By Lamin Njie

Abubacarr Tambadou on Monday called for understanding in the wake of his decision to release three former members of former president Yahya Jammeh’s elite killing crew.

The Justice Minister last Friday recommended the release from custody of Malick Jatta, Omar A Jallow and Amadou Badjie. The three beleaguered soldiers who have been under detention for almost two and a half years appeared before the TRRC last month telling the investigation they took part in the killing of dozens of people on the orders of former president Yahya Jammeh.

On Monday, the Justice Minister at a midday press conference confirmed he has made a decision to release the three soldiers.

“The cooperation of these three men has been very critical to the TRRC processand this should be recognized,” Mr Tambadou said.

The Fatu Network broke the news of the three former killers release on Friday – and the development quickly sparked widespread outrage. The mother of Alhagie Mamut Ceesay who was killed by Omar Jallow told The Fatu Network “I am indeed shocked, surprised and fearful for [The] Gambia.”

“If the jugulars are capable of killing Gambians for 22 years then they are capable of doing it again for Jammeh or for any one with power,” Ya Amie Ceesay added.

But the justice minister insists the decision to release the three men is in the victims’ “long term interests.”

“I therefore continue to count on the understanding of the public and especially the victims. We need your continued trust and partnership in this process if we are to learn from the mistakes of others and make a success of our truth commission. And so far, we have been able to successfully navigate through our own challenges by making the right strategic decisions at the right times,” Mr Tambadou said.

The High Court in Banjul has sentenced a 46-year-old man to 10 years in prison for raping an 11-year-old girl.

The Standard newspaper reported Friday Justice Sainabou Wadda Cisse of the high court in Banjul recently handed Sorry Jallow a 10-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of raping an 11-year-old girl.

Justice Wadda Cisse remarked that the victim’s ultimate realization that someone, an adult of 46 years old and a father of 2 children could manifest such sexual desperation on an 11-year-old girl is inconceivable, the paper reported. The rapist is said to be a shopkeeper

By Reuters

A Spanish charity rescue boat sought safe port on Friday after Italy rejected its request to disembark 124 people saved from two migrant rafts in the Mediterranean, the organization said.

Non-governmental organization (NGO) rescue boats have largely disappeared from the Mediterranean over the last year as governments have tightened controls. Charity ships that have rescued migrants have faced lengthy standoffs in their attempt to disembark those onboard.

Barcelona-based NGO Open Arms rescued 55 people from a sinking raft on Thursday, among them two babies, and a further 69 people from another boat during Thursday night, the organization said on Twitter.

Two heavily pregnant women were among those rescued from the second raft, Open Arms founder Oscar Camps said on Twitter, while many showed signs of violence suffered in Libya before beginning the sea journey.

“As was to be expected, we have received word from the Italian government. A 50,000 euro ($55,500) fine and seizure of the Open Arms hangs over us if we enter Italian waters, this in addition to the threats of the Spanish government,” Open Arms wrote on Twitter.

The boat was heading north in search of a safe port, the organization added.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who heads the far-right League party, is pushing to increase fines for rescue boats and said on Thursday any which enter Italian waters will be seized.

“I would tell them that the government of Spain hopes they will act in accordance with international agreements and international law,” Isabel Celaa, spokeswoman for the caretaker Socialist government, told reporters on Friday when asked about the boat.

The Open Arms was blocked from operating in the Mediterranean earlier this year after Spanish maritime authorities said the NGO had violated international agreements that rescued migrants should be taken to the closest available port.

Spain replaced Italy earlier this year as Europe’s main migrant destination as the western Mediterranean route from Morocco to the Iberian peninsula became the most active in the region.

While numbers of arrivals to the continent overall have fallen consistently in recent years, immigration remains divisive in the European Union, with one poll finding it voters’ key concern ahead of EU elections in May.

By Lamin Njie

The ministry of justice has purportedly asked the army to released three former members of former president Yahya Jammeh’s elite killing crew.

Malick Jatta, Omar Jallow and Amadou Badjie last month appeared before the TRRC telling the investigation they participated in the killing of dozens of people while serving as members of the former president’s hit squad. The three soldiers have been under detention since their arrest by the military police in 2017.

But a letter purportedly from the ministry of justice and signed by the solicitor general Cherno Marenah has recommended that the three soldiers be released ‘immediately’.

The purported justice ministry letter read: “Following the appearance and the testimony at the TRRC of Malick Jatta, Omar Jallow and Amadou Badjie, all serving members of the Gambia National Army, during the week of 22-25 July 2019, and in view of their cooperation with the commission regarding several incidents of human rights violations and abuses under the previous administration, the Attorney General recommends that the said soldiers be immediately released from custody subject to the following conditions;

“That they immediately subject themselves to regular professional counselling by the psycho-social unit at the TRRC; that they give an undertaking to serve as prosecution witnesses in the event that they are called upon to do in any future trial that The Gambia may have an interest in.

“Upon their release from custody, it is also recommended that they placed on administrative leave on such terms as you may deem fit pending the outcome of the TRRC process.”

The solicitor general Cherno Marenah did not answer a call for comment. The spokesman of the Gambian army Major Lamin K Sanyang also could not comment on the letter.

Meanwhile, Aisha Jammeh a daughter to Haruna Jammeh who was killed by Omar Jallow and other fellow junglers has told The Fatu Network Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou Friday morning had a meeting with the victims where he announced his plan to release the soldiers. The victims are said to have rejected the idea.

The Justice Minister confirmed to The Fatu Network that a meeting took place at his office but he did not give detail. The Justice Minister is expected to throw more light on the case of the detained junglers at a press conference billed for Monday.

Meanwhile, the mother of Alhagie Mamut Ceesay who was killed by he junglers has reacted to the Justice Minister’s plan.

She told The Fatu Network Friday: “I am indeed shocked, surprised and fearful for [The] Gambia. Firstly, no government or law should make a deal without consulting with victims first. If the jugulars are capable of killing Gambians for 22 years then they are capable of doing it again for Jammeh or for any one with power. And the reasons could never be known, but it could be for money or to flee outside the country.

“Secondly, If the government is doing this to follow the law, it’s true you cannot hold anyone in jail without charges but since they have confessed to killing individuals then the government should release them but also charge them with murder and be taken to court. This is to protect the victims, the people and the sovereignty of The Gambia as a civilized society, in the name of truth, reconciliation and the rule of law. I am very disappointed and we will stand together as victims to fight this to make sure due process takes it’s cause.”

See the letter purportedly by the justice ministry recommending that the three soldiers to be released below;

The families of the 44 Ghanaians who were killed in 2005 across the Gambian border broke down in tears when a lone survivor in the massacre narrated how his other colleagues died in pain.

The families who are still in grief attended a forum organized by the Jammeh2Justice Ghana Campaign, a civil society coalition which is demanding action against the perpetrators including the former Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh.

Martin Kyere, narrating his ordeal said the 56 West African migrants, including 44 Ghanaians went through excruciating and inhumane treatment meted out to them on the orders of Yahya Jammeh.

The migrants were executed by the “Junglers” squad, a paramilitary force that took orders from Jammeh, across the Gambian border in Senegalese territory.

He said he dodged bullets fired by gunmen after jumping from a truck that was carrying the detained migrants before the Junglers killed his colleagues.

Kyere explained that he joined the campaign for justice after nearly 15 years of the incident to draw the attention of the Ghanaian Government and the International Community on the murder of the innocent migrants.

“44 of our nationals have been killed. Have you heard of our Parliamentarians discussing something about that? Have you heard about anybody in Government talking about that? Now it’s out. And I know that the first person who had this message is the President and the Attorney-General. They all know that indeed it is Yahya Jammeh’s administration. It is Yahya Jammeh himself who ordered for the killing of Ghanaians and now the ball is in the bosom of the Ghanaian authorities to show interest that indeed that we all deserve to have justice”, he stressed.

Two Gambian soldiers, Lieutenant Malick Jatta and Corporal Omar A. Jallow recently revealed to Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that the migrants were executed by the “Junglers” squad, a paramilitary force that took orders from Jammeh, across the Gambian border in Senegalese territory.

Families of the deceased want the government of Ghana to ensure that justice is served to bring closure to the matter.

Although the Government of Ghana had promised to re-open its investigations into the massacre, the affected families say not much has been done.

Amidst tears, the bereaved families said the killing of their relatives who were mostly breadwinners had affected their living.

One of the relatives said: “Jammeh, how will I cope with my life and that of my children? President of our nation, I am appealing to you to intervene in this matter and help us get justice. My only issue is Eric my son was my hope because I knew he could help me and his other siblings. So if Jammeh has killed my son, why not come and kill me too”. Another woman who also spoke at the forum pleaded that “All that I would like to say is that the authorities should come in and help us to get justice.”

The Jammeh2Justice Ghana Campaign is a joint group of civil society groups including the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Africa Center for International Law and Accountability, Amnesty International, Human Rights Advocacy Center (HRAC), POS Foundation, and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

Executive for CDD-Ghana, Franklin Oduro said they will push until justice is served.

“So we thought that with the revelation that has come, we need to begin to engage the Government of Ghana to reopen the case and seek to bring Yahya Jammeh to justice,” he emphasized. (Ghanaweb)

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow is missing a huge opportunity for appearing to not accept to step down after three years, Madi Jobarteh has said.

A gentleman deal that brought President Barrow to power in December, 2016 has been dividing Gambians. The deal was put together by a coalition of seven political parties which backed Barrow – and it says President Barrow should preside over a three-year transition government. But the president has appeared to be rowing back on the agreement, telling Gambians he will be in office until 2021.

But speaking to The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview, Madi Jobarteh insisted President Barrow should leave office this coming December.

The fiery pundit said: “He should respect three years and step down honorably, peacefully.

“If he did that, he would have earned himself not just domestic honor and prestige but he would have earned himself such international standard that probably would be near what Nelson Mandela had or so.

“So I think Barrow is missing a huge opportunity and those advising him and himself are severely misleading him to believe by any means he has to serve for five years.”

President Barrow has been notching up a lot of supporters who say it is not feasible for the president to leave office in December. Some of them go as far as saying the president would be violating the constitution if he resigns.

But Mr Jobarteh has also slammed these reasonings saying: “This three-year, five-year; you talk to people and they want to refer you to the constitution and say five years. This is not a constitutional issue because it does not challenge the constitution in any way.

“It doesn’t affect the constitution in any way. Rather, it is in line with the constitution because the constitution provides for a president to leave office without through elections at any time. So it is not a constitutional issue. It is a matter of political decency. It is a matter of morality. It is a matter of integrity.”

By Momodou Justice Darboe

A Gambian and a Lebanese have been arrested by the police over the seizure of a 20-foot container containing large quantities of cocaine.

Mahdi Tajudinn and Ossama Mahmood were said to be helping the police in their investigations in the cocaine matter.

Addressing the media on the cocaine seizure, the deputy public relations officer of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia, DLEAG, Mrs Ndimballan, explained that the cocaine was discovered last Saturday in Banjul by labourers who were helping offload a container. The container was part of a consignment of 30 by 20 ft containers of white crystal sugar ordered from Toyoto Tsusho Sugar Trading company based in the UK by a Mauritanian businessman Sidi Ahmed.

Ndimballan further explained: “While offloading the sugar at his shop at Picton Street in Banjul, the labourers discovered two loose bags containing 20 blocks and 6 blocks of what was suspected to be cocaine respectively.

While the DLEAG deputy spokesperson could not immediately give specifics in terms of the quantity and the worth, Mrs Ndimballan said the seized drugs were cocaine – and it was the labourers who informed the buyer of the sugar, Sidi Ahmed, who also called the attention of the supplier, Mahdi Tajudinn, who happens to be sales manager of LFC.

“Mahdi then instructed Ahmed Ali, an emplyee of LFC to go and verify what was discovered and upon providing feedback, Mahdi came to the scene to see for himself.

“Having being shown the blocks, he instructed for the container to be escorted to their warehouse at Bond Road and then informed his uncle Muhamed Nasser, proprietor of Kairaba Shopping Centre. Mr Nasser then contacted Muhamed Zeid(Daa) who advised them to contact DLEAG which they did.`

The impounded container was addressed to Laura Food Company as per the bill of lading. It is a registered company in The Gambia, dealing in various types of foodstuff since 2016. The company has two directors/shareholders namely Osama Mahmoud (45%) and Hussain Seaf(55%), who is currently reported to be on holidays in Lebanon.

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Armed Forces has issued a statement saying the reports that Sana Manjang and Bora Colley have been arrested as false.

The Fatu Network carried a report Thursday afternoon saying two of the most sought-after former junglers Sana Manjang and Bora Colley have been arrested, quoting sources.
The Gambian army in a statement issued moments ago said the story is false.

“The GAF Command wishes to categorically state that this information is untrue/false. The Military Police of GAF has not been involved in any operation to effect the arrest of Brigadier General Bora Colley and Lieutenant Colonel Sanna Manjang, who are very senior members of the “Junglers” and also persons of interest to the Government of the republic of The Gambia,” the army’s statement signed by its spokesman Major Lamin K Sanyang said.

The army went on to encourage members of the public who may have information on the whereabouts of members of the “Junglers” that are still at large and out of the jurisdiction to provide this information to the nearest military or police post.

Editor’s note: Now that the Gambia Army Forces has confirmed that Sana Manjang and Bora Colley have not been arrested, we would like to apologise for carrying a false story. The story we did earlier today was based on sources – sources who have proved to be very credible and we have had no reason to doubt them. One of the sources quoted has been working with The Fatu Network for five years and has always been found to be very credible. But again, our unreserved apologies for carrying a false story.

African telecom firm Africell plans to spend part of a $100 million (£80.39 million) U.S. credit line on expanding its infrastructure and fintech services, its chief executive said on Friday.

The 18-year-old company, which has 15 million subscribers across its four African operations, secured the loan in May from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. government’s private investment fund.

Africell founder and chief executive Ziad Dalloul told Reuters the money would help fund infrastructure investments for its operations in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia and Sierra Leone.

He also said it would help the firm expand fintech services, such as mobile payments, micro-insurance and micro-finance.

Mobile money payments, pioneered in Kenya, have expanded rapidly in other African nations where many people do not have bank accounts.

Dalloul said Africell would bid to become the fourth operator in Angola, which was expected to reissue a tender in the next two months after the original tender for the licence was annulled in April.

“We are looking only at markets where we can make a difference,” he said, saying this included Angola and Zimbabwe.

He said Angola was attractive because the country’s state-owned Angola Telecom had a large market share that could be vulnerable to a more aggressive private operator like Africell.

“Day one, we can just change the whole thing … drop market prices, expand into rural areas, provide faster, better service on internet. These are the things we know how to do. So that’s why we are keeping an eye on Angola,” he said.

He said Africell had $300 million, separate from the OPIC credit line, to spend on a new market like Angola within the first year of commencing business if they secured a licence. (Reuters)

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana SAN has urged the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda to “immediately open an investigation into the allegations of international crimes committed by the government of former president Yahya Jammeh.”

Falana stated this today in his keynote address at a meeting by the African Network on International Criminal Justice held at Dakar, Senegal.

In the paper titled: Africa and the ICC: Achieving justice for victims and ending impunity across the continent Falana said, “If the ICC wants to be relevant in Africa it cannot continue to pick and choose the cases to investigate and prosecute. For instance, the Prosecutor of the ICC issued warnings and threatened to prosecute politicians linked with political violence during the 2015 general election in Nigeria. But no such warning was ever issued when former President Yahya Jammeh annulled a credible presidential election held in The Gambia in 2016.”

“Happily, the Economic Community of West African States intervened decisively and prevented the break out of a civil war in the country. As the ICC cannot continue to turn a blind eye to atrocities committed by the regime of former president Yahya Jammeh of Gambia the Prosecutor should open an investigation into them under the Rome Statute without any further delay.”

Falana’s paper read: “The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recognizes that during this century millions of children, women and men have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity” owing to armed conflicts. These grave crimes threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world. Africa has had its fair share of the problem. As such, various efforts to pursue, make and keep the peace have been intensified over the past half a century.”

“To the extent that the ICC has failed to try the heads of governments of some powerful states responsible for the unprecedented crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria the allegation of selective prosecution of African leaders cannot be dismissed lightly. But the failure of the ICC to prosecute such well known highly placed criminal suspects should not be a justification for preventing the arrest and trial of other perpetrators of crimes against humanity and genocide.”

“As far as Africa is concerned the ICC cannot be absolved of the allegations of selective prosecution. In fact, the case of former President Laurent Gbagbo has gone from selective prosecution to selective persecution. Whereas he was discharged and acquitted in February 2019 the ICC has ordered him to be incarcerated in Belgium pending when the Prosecutor would file a fresh charge against him. But since the ICC has no power to order a defendant that has been tried, discharged and acquitted it ought to quash the detention of Mr. Gbagbo forthwith.”

“In as much as AU is opposed to the indictment and prosecution of African leaders not much has been done to promote to accountability and defend human rights. In fact, in order not to be held to account only nine States (Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Tanzania and The Gambia) have made a Declaration to allow victims of human rights abuse to seek redress in the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights. However, the AU will be deceiving itself if it believes that the planned mass withdrawal of African states from the ICC will shield African leaders who engage in genocidal acts from prosecution and humiliation.”

“As long as the governments in Africa continue to pay lip service to the fight against impunity, the victims of egregious human rights infringements will not hesitate to seek redress in available human rights mechanisms with a view to bringing perpetrators to book.”

“If the AU does not want Africans accused of violations of international law to be tried outside the continent and outside domestic jurisdictions, it has to show strong political will to combat impunity and ensure justice for victims. Refusal to comply with court orders admitting criminal suspects to bail or ordering the release of detainees is an invitation to anarchy. The manipulation of constitutions for tenure elongation is also an invitation to political instability.”

“The AU has to adopt measures to prevent the manipulation of national constitutions to legitimise tenure elongation by ruling parties, harassment of opposition figures and civil society activists, killing of political opponents, proscription of civil groups, closure of media houses and ban on freedom of expression and association.”

“To best address accountability and combat impunity across the continent, African leaders should strengthen and improve domestic criminal justice systems and the regional and sub-regional human rights courts and mechanisms. In particular, the Summit of Heads of State or Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should reaffirm its commitment to improve respect for human rights among its member states, consistent with the SADC treaty, which commits them to act in accordance with the principles of “human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”

“The Summit of Heads of State or Government should without further delay restore the SADC Tribunal’s human rights mandate and comply fully with the orders of regional tribunals and municipal courts. It should be noted that SADC leaders in August 2014 stripped the tribunal of its mandate to receive human rights complaints from individuals and organizations, leaving it only to adjudicate disputes between member countries. This drastically limits the tribunal’s human rights protection mandate.”

“The AU should immediately rescind its 2018 outrageous decision [DecisionEX.CL/Dec.1015(XXIII)] to limit the autonomy and human rights mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This illegal decision is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the human rights provisions of the AU Constitutive Act, and it is retrogressive to say the least.”

“It should be noted that the AU Executive Council in June 2018 stated in its decision that the African Commission only had “independence of a functional nature, and not independence from the same organs that created the body.” The AU Executive Council also decided to authorize the AU policy organs to revise the criteria for the commission to grant observer status to NGOs, taking into account overtly broad considerations of “African values and traditions.”

“The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights itself has to wake up and be counted on the side of human rights, be more assertive in the exercise of its human rights mandate and to robustly challenge any attack on its foundational instrument—the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—by the AU or any other institutions for that matter. The African Commission has to restate its historical leading role across the continent in promoting and protecting human and peoples’ rights, including in Nigeria when it delivered groundbreaking decisions during the period of military dictatorship in the country.”

“The AU should stop prioritizing ‘political settlement’ of egregious human rights abuses at the expense of accountability, access to justice and effective remedies for African victims of violations and abuses. Accountability and justice must never be sacrificed to promote the interests of those in power.”

“African victims of human rights violations and abuses cannot have faith and confidence in domestic criminal justice systems and regional and sub-regional human rights courts if the AU continues to fail or refuse to address the challenges confronting these institutions of justice and to consistently obey and enforce court judgments.”

“The African human rights community should coordinate and organize victims of crimes against humanity and genocide to seek reliefs within the criminal justice system. Victims of human rights abuse should be encouraged and supported to seek redress in domestic courts and regional tribunals and institutions. The AU and its member states and African leaders in general must sort out the procedural obstacles that continue to impede the effective enforcement of judgments of regional courts in domestic nation states.”

“The AU should stop engaging in confrontation with the ICC and instead show genuine commitment to prosecute those accused within member states’ domestic courts, develop the capacity to prosecute crimes under international law within national courts, and improve access to justice for victims nationally and regionally. The African Union should adequately fund the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and encourage its member states that have not yet done so to ratify the protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and make declarations that would allow individuals and NGOs direct access to the court.” (ChannelsTV)

By Lamin Njie

Ecobank has fixed its ATM and other card services after days of disruption.

Ecobank ATM service has been non-operational for days, precipitating a queuing nightmare at Ecobank branches across the country.

But in an update via text message, Ecobank said its card services have been restored.

“We regret the inconvenience caused during the period of service interruption,” the bank added.

An official of the bank told The Fatu Network the disruption was due to a systems upgrade.

By DailyMail

Men with high testosterone are much more likely to cheat on their partners, a study shows.

Researchers found increased rates of infidelity among men with the highest levels of the hormone.

Those with lower levels were less inclined to have a fling, according to the team at Zurich University in Switzerland.

The findings support previous research suggesting the hormone can affect a man’s ability to remain faithful to his partner.

Researchers say the results are significant as testosterone replacement therapy is becoming increasingly popular.

Doctors dish the treatment out for flagging libido and even depression.

Testosterone – produced in the testes – is often referred to as the ‘male’ hormone. However, women do also produce it in much smaller amounts.

The hormone is responsible for men’s deeper voices, hairy chests, libido and muscle mass.

Higher levels in men have previously been linked with risk-taking behaviour, as well as increased attraction to the opposite sex.

The scientists surveyed 224 healthy middle-aged men who had been in steady relationships for 20 years or more.

They quizzed them on the frequency of their unfaithful behaviour and took saliva samples to measure testosterone levels.

More than a third of the men confessed to cheating on their partners at least once and the majority of these had higher-than-average testosterone levels.

Researchers said they found a ‘robust’ relationship between the hormone and men’s infidelity.

It may also explain why men are so much more likely to cheat than women, the team wrote in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

In a report on the findings, they said: ‘Higher levels of testosterone are related to mating-behaviour, sexual desire and infidelity.

‘Men have, on average, six times as much testosterone than women and show considerably higher rates of unfaithful behaviour.

‘They tend to seek more frequent sexual encounters due to the evolutionary reproductive benefits of having multiple sexual partners.

‘But research also suggests men with high testosterone levels are perceived as more attractive by women in terms of short-term partners.’

They added: ‘Higher testosterone levels are a potential risk factor for unfaithful behaviour.

‘This is especially important considering testosterone supplementation in men has received substantial attention for treating sexual dysfunction or depression.’

By Lamin Njie

Halifa Sallah said Tuesday he is perturbed after Mambury Njie failed to say whether a 60 million dollars loan obtained from Saudi Arabia are for projects that fall under the National Development Plan.

Finance Minister Mambury Njie on Tuesday appeared before Gambian lawmakers seeking for their blessing for The Gambia to go ahead with a plan to borrow 60 million dollars from Saudi Arabia. The loan is meant to execute a number of infrastructure projects in the country ahead of the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit to be held in The Gambia in 2022.

But the finance minister’s failure to say whether the projects form part of the National Development Plan has been flayed by top Gambian lawmaker Halifa Sallah.

Speaking on the issue at the House on Tuesday, Mr Sallah said: “If national assembly members are not worried, I am worried. I am worried because I am told by the minister that there is a national development plan and this national development plan requires 2.4 billion (dollars), and we have priority projects 21 costing 1.6 billion (dollars).

“I am being told to support loan agreement. I have not heard a single comment whether these projects are components of the national development plan. So is the national development plan really the blueprint that the guiding the development of this country? That is why I am worried.

“Yes we have been told about OIC, how does it link to the national development plan? We look at the minister’s speech stating very clearly to us at page 35 of his budget speech indicating the seriousness of our debts. He’s indicated that currently that our public debt to GDP is about 88 percent highlighting an unsustainable trajectory.

“Essentially, one would have anticipated that this national assembly would require an assessment every time a loan is brought before us, of the implication and the sustainability of the loan, and how it is impacting on the national development plan so that ultimately we are in charge of all the controls in managing our economy. That is what is called discipline, financial discipline and fiscal discipline.

“Because ultimately we are going to rely on the national budget to pay any loan we may take. And he is talking about five years grace period. It is coming. And the national assembly is guided that we should submit this to a committee so that we review and the minister goes back and see how this package fits into the national development plan and when he comes here he speaks the language of the national development plan.

“So in essence I would not be able to look into the merit because I believe that sufficient work is not done by this national assembly so that it can be properly informed to know that what it is supporting is actually part and parcel of the national development plan and will enhance its implementation.”

By Reuters

Tired of seeing Senegal’s seascapes spoiled by ever-growing mounds of cheap plastic bags, authorities plan to crack down on polluters by imposing fines and further restricting plastic use.

The West African country, whose beaches on the Atlantic attract tourists from all over the world, is one of the world’s biggest contributors to ocean plastic despite having a population of just 15 million.

A study in 2010, reported by the journal Science, put it 21st out of all nations for quantity of waste being dumped in the sea – with 254,770 tonnes, only just behind the United States, a vastly bigger economy with many times more people and coastline.

Across Senegal, plastic containers are strewn across roads, often with goats and cows feeding on them, while rubbish can be seen floating in the sea.

Globally, public awareness is growing about the harm being done by plastic, which hurts marine life and instead of biodegrading breaks down into ubiquitous microplastics.

According to science writer Mike Berners-Lee, of the nine billion tonnes of plastic ever produced, 5.4 billion has been dumped onto land or the sea – enough to shrink wrap the planet in clingfilm.

In Senegal, a 2015 law banned the most common thin polythene bags, but was never applied. Grocers wrap individual items, even blobs of cheese, butter and coffee in copious plastic.

“The law is not enforced. When you reach major cities, you are greeted by an unpleasant decor, a … visual pollution made of plastic waste as far as the eye can see,” Environment Minister Abdou Karim Sall told Reuters. “We will go around shops … we have security forces who can support us. We’re going to start enforcing this law in its full force,” he said.

Sall said the government would introduce a new bill in the coming months to ban a wider range of plastic, including thicker shopping bags, following similar moves in Kenya and Rwanda.

“DUMPING GROUND”

Environmental officers will hold public gatherings to inform people about the negative effects of plastics for health, fishing and farming, Sall said.

Then police will enforce a law which fines shopkeepers up to 50,000 CFA francs ($85) for distributing the bags, a lot for a country with a GDP per capita of $1,500, according to World Bank figures. Those manufacturing thinner bags risk six months in prison or 20 million CFA francs ($34,000) in fines.

Thirty-four African countries have tried to use laws to curb plastic use since South Africa banned plastic bags in 2003, according to the U.N. Environment Programme.

In 2017, Kenya imposed one of the world’s toughest bans on plastic bags, with up to four years in prison or $40,000 fines for producing, selling or even using them.

French supermarkets like Carrefour and Auchan also distribute plastic bags in Senegal, but as they are thicker the law doesn’t yet affect them.

Assietou Drame, spokeswoman for Auchan Senegal, said the supermarket aimed to “completely eliminate the sale of plastic bags” and offer paper bags instead. A Carrefour spokesperson said it normally gives textile bags but had temporarily run out.

A few Senegalese are meanwhile taking the initiative.

On Dakar’s Virage beach, restaurant owner Babacar Thiaw grew frustrated with seeing his employees rake the beach every morning only for the waste to return hours later.

“Look at the beach, how beautiful it is, but at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., you come back and it looks like a dumping ground because people bring … their plastic and they throw it anywhere,” Thiaw said.

He decided to go “zero-waste”, replacing plastic straws with metal ones, and by Aug. 1, reuseable glass bottles will replace plastic ones and ground coffee beans will be in capsules.

“I told myself: I’ll start doing something today that can inspire people tomorrow,” he said.