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Horrifying video shows Nianija women wading in water at chest-point before they could get to their farms

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By Lamin Njie

Women in Nianija in the Central River Region are having to wade in water at chest-point before they could get to their rice farms.

CRR is home to the country’s most fertile land but the farmers of the region mostly women have little support from the government.

In a video made available to The Fatu Network, women could be seen wading in water before they could get to their farms. A pregnant women reportedly died last year while using the dangerous route.

Watch the video below………..

Darbo says Barrow was ‘pressured’ into ‘excuse’ to remain in office beyond three years

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By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow was pressured into feigning excuses so that he can stay on as president, Three Years Jotna’s Yankuba Darbo has said.

President Barrow on Tuesday said, ‘I cannot accord the coalition agreement preference over the constitution,’ as he used his New Year speech to address calls for him to resign.

Yankuba Darbo reacted to Mr Barrow’s comments today saying the president has once again attempted to “feign excuses for justifications with the hope of cajoling the Gambian populace into embracing his apostasy of his Coalition 2016 MOU agreement with the Gambian opposition party supporters, which he reaffirmed in his 2016 political manifesto and campaign pledges to the Gambian people – to serve a 3 years transitional government.”

“It suffices to state that the President was simply pressured to make such response in the wake of recent popular protests headed by 3 years Jotna in The Gambia and a petition served on him requesting for his response,” Darbo, a lawyer, said.

He continued: “If anything it proves the sceptics wrong that pressure in the form of public protest does not work. In fact, it proves that with more sustained pressure, Barrow will have no choice but to yield to the power of his people. Thus more pressure is still needed to derail Adama Barrow from his one man mission to crash our 2016 Coalition success story for the New Gambia.

“The President’s address came on the heels of the announcement of the establishment of his newly formed political party named the National Peoples Party (NPP), which means he is not only seeking to extend his transition from 3 to 5 years, but to perpetuate his presidency for as long as he can, relying on the treachery of incumbency.

“Thus the excuse given by President Barrow in his address to the nation is disingenuous, for he claimed that he does not want to resign because the Coalition was spurned out of the sole desire to dislodge dictatorship and he had sworn to the constitution.”

Haddy’s New Year shocker! Woman gives birth to baby boy – then abandons it at hospital and disappears

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By Adama Makasuba

Hospital officials were left scrambling for options after a woman gave birth to a baby boy and then abandoning it.

Haddy Njie allegedly gave birth to a baby boy at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital on 1 January 2020 but abandoned it and disappeared. Her baby is third on the list of the first babies of the year, after arriving at 6:35am.

Mariama Cham, a midwife, told The Fatu Network: “The third baby is an abondoned baby which was delivered off at 6:35 am. When I was wiping the baby, the mother said that she wanted to take bath.

“So I saw her the bathroom. She went to the bathroom but by the time I finished wiping the baby, then I called, ‘Haddy Njie, Haddy Njie, Haddy Njie’ is nowhere to be seen. So that’s how the mother just went.”

“We didn’t see her and we went to the security and the securities said that no one passed through the gate.”

According to the midwife, the lady didn’t come to the hospital with any family member neither did she come with an anti-natal card.

“She came with nothing, she only came with her three-quarter [pants],” she said.

“When I asked her to provide a contact of her family for communication she replied she couldn’t remember any contact to her family.”

Where are the Three Years folks? Barrow addresses calls for his resignation again this time saying ‘I cannot accord the coalition agreement preference over the constitution’

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By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow insisted ‘I cannot accord the coalition agreement preference over the constitution’, addressing calls for him to resign by the start of 2020, for the second time in two weeks.

In his New Year message, Mr Barrow said ‘I swore twice by the Holy Quran in Dakar and in The Gambia to defend and act according to the national constitution’.

“Under these circumstances, I cannot accord the coalition agreement preference over the constitution,” the president said as he addressed calls for him to resign according to an understanding that ensured his presidency.

President Barrow in 2016 was backed by seven political parties after agreeing to preside over a three-year transitional government. He has changed his mind now saying he will serve a full five-year term. His U-turn has led to the forming of a pressure group, Three Years Jotna, and the group earlier this month staged a protest to demand that he resigns.

The president first reaction to the protest on QTV’s Kacha Dula where he said he won’t resign.

In his New Year speech on Tuesday, Mr Barrow doubled down on his decision to stay on until 2021.

“The desire to dislogde the dictatorship by all democratic means guided us in the development of the coalition agreement. After I took up office, the gravity of the institutional failures, abuse of office, human rights (sic) and bad governance became more apparent.

“Thus the need to fulfilling the coalition agreement and acting on the constitution I swore to uphold, the confidence and mandate entrusted upon me have subsequently guided my decision to respect the voice and will of the people by maintaining to serve the full constitutional mandate of five years,” the president said.

Barrow declares Wednesday public holiday – as world steps into a new year and a new decade

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President Adama Barrow has declared Wednesday a public holiday in observance of the New Year.

Wednesday would mark the beginning of the New Year as a well as a new decade.

State House said in a statement on Tuesday: “The public is hereby informed that His Excellency, President Adama Barrow acting under Section 76 of the 1997 Constitution is pleased to declare Wednesday, 1st January 2020 as a public holiday throughout The Gambia, in observance of the New Year.

“On behalf of the First Family, the Government and the People of The Gambia, President Barrow wishes everyone a Happy and prosperous New Year.”

Like brother, like brother: Barrow follows in brother Macky Sall’s footsteps by choosing horse as party’s symbol as his party gets registered

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By Lamin Njie

The Independent Electoral Commission has registered President Adama Barrow’s party, ending months of speculation.

President Barrow has in the past months tossed the idea of forming his own political party and in November, he announced his party would be registered by the end of 2019.

On Tuesday, the IEC confirmed the president’s party, the National Peoples Party, has been ‘duly’ registered as a bonafided political party. IEC said Mr Barrow’s party have met all the requirements for registration under Section 105 of the Elections Act of 2009 as amended.

President Barrow is the party’s interim secretary general and leader. The party will be headquartered in Churchill’s Town.

However, one thing that will catch the attention of many is that the president has chosen a white horse as his party’s symbol. A brown horse is the symbol of the party of President Macky Sall of Senegal, Alliance for the Republic.

Darboe hammers home need for reconciliation in New Year message – but UDP leader insists reconciliation is impossible as long as corruption continues

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By Lamin Njie

UDP leader Ousainu Darboe said on Tuesday true reconciliation is not only about conceding civil liberties of the people, ‘it is also about political and economic transformation,’ in a New Year message to Gambians.

Mr Darboe insisted reconciliation means that “we should continue to use the capability of the state to improve the lives of the people, to have a tax regime that is progressive and public finances that are responsibly managed.” The UDP leader also said “reconciliation also requires that we have access to quality health care through, among other things, the introduction of a National Health Insurance.”

However, Mr Darboe argued “reconciliation is impossible as long as corruption continues, some individuals continue to sow division, the vast majority of our people continue to live in poverty, high youth unemployment which has led to a pervasive sense of hopelessness that is responsible for the tragedy off the coast of Mauritania early this month.”

“We must address the unfinished business of our democratic transition. We must close the festering wound of abject poverty that exists amongst our people. We must forge ahead with law reform and social development. We must continue to transform our workplaces and restructure our economy so that it benefits all.

“In this sense, reconciliation is a very practical undertaking. It is about the work that needs to be done to unlock investment in our economy, to reduce the cost of doing business and to promote growth. It is about the urgent measures we need to take to ensure a reliable supply of electricity to homes and businesses. It is about ensuring that our water resources are preserved and equally available to all,” Mr Darboe said.

The Fatu Network’s top 5 events of the year

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2019 is a truly memorable year. The year was littered with a lot events and some of these events have already left lasting marks on the future of our country. The Fatu Network has compiled a list of the top five events of the year.

1. FORMER PRESIDENT SIR DAWDA KAIRABA JAWARA’S DEATH

Former Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara died on 27 August 2019 at his home in Fajara aged 95. Sir Dawda was the country’s first president who was largely credited for leading the country’s independence struggle in the 1960s. In 1965 when The Gambia gained independence, Mr Sir Dawda became the country’s first prime minister. Five years later, he became the first president when The Gambia became a republic. He remained in the role until 1994 when he was removed from power in a military coup led by former president Yahya Jammeh.

At his funeral on 30 August, attended by Gambians from all walks of life including his two widows Chilel and Njaimeh, there was no shortage of encomium.

Veteran lawmaker Sidia Jatta was among a raft of speakers who paid homage to Sir Dawda describing him as ‘immortal.’

“Immortals are those who stamp the world with their stamp. Some would put it parabolically as leaving indelible footsteps on the sands of times. Those are the people who live their lives in the service of others, and if they are believers they live in the service of God. Sir Kairaba Jawara was an immortal,” Jatta said.

Omar Jallow, the man who served in Sir Dawda’s cabinet for 13 years as minister said the former president was the ‘greatest son’ of The Gambia.

“He championed the independence of this country and became our first prime minister. Gambian interest comes first and Sir Dawda played that role and he respected it,” Jallow said.

2. TRRC

The TRRC is Number 2 in our list. The investigation was set up in 2018 to look into the human rights violations and abuses of the 22 years rule of former president Yahya Jammeh.

The probe held its first public hearing on 7 January 2019 in a session graced by Gambians from all walks of life among them The Gambia’s vice president at the time Ousainou Darboe.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Dr Lamin J Sise the chairperson of the TRRC said it was time to find the truth and justice, heal the nation and then move forward as one people.

The probe then went on to broadened its work to include some of the most horrendous human rights violations to have taken place during Mr Jammeh’s rule. Some of the developments at the TRRC that will forever remain in the hearts and minds of Gambians include the November 1994 attempted coup in which at a least a dozen soldiers were killed and the savagery of Jammeh’s killer squad, The Junglers.

The TRRC however faced its first real test in June 2019 when Yankuba Touray appeared before the commission but refused to testify. Gambians will never forget the drama that later followed.

3. THREE YEARS JOTNA PROTEST

Three Years Jotna’s protest is Number 3 in our list. President Adama Barrow came to power in 2016 through a deal that says he should serve a three-year term and step down. But soon after assuming office, Mr Barrow started displaying signs of a man who clearly did not want to leave power any time soon.

He began getting angry whenever he’s asked about his three years pledge but the straw that broke the camel’s back came at a rally in Brikama where he said he will serve for five years whether one likes it or not. His astonishing U-turn culminating in the forming of pressure group Operation Three Years Jotna that is spearheading a campaign aimed at ensuring he leaves office by 19 January 2020 when the three-year term would end.

The conception of Three Years Jotna dates back to 2018. The group was issued a permit on 9 December 2019 to protest against President Barrow’s plan to stay in beyond three years.
On 16 December 2019, thousands of Gambians took to the streets to demand President Adama Barrow step down from power.

The protest was in the form of a walk from from Sting Corner to Denton Bridge as the protesters shouted, ‘three years, three years’. They later handed a petition to government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh and asked him to take to President Barrow. They told President Barrow in their petition that he should step down by 19 January 2020.

4. BARRA ‘BACK WAY’ TRAGEDY

Number 4 on our list of the top five events of 2019 is the Barra ‘Back Way’ tragedy.
Barra and other Nuimi towns have largely remained offhand where other Gambian towns have stood out in terms of the irregular ‘Back Way’ migration.

All that changed in December 2019 when Gambians awoke to news of the death of at least 60 Gambians after they boat they were travelling in to Spain ran into trouble and capsized near Mauritania. Most of them where from Barra and the incident marked the single biggest migrant disaster of the country in years.

What however made the Barra migrant tragedy more troubling is that fact that the women of the town are as interested in ‘Back Way’ as their men counterparts. And when it emerged that 11 of the 13 women who were onboard the 150 doomed migrant boat, this fact was better appreciated.

The United Nations later described the incident as the worst migrant disaster in West Africa in 2019.

5. PRESIDENT BARROW’S SACKING OF HIS VICE PRESIDENT OUSAINOU DARBOE

Number 5 on our list of the top five events of 2019 is President Adama Barrow’s brutal sacking of his vice president Ousainou Darboe in March 2019.

When Darboe was released from prison in 2017, there was no sign that his relationship with President Adama Barrow would ever crack. It was simply just everlasting.

Darboe even heaped praise on President Barrow saying he was to The Gambia what Moses was to Israel, after the Gambian leader fronting Jammeh’s slaughtering at the 1 December 2016 elections.

Darboe and Barrow were like father and son. President Barrow had previously hailed Mr Darboe as his political father. After winning the 2016 elections, he bragged that it’s only a wayward child that would allow his father’s house to fall apart as he told of how he stepped into his father’s (Darboe’s) shoes after he was arrested in 2015. And so how father and son ended up forsaking each other, forever, is what is still shrouded in mystery.

After his sacking on 15 March 2019, Darboe cornily joked: “I think the bus conductor has decided it is my time to get off the bus.”

Jammeh’s bogus HIV/AIDS cure next up at TRRC – as probe calls on families of those who died while undergoing the treatment to come forward

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By Lamin Njie

The TRRC on Monday called on the families of those who died while undergoing former president Yahya Jammeh’s bogus AIDS cure to reach out to the probe, as the investigation braces up for its 12th session.

The TRRC will commence its public hearings into former President Jammeh’s AIDS treatment program next month. Jammeh in 2007 shocked the world by claiming he had discovered a cure for HIV/AIDS. The treatment involves patients eating banana and drinking potions. Jammeh would also use his hand to rub ointment on the body of a patient. Most of them have however died.

The TRRC on Monday said its 12th session of hearings will focus on the former president’s alternative treatment programme “during which the rights of patients were violated”.

“The TRRC is continuing to take statements from complainants and is encouraging survivors to submit their statements. Family members of patients who didn’t survive the treatment are also encouraged to submit statements,” the probe said in a statement on its official Facebook page.

Last year, three survivors of Mr Jammeh’s treatment program sued him for damages. Ousman Sowe, Lamin Ceesay and Fatou Jatta were among the first Gambians who joined his HIV/AIDS treatment program in 2007. They jointly alleged that they were harmed by the program as they also seek a declaration from the high court that their human rights were violated.

Brusubi resident complains of concert noise at QCity

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By Lamin Njie

A resident of Brusubi has said residents of the town have gone days without sleep because of the noise coming from musical shows held at QCity.

QCity has played host to a number of events this month among them the Wally Seck gala dinner and dance (concert).

A Brusubi Phase 1 resident told The Fatu Network: “For three consecutive days we cannot sleep because of music that was being played by Wally Seck at the Qtv premises.

“This happens anytime there is such programs happening at the Qtv premises [sic]. This contravenes the public order act. There are two big hospital (Africmed and Medicare) and big concentration of people living around Qcity there.

“Mr Jah should consider these people to invest in keeping the vibration of the music not disturbing us. The authorities/police should engage Mr Jah now in solving this problem. We appreciate the good work that Mr Jah is doing but he should also consider the environment and people living within his investment ateas so as not to harm them.”

Foreign minister Tangara meets US ambassador

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Press release by foreign ministry

As part of his regular diplomatic consultation, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on Monday 30 December 2019 met the Ambassador of the United States of America to The Gambia, H.E. Richard C. Paschall, in his office in Banjul.

In his welcoming remark, Dr. Tangara thanked Ambassador Paschall for the normal diplomatic exchanges. During the meeting, the two sides discussed and shared views on bilateral and international issues. Ambassador Paschall used the opportunity to thank Dr. Tangara, for organising a briefing on the alleged Diplomatic passport scandal for the Diplomatic Community.

Ambassador Paschall further thanked the Government of The Gambia for taking the alleged Diplomatic passport saga very seriously. He however urged the Government to update the Diplomatic Community regarding the status of the investigation.

It may recalled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a briefing session with members of the Diplomatic and Consular corp on the 16 September 2019 to update them on the status of investigation in connection with the Diplomatic passport scandal.

During this briefing, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, used the occasion to inform the Diplomatic community regarding the current structure put in place relating to the issuance of official passport and entitlements and privileges accorded to Representatives of International Community in The Gambia.

The Honourable Minister also highlighted the Government’s resolve to get to the bottom of the matter and resolve the matter accordingly.

The December 30th coup in focus

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By Lamin Njie

It was supposed to be the moment that would finally see Yahya Jammeh yanked out of power, the moment that would finally afford Gambians a new start. And the moment that The Gambia would look to the future with optimism.

The plot to overthrow Yahya Jammeh five years ago is one that continues to retain huge Hollywood importance. Only that this was not a Holywood movie. It was a real event that involved former soldiers slipping back into military gear and venturing into what would become the most dangerous military enterprise ever.

On 30 December 2014, a group of dissident Gambians, most of them with military persuasion launched an early morning attack on State House while President Yahya Jammeh was out of the country. The attack was quickly repelled. Three died, four escaped and one was arrested. The next day, the government issued a statement saying it was a terrorist attack.

Lamin Sanneh was the ringleader of the coup. The 36-year-old was a former commander of State Guard. He had fled to the United States in 2013 after he fell out with Jammeh. He then returned two years later on a mission that was not only meant to settle personal scores but also to save a country that has been held hostage by a brutal dictatorship. He was among the three people who were killed.

The coup took place while President Jammeh was out of the country. He was reportedly in Dubai and when he returned, he invited GRTS and Daily Observer to State House and told their reporters the attackers were terrorists backed by foreign powers.

It was not known at the time where the Jammeh government buried the bodies of Lamin Sanneh, Njaga Jagne and Jaja Nyass. It was in 2017 when the Barrow administration found out they were buried in a forest in Foni. The bodies were then exhumed as part of their investigation into the human rights violations and abuses that occurred during the 22 years rule of former President Jammeh. In January this year, the bodies were handed over to their families at a ceremony held at the ministry of justice in Banjul.

The fight to end the Jammeh dictatorship took different forms. The December 30th coup was one form. But the fact that this coup was planned all the way in United States and Europe makes it a unique event in the history of The Gambia. After the coup, Jammeh bragged that he would rule for one billion years only to receive the shock of his life at the polls in December 2016. He now lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

Bundung residents all smiles as lightening project is broadened from cemeteries to now homes

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By Adama Makasuba

Hundreds of locals in Bundung – Mauritani Six Junction on Sunday gathered to witness the launching of a community lightening project.

The project which began last year by targeting cemeteries, has now been expanded to homes, where nearly 2000 home gates have been reached. It seeks to curtail illegal activities such as stealing.

The locals also witnessed the inauguration of a dozen light bulbs at Bundung car park. The project is a community initiative spearheaded by ward councilor Sulayman Jammeh with financial support from philanthropists.

Speaking to The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview shortly after the launch, ward councilor Sulayman Jammeh said: “We are trying to expand this beyond Bundung. The world is moving and we don’t expect to be living in dark environment, because in our Bundung here some of the places are very remote.

“And nowadays, we have so many things that are not normal. We have some criminals around. And we expect by putting some of these things here will definitely ease some of those illegal activities.”

The spokesman for Bundung car park Jabel Choi lauded the gesture saying for over 22 years they haven’t got such benefit.

“This project has cut down the rate of stealing in this car park,” he said.

One veteran goes another comes: Star FM taps Musa Manneh days after Sarjo Barrow’s death – as outlet also names newsroom after fallen Mandinka genius

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Star FM/TV has appointed Musa Manneh as its new Mandinka newsreader replacing Sarjo Barrow who died last Sunday aged 66.

Star FM has registered great success in the translation and broadcast of news from English to Mandinka. The late Sarjo Barrow who joined the outlet in 2013 was at the heart of the success.

Star FM chief executive officer Alpha Karaga told The Fatu Network another longtime GRTS man Musa Manneh has been appointed as the outlet’s new Mandinka newsman. His appointed took effect on Friday.

Musa Manneh is a longtime colleague and friend of Sarjo Barrow. The duo spent years working together at GRTS.

Meanwhile, Star FM/TV has named its newsroom after Sarjo Barrow who was also the organisation’s adviser.

CRC reacts as securality debate rumbles on

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The Constitutional Review Commission has reacted to the raging debate on secularity, saying it welcomes the opinions being ‘canvassed’, but warned against ‘misleading’ statements designed to engender fear.

Gambia Christians have been voicing their concern after Section 1 of the new draft constitution failed to bear the word ‘secular’. Gambia Muslims on the other hand have been pushing against at the idea of the document bearing the word as they argue it’s anti-God and anti-religion.

The CRC in a statement on Friday said it welcomes the opinions being ‘canvassed’ on whether or not the word “secular” should be included in the draft constitution.

It said: “The CRC welcomes the opinions being canvassed in this regard, but cautions against the religious undertones and sometimes misleading statements designed to engender fear.

“All communities, especially leaders of all faiths, should exercise restraint and tolerance and respect other people’s views without acrimony or vilification.”

CRC dismisses claims new constitution endorses homosexuality

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The Constitutional Review Commission today said Section 52 of the new draft constitution on the right to marry does not approve homosexuality.

The new draft constitution was released last month but there has been claims and counter-claims that the document supports same-sex marriage.

The CRC today in a statement rejected the claims saying it does not in any way establish or advocate for marital relationships based on conduct that is considered to be unnatural between a man and a woman.

“The section does not make provision for homosexuality or other form of sexuality considered not to be in accordance with the values and ethos of Gambian society,” the statement signed by the commission’s communication chief Sainey Marenah said.

It added: “It should also be noted that the Criminal Code criminalises homosexuality. Nonetheless, this section will be considered for any possible ambiguity to ensure better clarity.”

Lawmakers write history as they reject Barrow’s ombudsman pick

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By Adama Makasuba

Lawmakers today unanimously rejected the appointment of Babucarr Suwaneh as the country’s new ombudsman, after weeks of scrutiny.

Babucarr Suwaneh’s appointment by President Barrow was recently tabled before lawmakers for confirmation and approval. The lawmakers however held back the 65-year-old’s tapping, and referred it to the public appointments committee for scrutiny.

Today’s move has been categorised as the first of its kind in history that the National Assembly has turned down an appointment of an ombudsman.

However, Vice President Dr Isatou Touray expressed disappointment on Friday after the lawmakers voted against Suwaneh’s appointment, saying “we should not be judgmental, we should look at the issue at hand, look at your remit in terms of what needs to be done as a committee and deliberate on that.”

“If we get out of the judgmental dimension, we will all understand that Babucarr Suwaneh has all the credentials that are necessary for him to be considered… given that fact that the responsibility and the functions of the ombudsman goes beyond what some of us are thinking,” she added.

She urged the lawmakers to put aside their political interests and put ‘national issues’ forward anytime they arise.

President Barrow: three or five years? The problem is elsewhere

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For some time now, some members of the community have been heard in every corner of the country and throughout the diaspora protesting the durability of the mandate of the current president of the Gambian Republic. Regardless of ethnic, linguistic and ideological differences, most of the components of these groups of protesters discuss the legitimacy of the president after three years in office contradicting what he had promised the public opinion during the campaign era of 2016. Without seeking to justify any position, for or against, it is worth remembering the historical facts behind such an increasing and dynamic social movement today.

In a very tense pre-post electoral context, where the former president Yahya Jammeh had put thousands of obstacles to his opponents to perpetuate himself within a system that he had been leading for more than two decades, the then candidate of the coalition-opposition movements and current president promised to reduce his mandate to three and govern by a single legislature, and being his unique purpose the concord, national unity and guarantee of the rule of laws that had been transformed into the strict-personal will of the former president and not the respect of a social testament through a system of democratic public organization.

As a young student who witnessed the arrival of President Jammeh and his painful departure (forced and necessary), twenty-two years later, we are obliged to realize introspection. Among others, Gambia as a model of human rights, coexistence, peace, stability and a consistent democracy during the era of Sir Dawda Jawara, although economically stagnant, thus later turned into a nation depressed and oppressed by a military regime that trampled all laws to satisfy the ego of a “character”. During the two decades of the APRC government, we have witnessed all kinds of violence, repression, threats, uncertainty, economic backwardness and an international isolation from the warmongering policies and declarations adopted by the previous administration.

From there we went from having a peaceful state, courted by the majority of tourists and the international community for its sociological stability that had been grounded in the harmony and communion of communities and religions, but with the unlimited and inconceivable political strategies rooted in the ambitions of a unique being to the political system arrived in a monarchical-religious state, not based on the religious ideology itself, but on the cult of a character who saw himself as a semi-god. His rigid and thoughtless posture introduced the country into a maze, instability and fear of a possible episode of ethnic confrontation similar to dark days vivid in Rwanda and Republic of Central Africa. Thankfully, it did not reach the levels of Libya post-Gaddafi.

Thanks to the diplomatic maneuvers of neighboring countries, ECOWAS, African Union and the United Nations, everything was limited to a mere scare and the country was able to regain its dignity in the eyes of the world that kept looking at what was going on “that little country” as some international media used to title; The Gambian community abroad, for the most part, experiencing bitter nights, worried about their relatives, thousands of kilometers away from their homes; fake news and uncertainty, creating more tension than the political reality itself, especially the constant retractions of President Jammeh.

Three years after that fateful episode, and despite the efforts made by society to reestablish dialogue and reconciliation through the composition of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the wounds still taking time to heal completely, the voices of a new conscious and critical generation -mostly youths craving freedom and a new system- take to the streets reminding President Barrow to comply with his promises. Promises that in themselves pushed many citizens to vote in his favor, but today should we grant him the right to be mistaken for his lack of political experience? Many times, the electoral promises and the state reality go in opposite directions, especially in our countries, where frequently, the outgoing administration inheritance is usually catastrophic due to the mismanagement of public affairs and the distribution of common goods to favor a family, clan and closest friends, while the population succumbs to poverty and the country appears on the list of the world’s poorest nations.

Reason why we could affirm that the current tenant of the presidency is trapped by the political reality that surpasses his will and supposed “good faith” to keep his word. Not only does the population require urgent and pragmatic reforms, but the political survival of its project is at stake because he came to power under a coalition; an alliance where each party is weaving strategies to occupy the chair in the next elections. In fact, we have seen how divergences have led to the break between President Barrow and his former Prime Minister Ousainou Darboe. Not being Machiavellian, but having all these factors and the pressure of international institutions to make reforms, the president has no choice but to extend his term to five years. Because the temporary durability of mandates in Africa is different from the rest of other areas where industry and economic progress rarely depends on the government, however, in our countries, all socio-economic development is expected to come from the national leader.

And seeing the urgent needs that the country faces, I doubt that a three-year term will be enough to allow the president to fulfill all his electoral promises. Unless he decides to follow the greatness of Nelson Mandela, that is, to use his mandate as a period of national healing and the restoration of institutions, then organize free elections and make a peaceful and democratic transition. That said, I do not defend any position in favor of the administration, but I make a simple analysis of the situation and the political reality in which the country is at the moment. Forcing the president to leave power right now when the necessary reforms have not been fulfilled is also not a responsible idea; especially, if we take into account the necessary reforms in the military department for the stability of the country, seeing the context of regional instability, organize crimes and terrorism.

But this is not going to be an easy task, rising awareness and lessons learned from the previous dictatorship has meant that in The Gambia and in all African youths, a hunger for democracy is developing, a new methodology, paradigm shift and a more democratic way of governing, especially with the inclusion of young people seeing their importance and demographic weight and their handling of new technologies that positions them at the same level as the rest of the world youth.

We can discuss whether or not the problematics and answers are timely, given that the context calls for focusing on other urgent priorities for the country. But seen from the anthropological dimension, ethics and tradition, the fact of giving his “Word”/electoral promise has a very important significance in our communities. Historically, in our societies, when a social leader or patriarch gave his word of honor, he was expected to fulfill it as a moral reference. The word given had legal validity, which means a commitment and an obligation. And in this case, the president could be criticized for not fulfilling his (voluntary) promise to the people or having made a wrong strategic-communication when he issued those promises since he spoke based on people’s emotions and not on the basis of a rational political calculation. This is a common mistake among African leaders.

And mistakes like this are not acceptable by the present generation. Leaders are required to be consistent in their political speeches and never take society as “a childish club” that can be deceived based on variable songs.

Exercising his faculties, he told the public that his voluntas (ambition) was to make a term of three years as a preliminary stage of bringing together the diverse forces towards a more democratic transition and restoration of the credibility of the institutions that had succumbed during the previous era. As President Obama said, Africa does not need strong men as it is usually conceived, but strong institutions capable of guaranteeing rights and social progress.

However, there is also the legal-ethical dimension that can make the issue more complicated. Even if the president wishes to reduce his term to three years, and as a result of the constitution saying otherwise, he would have no alternative but to respect the law, since he is expected to be the first of the citizens to comply with the laws of the nation. You could only talk about other solutions: a referendum where the people would dictate their will, or the materialization of his free and uncoerced resignation … which is not the case here. So, given the massive discussions about the legitimacy of his continuity in power, what we could say is that, without being in favor or against the administration, the urgency is not in the question of the mandate itself.

Transition periods are never easy in Africa, especially after the nation had lived two decades of oppression and the violation of the fundamental rights of citizens. The national rupture based on ethnic-religious favoritism and economic waste to the detriment of other cultures-minorities produced sequels that the current administration is responsible for healing before talking about elections. The task of the president at the moment must be “paternalistic” in the sense that he has to federate the forces and communities before the elections or his possible resignation, otherwise the country plays instability, especially after the new constitutional reform that positions the country as a Muslim State. This is a huge error, and a very sensible question that needs to be treated with rationality and dialogue.
What is the place of those citizens who profess another religion or none? The state must be secular not in the European sense (inherited from the French Revolution of 1789), that is, the denial of religion in all its forms, but rather be the representation of the Republic in its philosophical and modern sense: the center of national unity and guarantor of the fundamental rights of its members. This is the most important task, even before talking about economic progress, because without a solid constitution, it is impossible to gain an atmosphere that allows any type of activity generating resources and well-being.

The Gambia, as a member state of the United Nations, is obliged to respect and enforce the Charter of Human Rights adopted and ratified by most countries. This implies respect for the rights of minorities guaranteed by the supreme law: national Constitution.
In this sense, after a fierce dictatorial era that limited the progress of freedoms and the economy, the most urgent thing that the current regime needs is to lay the foundations to guarantee institutions capable of building and ensuring democracy and social justice. Among these tasks is the necessary and imperative revision of the new constitution. It seems dangerous to me to denominate the country an Islamic state when it is a nation made up of different creeds and worldviews. Although the vast majority of the population is Muslim, the Islam practiced in the Gambia is not the same as in some Arabic countries. We have our customs-family alliances governing our communities long before the advent of monotheistic religions to our borders. Many social structures and families share the same last name; economic and socio-professional activities are composed of people of different religions but in everyday life these differences are never manifested, because the country is built on pillars of tolerance and acceptance.

We cannot fall into the error of ethnonationalism and the idolization of public space that is becoming a source of tension in many communities. Constitutions are not changed seeking political interest, but the guarantee of collective coexistence with equal conditions for all components of society. And in this sense, with this new constitution which is being generated it is the germination of a silence violence-exclusion that can be dangerous in the near future. Hence, it should be recommended to the current administration that, their task is always to listen carefully to the vox populi, which is what defines sovereignty. No leader has legitimacy if he does not have the legal support of his citizens.

Hence without the need to mention the debate about whether President Barrow has to keep his word or govern two more years, among the things the country needs is to transform its economy, make it more dynamic with ambitious reforms not ordered by the international economic institutions, rather seeking her own socio-economic model, national interest and inclusion of its citizens in the local economy-private sector; attract local-foreign investors in strategic areas to help develop a solid economy. But above all, the industrialization of the country, taking as a first alternative the creation of a new capital city, that is, making the administrative center a well-positioned site capable of connecting all regions and with a connection to the international world. The local economy cannot depend solely on tourism and importing. But the industrialization of the mayor economic sectors.

This leads me to think that, in the face of the new debate about the ECO currency that the French-speaking countries of the region are preparing to incorporate, the leaders must not fall into the error of accepting it, because it is disastrous for the local economy, especially for export. It must only be accepted if it is considered as a regional currency endorsed by all ECOWAS countries and that the guarantees are not controlled by the French central bank. Independence is not only political, also monetary sovereignty. Better to preserve the local currency or create a more competitive one with countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, etc., than adopt the ECO as it was sold to us this week: French national interest.

The country faces challenges: urgent improvement of the education system, health, social justice, poverty reduction, lack of employment that pushes young people to migrate and die inhumanly, external indebtedness, chronic dependence on IMF, World Bank, and foreign aid policies. The leaders need to follow the example of the BRICS countries, the giant Asians who had our same level of GDP in the 1960s and today are among the most advanced. It is an imperative to encourage the Gambian intelligentsia​ in the diaspora to participate in national progress, not only by sending money to their families, but also in the creation of projects, sharing ideas by means of the new technologies in order to overcome the distance-barrier. For example, in the education sector, those in the diaspora can teach their siblings and transmit their knowledge through the use of new technologies. They can preserve their standard of living in their respective countries while contributing to the progress of the country from a distance. It only takes the political will and the availability of the rest of society to open up to the new paradigms and demands of the new era: knowledge economy.

Finally, the country’s position before the International Criminal Court is to congratulate. It is not a question of the defense of Muslims (Rohingya genocide) in Myanmar (Burma) or a religious ideologization, but of basic human rights. The guarantees of these rights have to be defended by all states imperatively. Being a small country does not mean the absence of own voice. The country must position itself in the decision-making centers that affect the course of humanity. Of course, as a recommendation, diplomacy has to be reformed to meet the new challenges and geopolitical contexts. Among these reforms, the selection process, appointment and training of staff. If the creation of a Diplomatic and International Relations Academy is expensive, another way would be through international collaboration to train its diplomatic staff.

Finally, instead of protesting, what we should do (Gambians, like all Africans) is, a mental/psychological transformation, the adoption of new paradigms and policies that meets the social demands. The others move forward while we are constantly trying to heal the wound that never heals: electoral problems in Africa and constitutional changes in favor of a few. Our era asks for renewed alternatives: democracy, transparency, knowledge economy, more weight for women and young people in the public space.

The writer, Maurice D. Samb, is a Philosopher and a PhD Researcher in Environment and International Security. He wrote from Spain

Mamma Kandeh wishes Gambia Christians a Merry Christmas

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GDC leader Mamma Kandeh on Tuesday wished Gambian Christians a Merry Christmas, as they joined the rest of the world today to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Mr Kandeh in a Christmas message said: “On the occasion of this year’s Christmas, I wish everyone especially the Christian community in the Gambia, a Merry Christmas.

“As we celebrate this year’s Christmas too, we equally pray for continuous peace, good health, happiness and development in the Gambia.

“May we witness many more Christmas celebrations in the future. Thank you all.”

Pope defends migrants, calls for peace in Christmas message

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Pope Francis urged the world to let the light of Christmas pierce the “darkness in human hearts” that leads to religious persecution, social injustice, armed conflicts and fear of migrants.

In his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) Christmas Day message, the 83-year-old pope called for peace in the Holy Land, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Venezuela, Ukraine and several African countries caught up in conflicts.

The common thread of his address to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and millions watching or listening around the world was that change starts in the hearts of individuals.

“There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is greater still,” Francis said, as he marked the seventh Christmas of his pontificate.

“There is darkness in personal, family and social relationships, but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light of Christ,” he said.

Francis singled out the persecution of Christians by militant groups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, asking God to console those who suffer for their faith.

On Dec. 1, at least 14 people were shot dead in an attack on a church in eastern Burkina Faso, where an Islamist insurgency has ignited ethnic and religious tensions.

“BRIGHTEN THE DARKNESS”

Francis, who has been scorned by populist politicians because of his defense of refugees and migrants, dedicated a section of his address to their plight.

“It is injustice that makes them cross deserts and seas that become cemeteries. It is injustice that forces them to endure unspeakable forms of abuse, enslavement of every kind and torture in inhumane detention camps,” Francis said.

This month, Francis called for the closing of migrant detention camps in Libya.

“It is injustice that turns them away from places where they might have hope for a dignified life, but instead find themselves before walls of indifference,” he said.

Francis said that while there were many huge problems in the world, people did not have to look far to correct injustices. They could make a difference in their own communities as a start to healing all the “suffering members of our human family”.

“May (God) soften our often stony and self-centered hearts, and make them channels of his love. May he bring his smile, through our poor faces, to all the children of the world: to those who are abandoned and those who suffer violence,” Francis said.

To underscore his message, the two cardinals Francis chose to join him on the basilica’s central balcony were Renato Martino, president emeritus of the Vatican’s immigration office, and Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner who distributes aid to Rome’s poor and homeless.

“Through our frail hands, may he clothe those who have nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the sick,” he said, adding that through friendship, everyone could be close to the elderly, the lonely, migrants and marginalized people.

“On this joyful Christmas Day, may he bring his tenderness to all and brighten the darkness of this world,” he said. (Reuters)

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