its non-registration cannot be a valid and justified reason for banning it.

“But a more serious and fundamental flaw is that the conditions precedent for a legitimate banning (proscription) order have not been satisfied. Section 3 (1) of the Act informs us that one or more of the activities mentioned in the subsection most occur before a society can in law be considered as an unlawful one.

“It does appear to me that it is not the pronouncement or declaration by the executive that renders a society unlawful. There must be a trial under the Act for a contravention of the provisions of section 3 (1) to justify the proscription or banning of any society.

“Section 3 (2) of the Act provides ‘A Court trying an offence under this Act may, during the pendency of the prosecution, order the suspension of the society and prohibit its office-bearers and members from engaging in any of its activities’.

“Further Section 3 (3) states ‘The court may, after finding that a society is formed for any of the purposes specified in subsection (1) of this section, or after its formation has indulged or engaged in any activities mentioned therein, make an order declaring the society to be unlawful and any order so made shall without delay be transmitted to the Minister’. It is clear from the language of Section 3 (2) and (3) that the legislature has reserved to the courts the power and authority to suspend a society or declare same unlawful because of its contravention of any of the prohibited acts specified and enumerated in section 3 (1) of the Act. Unless the conditions stipulated in section 3 (3) of the Act are satisfied the executive does not in my view have the power or authority to declare any society including the Movement unlawful and proceed to ban same.

“Of course the legislature recognizes that the responsibility for the administration of the Act is entrusted to the Minister (executive). And for this reasons Section 3 (4) provides “The Minister shall on the making of the order referred to in subsection (2) of this section, by Order published in the Gazette proscribe such society and thereafter that society shall cease to exist”. I believe the reference to subsection 2 must be the printer’s error. It cannot be doubted that the subsection intended to be referred to is subsection 3 of section 3.

“My dear Colleague and Brother knowing your passion for strict adherence to, and compliance with procedural rules that affect the liberty of individuals and their constitutional right to freedom association, I am convinced that this serious and fundamental disregard of the provisions of the Act by the executive would not have occurred had you been consulted. I also entertain no doubt that since your attention has been drawn to the relevant provisions of the Act, you will take, or cause to be taken, appropriate measures to remedy the situation-a task that will involve a choice between doing what is morally right and what is legally correct.

“Whilst assuring you of my highest consideration and personal esteem, I remain always your Colleague and Brother in the service of the law and justice.”

By Adama Makasuba

Sheikh Alioun Secka has said he is not prepared to have the Seckens return to Upper Saloum village of Ker Mot Ali.

Barely a week ago, Yunusa Ceesay, a student of Serign Ndigal, appeared before the TRRC and told the probe how the cleric’s followers were made to leave the town for new settlers under the leadership of Sheikh Alioun Secka.

Serign Ndigal, real name Mahamadou Habibullah Secka, was a true man of God who was instructed by God in 2002 to stop praying, Yunusa Ceesay had told the TRRC.

“Ndigal was following the Sarihatul Mutahhar (the version of Islam that involves praying), that was the way all of us were following. When it was time for prayers, by the time nine minutes have added to the prayers time, that would have found that all of us have prayed. Anyone who knew us knew no one could match us,” Yunusa Ceesay had told TRRC.

The Seckens later faced persecution after they stopped praying. Sheikh Alioun Secka was then allegedly imported from Senegal and installed as the new leader of Ker Mot Ali. The Seckens then had to flee to Senegal.

But in a counter testimony on Tuesday, Alioun Secka said: “We didn’t drive them away. Kerr Mot Ali wasn’t owned by Ndigal.

“In fact, Kerr Mot Ali wasn’t own by his father who founded the village neither him.”

He however said he is not prepared to accept the sect back in the village saying “I am not prepared for them to come back and settle in the village.”

According to him, a mosque is built for worshiping God by praying, adding “so if they don’t want to pray let them not pray, and those who want to pray to continue praying and peace prevails.”

He explained that the tussle of the villagers and the Ndigal started when the sect said no one would pray again in a mosque built in the village.

By Lamin Njie

The father of Baby Aisha, the girl who was only a month old when her mother was arrested in 2016 has detailed how he told President Adama Barrow he was going to betray Gambians.

Muhammed Fatty is a member of Operation Three Years Jotna. He is also a member of United Democratic Party who was arrested in the party’s 2016 events that led to the arrest and incarceration of scores. He later was part of a group of people who met President Barrow shortly after his election victory.

Mr Fatty told The Fatu Network on Tuesday while attending the court session of leaders of Operation Three Years Jotna: “What we have entered into is worse than what we came out of. Because one should keep promises he makes to people. But Adama Barrow… I told him on the day they released us from prison.

“[At a meeting] when everyone spoke, I said I was going to speak too. They said no but I said I was going to speak. I spoke and I told him he was going to betray us and he said he was not going to betray us.”