By The Standard

A son of a leading business tycoon last Friday stabbed a cousin to death.

Muhammed Jawara, 32, knifed Bilal Sillah in the ribs and stomach at around 4am after a fight broke out over money, in Jawara’s father’s compound in Bakau. He died by noon at a hospital.

Muhammed claimed he was acting in self-defence, official sources told The Standard.
The accused is now charged with murder and is in police custody.

CID officers told this medium that Muhammed said Bilal wanted his money even though he already gave him some.

According to them, Muhammed said Bilal threatened to crash the car they were driving in as they were returning from a nightclub in Senegambia.

The police said Muhammed told them his mother had warned him to stay away from Bilal because “he has killed before”.

The CID officers said Muhammed is under suicide watch as he has been “seriously distraught” since the homicide.

However, when contacted for comment, police spokesman ASP Lamin Njie said he was not aware of the incident.

As of last evening, Muhammed Jawara was in custody at the Kanifing Police Station.

Pope Francis called for the closing of migrant detention camps in Libya on Thursday, saying they were rife with torture and slavery.

Francis, who has made defense of migrants and refugees a key part of his pontificate, made his comments in to a group of refugees, including women and children, brought to Italy by the Vatican from a transit camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

“How can we fail to hear the cry of so many brothers and sisters who prefer to face a tempestuous sea rather than die slowly in Libyan detention camps, places of torture and ignoble slavery?” he said.

More than 5,000 refugees and migrants are held in 19 official detention facilities in Libya, some controlled by armed groups, as well as an unknown number in squalid centres run by traffickers, according to the United Nations.

Rights groups say abuses are rife including beating and forced labor.

“We need a serious commitment to empty out the detention camps in Libya, evaluating and activating all possible solutions,” Francis said, adding, without elaborating, that “complicity by institutions” should be denounced.

In September, prosecutors arrested three people, a Guinean and two Egyptians, suspected of torturing migrants in a detention center in northwest Libya. The three were found in a migrant registration center in Sicily.

Francis spoke sombrely as he unveiled a cross bearing a battered red life jacket that was used by an unknown migrant who drowned in the Mediterranean in July.

Detainees in the Libyan camps include those who left on boats for Europe and were brought back by the European Union- backed Libyan Coast Guard, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

More than 1,100 migrants have died or are missing at sea after attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. The number of crossings dropped sharply from 2017 amid an EU backed push to block arrivals.

“The problem is not resolved by blocking boats,” Francis said, adding that this left them at the mercy of unscrupulous human traffickers. (Reuters)

By Adama Makasuba

Residents in the Upper River Region have accused the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service of shutting their eyes to bush fires ravaging vast areas in the region.

Residents of the villages of Allunahari, Dare Wassu, Talito and Demba Kunda said they sought help from firefighters in Basse regarding a bushfire crisis in the region but their demand has been spurned.

One resident told The Fatu Network: “Yesterday there was a new fire outbreak around Alunhari, Dare Wasa, Talito, and Demba Kunda but when the Fire Services were called for help, they said their vehicle cannot come to the scene, because their boss didn’t give them order to go.”

The spokesman of Gambia Fire and Rescue Services Pateh Gibba told The Fatu Network their fire engines are not built to tackle bush-fires

“I talked to the command in Basse and he told me they didn’t receive any call from villagers on Tuesday,” Mr Gibba said.

He added: “People should know that the fire engines use by the fire services are not meant (to quell) bush fire, they are meant to (to put off) domestic fire.”

“They (engines) are not designed to go and fight fire in the bush and come back home and fetch water to go back in the bush to fight the fire.”

By Lamin Njie

Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh has said he was ‘stupefied’ a people who claim they want a better government could stand in front of a government representative and insult his mother.

Thousands of Gambians on Monday took to the streets to ask President Adama Barrow to step down. The protesters, mostly members of pressure group Operation Three Years Jotna demanded Mr Barrow leave office by 19 January 2020 in line with his 2016 pledge to serve for only three years.

Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh met with the protesters at Denton Bridge as a special government representative where a petition was handed to him to deliver to President Barrow. The protesters had initially booed Mr Sankareh and rejected his nomination saying he was a ‘small’ government official.

But speaking to West Coast Radio in an exclusive interview, Mr Sankareh said the protesters insult his mother and that of the president.

“I was there and I heard what they said. I was stupefied that a people who want a better government, as they claim, a people who want a president that respect, according to them, his promises, a people who want a decent government would stand before a government representative and insult his mother, insult the president’s mother and tell him to tell the president that they hated him, it was unnerving,” he said.

By Adama Makasuba

Dozens of drivers on Wednesday converged at the Banjul City Council to complain of a crackdown by police.

Police in Banjul have reportedly barred commercial drivers from parking their vehicles in the terminal area.

Angered by the move, more than forty drivers today gathered at the complex of Banjul City Council.

“We always have this difficulties from the Police and we don’t know why they’re doing this to us,” Muhammed Drammeh who spoke to The Fatu Network on behalf of the drivers said.

“They always come and tell us to not park. We are tired of this and that’s why we gathered here to lodge our complaint to Banjul City Council to intervene.

“They (Police) never give us a reason to why they’re removing us here, rather they only remove us away like sheep with very harsh words.”

Modou Lamin Bah, the spokesman for Banjul City Council who also spoke to The Fatu Network called for calm and dialogue.

“Banjul City Council believes in dialogue because if one thing, a problem that is not solve is still a problem, and a problem that is solve is no more a problem,” he said.

The Fatu Network contacted the police spokesman ASP Lamin Njie who said he is not aware of the issue but promised to find out.

By Lamin Njie

Gambian troops and their Senegal counterparts were reportedly involved in a heated exchange in the border town of Darsilami, Kombo Central, sources have told The Fatu Network.

The reported exchange came after heavily armed Senegalese troops attempted to enter The Gambia.

“The incident happened this morning. The Senegalese troops said they wanted to come and greet the alkalo [of Darsilami],” a source said.

Army acting spokesman Malick Sanyang did not pick a call for comment.

ECOMIG, the intervention force that came to the country following former president Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to step down after losing the 2016 elections, is mostly composed of Senegalese troops. Their presence in the country has not been sitting well with members of the Gambia Armed Forces, as it has relegated them to the back.

Meanwhile a top official of the Gambian army told The Fatu Network Wednesday evening there was a scuffle but it was purely due to ‘miscommunication’.

“There was a change of leadership on the Senegalese side and they were on a familiarisation tour. Our troops were not informed of them coming but it has been resolved.

“And this issue has nothing to do with the Gambian army not being happy with the presence of ECOMIG. In fact, that’s not true. We are very much happy to have them here, that’s why are troops are being trained in Senegal for example,” he added.

By Adama Makasuba

National assembly members today referred the appointment of Babucarr A Suwaneh as ombudsman to the public appointments committee for scrutiny and consideration.

Mr Babucarr A Suwaneh, 65, has been chosen by President Adama Barrow to be The Gambia’s new ombudsman in accordance with section 167 (1) of 1997 constitution.

Mr Suwaneh’s appointment by President Barrow according to Vice President Dr Isatou Touray came to effect on 31 October 2019.

“I move that this august assembly do consent and confirm the appointment of Mr Babucarr A Suwaneh as ombudsman by His Excellency of the Republic of The Gambia which effect 1st November 2019 for an initial term of five years in accordance with section 164 (1) of the constitution and section 2 (3) of the ombudsman act 1997 and following consultation with public service commission,” VP Touray told lawmakers.

She informed members of the house that “records show that Mr Suwaneh who is about 65 years of age had worked for 45 years in the Gambian civil service.”

Halifa Sallah the national assemby member for Serrekunda however referred house members to page 66 standing order of 114 – paragraph 2 that “it is saying that it shall be duty of the public appointments committee scrutinize, consider and advise upon all appointments to a public office to be made by the executive and subject to confirmation of the national assemby.”

“In that regard madam speaker, I would want to move that we refer this issue to the substantive committee for advice to the national assemby.”

The lawmakers then agreed that the matter be referred to the public appointments committee.

By Lamin Njie

Mamma Kandeh has said President Adama Barrow does not have the political muscle to win even in Mankamang Kunda.

President Barrow hails from Mankamang Kunda, a small village in the Jimara district of Upper River Region.

Mr Barrow last month went around the country announcing at the end of the tour Gambians want him to continue serving them. As a result, he announced he was forming his own political party.

But speaking at a party rally in Sare Buchu in URR on Sunday, GDC leader Mamma Kandeh reviewed Mr Barrow’s popularity, albeit unfavourably.

Kandeh said: “He doesn’t have a party, it’s a movement he has. But we want to tell him a movement can’t take him anywhere.

“If he’s truly sure of himself, let him form a party. If they’re saying they have taken over the country, the three years is now complete, let him call elections. But if you see him insisting on going for another two years, he is scared.

“He said it’s Gambians who asked him to form a party. We should then go for elections if he truly trusts himself. If people are misleading you (Barrow) saying you have taken the country, you will not have even 10%. You will not be able to win even in Sare Mankamang.”

By Adama Makasuba

Supreme Islamic Council has vowed to continue campaigning against any plan for the inclusion of the word ‘secular’ in The Gambia’s new constitution.

Debate has been raging over whether the preamble of country’s new constitution should carry the word ‘secular’.

Gambian Christians are strong advocates of the words because they believe it would create a level playing field for all religions in the country. Gambian Muslims on the other hand are against the idea saying the word is anti-religion.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Sheikh Hamma Jaiteh of SIC said: “If the other religious groups opt or decide to ally with the word (secular) in an ideological fight or competition to deconsecrete or dereligionise and to despiritualise our norms and values, that will never deter us to continue advocating peacefully against the inclusion of the word in the new constitution.

“Secularizing the country is a threat to our religious freedom and practices because Supreme Islamic Council believes that the inclusion of the word is a serious security threat to our religious freedom and harmony and the respect that the country has been known for.”

Another SIC official Cardi Ousman Jah described the word as ‘dangerous’ adding, “we are anti-secular and we don’t want it.”

By Adama Makasuba

Operation Three Years Jotna has expressed concern over the attempted arrest of Sheriff Ceesay, a prominent member of the group.

Police officers from Brikama reportedly went for Sheriff Ceesay twice on Tuesday in an attempt to arrest him.

Sheriff Ceesay, who spoke to The Fatu Network at his home in Farato confirmed: “Yes it’s true. In the morning by 7am, two Police officers came here with their motorbike asking for me.

“They didn’t meet me here and by 11am they came back with a red double cabin from Brikama CID. That’s what they said and that they’re looking for me.”

According to Mr Ceesay, his lawyer Yankuba Darboe asked him to go to Brikama Police to find out why he police were asking for him.

“They confirmed now that the order came from the Police headquarters in Banjul. I have not done anything wrong and I am not scared because this is my fundamental right.

” I still standby my words, and if I am arrested Adama Barrow will be arrested for threatening the nation in Brikama,” he said.

Abdou Njie, group’s chairman while confirming Mr Ceesay’s attempted arrest said the days of arresting people in secret have ‘now gone’.

“You must arrest people on good reasons,” he said.

By Lamin Njie

Police CID officers are looking for Three Years Jotna top official Sheriff Ceesay, The Fatu Network has gathered.

Officers went to the house of Mr Ceesay twice today but have not been able to meet him there, sources have told The Fatu Network.

It comes a day after Mr Ceesay told The Fatu Network Operation Three Years will stage a fresh protest on 20 January 2020 if President Adama Barrow refuses to leave office.

“The message is that he has to respect the three years. Without that, we are coming back on the 20th of January in that we will never go back until he resigns but there is a room for dialogue from now to the 18 of January,” Mr Ceesay said on Monday as thousands of Gambians took to the streets to demand President Adama Barrow step down from power.

Meanwhile, a Three Years Jotna top official has confirmed that police went to the house of Mr Ceesay.

“The entire executive [of Three Years Jotna] will soon leave for Brikama [Police Station] to try to find out why they are looking for him,” he added.

By Lamin Njie

Fifteen people have appeared before the Brikama Magistrates Court and charged with conspiracy to commit felony and attempted murder.

Last week, an angry mob sparked outrage after it was seen in videos savagely beating Yahya Jagana, a 50-year-old farmer.

Mr was returning to his house on Thursday when natives of Busumbala allegedly descended on him after word went around that he was a child kidnapper. The Tabokoto resident had in his car six children.

On Monday, 15 people were dragged to court and charged with various offences that include attempted murder.

Prosecutors have asked the Brikama Magistrates Court to transfer the case to the high court in Banjul. They face up to life in prison.

By Lamin Njie

Operation Three Years will stage a fresh protest on 20 January 2020 if President Adama Barrow refuses to leave office, Sheriff Ceesay has said.

“The message is that he has to respect the three years. Without that, we are coming back on the 20th of January in that we will never go back until he resigns but there is a room for dialogue from now to the 18 of January,” the top Operation Three Years Jotna official told

The Fatu Network on Monday as thousands of Gambians took to the streets to demand President Adama Barrow step down from power

President Barrow in 2016 promised political parties that backed him that he would preside over a transition government of three years. He has now changed his mind saying he will be in office for five years ‘whether one likes it not’.

Meanwhile, Operation Three Years Jotna has handed over its petition to President Barrow through government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh.

In it, the group demands an announcement from Mr Barrow before the 19 January 2020, as to when “you intend to hold the Presidential elections agreed, in which you will not be a participant and will remain impartial without favour for any candidate of that election and will hand-over power honourably and graciously to whoever emerges as the victor of that election.”

By Lamin Njie

Many Gambians skipped work on Monday amid fears Operation Three Years Jotna was planning to throw the country into turmoil.

Students also skipped school as some businesses also closed after claims and counter-claims that members of Operation Three Years were a bunch of criminals who had planned to set the country on fire.

Three Years Jotna on Monday staged their protest after months of controversy but the pressure group’s protest attended by thousands of Gambians was mostly peaceful.

Madi Jobarteh in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network said the Gambia government pushed a false narrative to scare Gambians.

He said: “You can see what cost their lie made on our economy. A lot of people didn’t go to work. A lot of people did not open their shops. A lot of school children did not go to school. That is irreparable loss. For me, somebody should pay for it.

“President Barrow should pay for this and each and every head of that security agency should pay for this and they should pay for generating a lie in order to scare Gambians and to deny Gambians opportunities.

“Many people lost opportunities, a means to survive, a means to put bread and butter on the table because of a lie from the Gambia government, perpetrated by security chiefs and condoned by President Barrow.”