By Lamin Njie

Gambia Action Party announced Monday former chief of army staff General Lamin Bojang will be the party’s presidential candidate for the 2021 presidential election.

Gen Bojang led a distinguished career in the army but was sacked by former president Yahya Jammeh in 2012. The former president quickly compensated the top general by appointing him as consular general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

At a news conference in Bijilo on Monday, GAP secretary general Musa Yali Batchilly hailed Mr Bojang as a man who ‘lives an honest and honorable life.’

“He is kind, sincere, hardworking, firm and very fair. But his leadership skills have been tested when he was just an adolescent, a test he passed well,” Mr Batchilly said of Mr Bojang who is currently the deputy Gambian ambassador to Russia.

It is not yet clear whether Mr Bojang will accept to be GAP’s presidential candidate as he was not consulted regarding the role.

Officials of Team Bakary Badjie on Saturday met with President Adama Barrow at State House where they pledged their support to the Gambian leader on his plan to remain in office until 2021.

President Barrow came to power in 2016 after promising to be in office for only three years but he has had a change of heart and will now remain in office until 2021.

Gambians have been divided over whether Mr Barrow should remain in office, with many claiming the president is trying to cling to power.

But on Saturday, the local executive committee of Team Bakary Badjie that managed and supported the campaign for the ‘Bakary Badjie for KMC Mayor’ held a meeting with the President Barrow, with the three years issue featuring prominently.

A statement signed by Bakary Badjie said: “The meeting centered on the growing political polarization and other issues impeding peaceful coexistence and advancement of our beloved country, The Gambia.

“Nyima Saidy, Campaign Manager and Matarr Saine’s remarks focused on the history, core values, objectives and activities of Team Bakary Badjie before and after the local government elections. The speakers took turns acknowledging the daunting challenges confronting the government as it tries to steer the affairs of the country forward. Dabakh Malick and Bakary Badjie (who address the meeting via phone call) assured the President and his government of their support in actualizing the national development plan particularly priority areas 3 and 7 which focuses on fisheries, agriculture and youth empowerment.

“The team also called on His Excellency Adama Barrow to avail young people of The Gambia the resources and opportunities to be proactive players in the political and economic development of our country through support to the sporting, entertainment and trade sectors.

“The controversial issue of “Three Years Jotna” was also considered in the discussion. Speakers from ‘Team Bakary Badjie’ understand the controversy surrounding the coalition’s 3 years agreement in relation to Barrow’s term. As per the constitution, the team concedes to the directive of the supreme law of the land and resolved that Barrow should be allowed to serve a five-year mandate as a democratically elected president. The team conveyed to the gathering that while we support citizen’s right to peaceful protest, we will not participate in any riot or forceful removal of a democratically elected President.

“President Barrow in his statement thanked Team Bakary Badjie for taking the initiative to meet him. He also expressed his commitment and readiness to work with the team on our common goals for a better Gambia.

“We want to make it clear that contrary to misconceptions out there. The team’s meeting with President Barrow did not stem from any ulterior motives but a normal engagement of proactive citizens that are willing to lend a hand to development goals of a sitting President to create a better Gambia for all. This we have done with not just President Barrow but other key players in our polity. As enshrined in our national anthem: “We pledge our firm allegiance. Our promise we renew. Keep us great God of nations. To The Gambia ever true.”

By Lamin Njie

The head of Coalition 2016 said on Friday the group has agreed to back President Adama Barrow on his plan to be in office until 2021.

Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang and some coalition party leaders met President Barrow at State House on Friday where they pledged to back the Gambian leader’s five years ambition.

“[The reform agenda] is yet to be completed. So we have discussed it extensively with our flagbearer and on the basis of the incompletion of the reform agenda, we have decided as a coalition to give him, to extend his social legitimacy from three years to five years,” Mrs Jallow Tambajang told State House reporters moments after meeting President Barrow.

Mr Barrow came to power in 2016 after promising to be in office for only three years but he has had a change of heart and will now remain in office until 2021.

Coalition stakeholders have been divided over whether President Barrow should remain in office, with two of the most important political parties that ensured the Barrow presidency appearing to have left the group. UDP and PDOIS have not taken part in any of the coalition’s activities that have been geared towards allowing President Barrow to remain in office for five years.

The two parties’ position raised further questions on Friday after they chose not to be part of the meeting.

But President Barrow couldn’t have cared less saying late Friday he was ‘pleased to receive the chairperson and coalition 2016 members.’

“We had a fruitful discussion on the need to continue to work together, especially on the successful implementation of the ongoing reform agenda of the government for the good of the Gambian people,” Mr Barrow said on his official Facebook page.

“I welcome the solidarity and the commitment shown to stand by my government until 2021, when we will have laid down strong democratic foundation for the New Gambia we all want.”

By Lamin Njie

Political commentator and civil society activist Madi Jobarteh has ripped into State House press secretary Amie Bojang Sissoho over her new show on GRTS.

Mrs Bojang Sissoho hosted the National Dialogue show on GRTS on Thursday but the program which featured Gambian security chiefs has drawn flaks in many quarters.

Madi Jobarteh has slammed Amie Bojang sissoho over the show saying nowhere in the world would the spokesperson of the president hosts a prime-time television show on prevailing national issues.

“It is with deep concern that none other than the Director of Press and Public Relations Amie Bojang Sissoho would host a television program herself where the guests are heads of armed and security forces of the country with the sole purpose of threatening citizens, undermining democracy and weakening good governance in the Gambia,” Jobarteh said in a write-up titled, ‘National Dialogue Television Show: Jammeh-Era Scare Tactics and Propaganda Will Not Work’, on Friday.

He added: “In the first place nowhere in the world would the spokesperson of the President hosts a prime-time television show on prevailing national issues. Hence it beats one’s imagination that the Press Secretary Amie Bojang Sissoho would have no better idea or useful activity to do other than to engage herself in such a misplaced venture!

“I hope she will discontinue her so-called ‘National Dialogue’ otherwise GRTS must stop her immediately so that the proper personnel of the national television will carry out such a duty as media professionals.

“This unfortunate and disgraceful television show put up by Amie Bojang Sissoho is indeed a threat to our democracy and good governance. It indicates that indeed the Gambia’s security institutions and political leaders are not interested in security sector reforms and system change overall. I want to advice Adama Barrow that this program is seeking to destroy him and the sooner he brings his Director of Press to book to stop this despicable program the better for him. Amie is overstepping her limits and she need to be told that she must confine herself only to the role of Director of Press and Public Relations at State House. If she wants to be a journalist let her resign and apply for a job at GRTS or any other media house. Period.”

On the comments of the commander of the Gambian army and the country’s intelligence chief, Mr Jobarteh said: “Of the greatest concern to me are the statements of the intelligence chief Ousman Sowe as well as the army general Mamat Cham. By seeking to hide behind drugs and the need for peace, these top security officers had the audacity to threaten the democratic rights and duties of Gambians as if they are the kings of the Gambia.

“To attempt to link citizens right to protest and drug cartels and drug users is not only irresponsible but highly disappointing. Who told DG Sowe that protesters in December will be high on drugs? That is not only a false statement but is utterly dishonest and disgraceful that he would even imagine much more utter such unintelligible words!

“What these officers manifest is that they are serving the interests of their political masters against the Gambian Constitution and the Gambian People. Therefore, it is utterly false when they claim that they are apolitical. Their statements indicate once again that these security chiefs have decided as usual to become stooges and defenders of a government against the people of the Gambia.

“This is what they manifested under Jammeh and this is what they are manifesting under Adama Barrow. We hope Adama Barrow will not fool himself like Yaya Jammeh did by listening to sycophants and bootlickers in big warambas, colourful neckties and uniforms full of stripes only to derail himself.

“Freedom of assembly or peaceful protest is a right and it is normal in a democracy. Protest is not a criminal activity and protesters are not criminals. Therefore, to seek to demonise citizens who wish to express their political opinions by claiming that they will bring violence and criminality is indeed unbecoming of an intelligence officer. DG Sowe is doing nothing other than seeking to scare citizens, to deny human rights and to undermine our democracy by equating political activity with drug trade and drug abuse.

“Army general Cham must also realise that the Gambia does not belong to the military. It is not for General Cham to determine who should protest or not. Just because some military officers were caught and court-martialled for seeking to overthrow the government does not mean unarmed citizens embarking on a peaceful protest are seeking the violent overthrow of the government. That is an outrageous analogy that only a dishonest military officer serving his political masters would claim.

“Let me put it to General Cham that citizens have a right to hold their government accountable. It is not the role of the military to defend a government against the people. If that is his understanding of the role of the military in a democracy, then he is hugely miseducated.

“General Cham must realise that a democratically elected government can be removed from office by many other means other than election. There are multiple places in the Gambia Constitution in which the National Assembly can remove the President out of office and those are democratic means without election. Above all in any republic citizens have a right to rise up en-masse to demand the removal of a government or any elected public servant when those citizens feel that their government or the elected official has violated the constitution or human rights or injured the dignity of the country in any way or engaged in any misconduct or corruption including failing to fulfil promises or commitments.

“This is why we had the Arab Spring where citizens overthrew by peaceful means elected presidents in Tunisia and Egypt for corruption, abuse of human rights and failing their promises. We have seen similar uprising in Puerto Rico in July 2019 when the people removed State Governor by peaceful demonstrations for demonising opponents and victims of Hurricane Maria. Over the past few years we have also seen how popular uprisings either removed or severely challenged democratically elected presidents and governments in Guatemala, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Ukraine, Thailand, Macedonia, South Africa, Spain, Iceland, Hungary, Moldova, Brazil and Poland for corruption, abuse and failed promises. Therefore, who is Army General Mamat Cham to threaten Gambians for seeking to rise up against their government and president if they so wish?

“It is indeed arrogant of General Cham to threaten Gambians openly on national television. For uttering such threatening words, I hereby demand that the Commander-in-Chief Pres. Adama Barrow to sack General Cham forthwith because he has made statements that are above and beyond his powers and the mandate of the Gambia Armed Forces. The Gambia Armed Forces is NOT the legitimate authority to decide what to accept or not accept from Gambian citizens. The Gambia Armed Forces must only submit to the civilian authority and execute only lawful orders.

“When the Constitution says that the primary function of the military is to preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Gambia it means that it is the self-determination of Gambians as a people and land that is being protected. Our self-determination is our sovereignty which the same Constitution proclaims resides in the people of the Gambia. That sovereignty is the basis of our rights and duties as well as our will and voice hence the power of the people to form or dismantle their government. Therefore, the Gambia Government is nothing but the opinion of citizens.

“Political activities by citizens that are guaranteed by the Constitution are not a matter for the military or NIA or Police or NDLEA to decide. Rather they must keep their hands off to allow Gambian citizens to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Rather all armed and security services are mandated to promote and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Gambians.

“Therefore, Gambians who wish to protest in December to make Pres. Adama Barrow to honour his word have a sovereign right to do so. But also, those Gambians who also wish to protest to make Pres. Adama Barrow stay in office for five years also have a sovereign right to do so. Therefore, who is General Mamat Cham or NIA Director General Ousman Sowe to face Gambians to tell them what they can do or cannot do? What we expect our armed and security institutions to do is to protect the space to ensure all Gambians express their political opinions whether they chose to stay to home or climb a mango tree or swim in the River Gambia or occupy streets without violence and use of arms.

“To Mamat Cham and Bakary Gassama and Ousman Sowe, rest assured that the patriotic and conscious Gambians will not let you abuse our Constitution and sovereignty. The days of threats, abuse of power and misconduct by our security chiefs is over. Rest assured you will be confronted by conscious citizens if you wish to derail this country once again. Your statements highlight what Capt. Thomas Sankara said that a soldier without political education is a virtual criminal. This is what you have manifested on that poor show!”

The United States Department of Labor has released the 18th edition of its annual findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor report, with the report concluding children in The Gambia engage in the worst forms of child labour.

A statement by the US Embassy in Banjul on Friday said the TDA report includes an assessment of government actions to advance efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

“The Gambia is among 131 countries, non-independent countries, and territories profiled in this Report. The Report highlights moderate advancement The Gambia made to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, including providing training to relevant individuals in support of the protection of children,” the statement said.

It added: “However, the Report found that children in The Gambia engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking and forced begging.

“The United States government is committed to working with the government and people of The Gambia, in coordination with other international partners, to address the scourge of child exploitation.

“We urge the government of The Gambia to reinvigorate efforts to combat the worst forms of child labor and protect those vulnerable to human trafficking in the soonest possible timeframe.

“Ensuring public awareness of the government’s specific actions and inter-ministerial work plans will further enable civil society partners and the public to play crucial roles in this important process.

“To this end, the United States government, through the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) is providing a $750,000 (GMD 37.1 Million) grant to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support The Gambia’s national efforts to combating human trafficking in the country, including human trafficking related to the worst forms of child labor, and to support Gambian-led progress toward effectively combatting trafficking in persons.”

By Lamin Njie

The commander of the Gambia Armed Forces said Thursday any group that tries to ‘subvert’ the peace and stability of the country will come across his army, in a veiled threat directed at Operation Three Years Jotna.

Hundreds of Gambians are expected to take to the streets in December to demand that President Adama Barrow step down from power, a campaign spearheaded by pressure group Operation Three Years Jotna.

The Gambian army has largely stayed away from the issue but on Thursday its commander spoke saying the army was ready to crush any protest that is ‘not in line with the constitution.’

“I want to state here that the Gambia Armed Forces will not recognize anything that is not in line with the constitution. So any group, any political association that tries to subvert the peace and stability and the due process of achieving of any political power if you try that you will come across the Gambia Armed Forces,” General Mamat O Cham said on state television, GRTS.

The three years coalition deal that shot President Barrow to power will expire in December but the president has said he will not leave power. Operation Three Years Jotna says it wants to hold him accountable.

But according to the army’s commander, nobody has ‘a right to conspire with another illegally remove a legally constituted government.’

“So from that perspective, anybody who associates with anybody through whatever means, either in person or using electronic means canvass for anybody to partake in any action which is calculated to subvert the constitutionally elected government is involved in what is called a treasonable action and you could be prosecuted and locked,” Cham said.

By Lamin Njie

With the looming collapse of Thomas Cook, the Minister of Tourism Hamat Bah summoned a meeting of stakeholders to seek remedial actions to respond to this emergency, government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said Thursday.

Top aviation giant Thomas Cook went into administration earlier this week, leaving millions of travellers scrambling for options.

Thomas Cook is a major player in The Gambia’s aviation life and most British tourists fly to the country through the airline.

Thomas Cook’s collapse has thrown the country’s tourism into uncertainty but the Gambia government is saying ‘significant steps have been taken to mitigate the potentially devastating effects of this unfortunate situation on Gambian tourism, which is the heartbeat of our economy.’

“Predictably, given the crucial role that Tourism plays in the Gambian economy, the Government of President Adama Barrow is shocked and saddened by the devastating news of Thomas Cook’s collapse following an unsuccessful attempt to secure a bailout,” government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said in a statement.

According to Mr Sankareh, no sooner had news of Thomas Cook’s definitive liquidation broke than The Ministry of Tourism and Culture convened an emergency meeting with “all stakeholders including the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, the World Bank and the Ministry of Finance to device a strategic response.”

While Mr Sankareh did not state when and where the meeting took place, he said it “came up with an Emergency Response Team which has already recommended a Strategy to immediately mitigate the shock on the job market and the impact on the overall economic situation of The Gambia.”

“The Barrow Government, working with our partners, has since developed modalities to increase the frequency of flights to Destination-Gambia by other carriers as a direct measure to minimise the impact of Thomas Cook’s collapse on The Gambian tourism market,” Sankareh added.

By Lamin Njie

Opposition APRC has called on the UN, AU and Ecowas to put pressure on the Barrow administration in order for former president Yahya Jammeh to return to The Gambia.

Mr Jammeh fled to Equatorial Guinea in January 2017 after suffering a shock election defeat.

The United Nations, AU and Ecowas all played major roles in him fleeing the country.

Jammeh’s party, the APRC, wants the former dictator to return to The Gambia and has called on three international organisations to facilitate the move.

“We challenged the United Nations, the AU and [Ecowas] to put pressure on this government to ensure that, that document is adhered to strictly. Other they will lose credibility within the region and indeed the entire world,” APRC interim leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta told journalists Wednesday in Tallinding.

“If you remember president Jammeh left the shores of this country based on an agreement, negotiated by Ecowas, AU and the United Nations. Immediately President Jammeh left the shores of this country, that document was thrown into the dustbin.”

Former President Jammeh ruled The Gambia for 22 years but his time in office is being remembered for its massive corruption and human rights violations.

He was seeking re-election in 2016 but lost surprisingly to political newcomer Adama Barrow which dashed any hope of him ruling for a ‘billion’ years.

Police in The Gambia on Wednesday said they have introduced a new car number plates system.

Unlike the existing ones, the new number plates are more durable and have stronger security features as they are built out of Aluminium, a statement from the office of the inspector general of police said.

The statement added added: “In this regard, owners of vehicles without number plates and those with the old number plates are urged to apply for the new Aluminium Number Plates.

“Payments are to be made at the Trust Bank Ltd where a receipt will be issued. Applicants are advised to come along with this receipt to the issuing outlets. Currently the new number plates are issued at Banjul Police Head Quarters, Kairaba Police Station and Brikama Police Station.

“The charges for the Aluminium number plates are as follows: motor vehicle number plates D1200 (One thousand Two Hundred Dalasis), motor cycle number plates D630 ( Six Hundred and Thirty Dalasis), personalised number plates D5000 ( Five Thousand Dalasis)

“Application for replacement requires applicants to have their Valid National Identification Card, Motor vehicle Insurance and, to surrender their replaced number plates to the Police. The charges for replacement are the same as stated above. The cooperation of the general public is highly solicited.”

By Lamin Njie

The National Assembly on Wednesday abandoned its plan to debate on President Adama Barrow’s State of the Nation Address.

President Barrow is bound by law to address the national assembly at least once every year.

Mr Barrow fulfilled that legal obligation last Thursday during which he spoke on the plans, policies and achievements of his government in the past year.

On Monday, members of the national assembly met to discuss the president’s speech but they became divided after a number of lawmakers invoked a section of the constitution which says the president or his vice president must be in attendance. The session was later abandoned.

The lawmakers reconvened today too to debate on the president’s speech but the meeting was again postponed.

Bakary Camara, the national assembly member for Kiang Central told The Fatu Network he heard a senior government official saying the president was not comfortable appearing before the lawmakers.

“I heard a senior government official saying allowing President to come to the national assembly, we are going to embarrass him. Embarrass him for what? Once you’ve taken the trouble to campaign and you win to be in that position you should be ready for all trouble,” Camara added.

By Lamin Njie

The ministry of foreign affairs is yet to supply members of the national assembly with the names and addresses of over 1000 people who have been issued Gambian diplomatic passport, a top lawmaker has told The Fatu Network.

The ministry of foreign affairs is sweating following a demand by Gambian lawmakers that the ministry furnishes them with information regarding individuals who hold Gambian diplomatic passport.

The Barrow administration has come under fire in recent weeks after it emerged officials have been selling the document to individuals who can afford it. At least a dozen officials have either been arrested or question over the scandal.

The minister of foreign affairs Mamadou Tangara was summoned by the lawmakers last week to shed light on the issue.

But at the meeting, the foreign minister only provided statistics and left out vital information regarding the names and addresses of the over 1000 people who hold the document.

One NAM later told him they were not only interested in the statistics but also the names and addresses of the individuals. The minister then promised his ministry would supply them the information.

But two members of the national assembly told The Fatu Network on Wednesday the foreign ministry has still not furnish them the information, more than a week since they met the minister.

“They have still not furnished us with the information but if they do not do so by tomorrow, I will go to the foreign ministry myself to enquire,” one of the NAMs said.

A foreign affairs spokesman told The Fatu Network the ministry ‘could not supply the lawmakers with the information because there is an investigation that it could jeopardise.’

“With regard to the legal applicants, their addresses might be with the Immigration Department,” Saikou Ceesay added.

Foreign minister Dr Mamadou Tangara on Tuesday 24 September represented the African continent at the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States meeting with the European Union on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The high level meeting will enable ACP and EU issue a joint declaration in support of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.

ACP and EU countries combined account for more than half of the UN membership and unite over 1.5 billion people, so the joint declaration carries significant weight in terms of demonstrating a commitment of Agenda 2030, the statement added.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow has appointed Yankuba Dibba as the chief executive officer of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation national secretariat.

Dibba was appointed to the role ‘following an extraordinary meeting of the board of the OIC secretariat Gambia on 19 September 2019.’

A statement by the secretariat on Tuesday September 24 said “Mr. Yankuba Dibba has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) OIC Secretariat and Mr Essa Bokarr Sey  Deputy Chief Executive (DCEO).”

“Both appointments were offered by the above Board Chaired by HE the President of The Republic of The Gambia,” the statement said.

The duo’s appointment comes nearly a month after the shock departure of Lamin Sanneh and Nyang Njie.

The two men resigned as a result of alleged ‘executive’ meddling.

The organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretariat the Gambia is the body tasked to provide the coordination role in preparation of the hosting of the 2022 OIC Heads of State summit scheduled to be held in The Gambia in 2022.

The OIC is the second largest inter – governmental organization after the United Nations, with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents.

The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations Monday called on the Gambia government to ‘speed up’ its support to the victims of April 10 and April 11, 2000 student demonstrations.

April 10 and April 11, 2000 student demonstrations saw a number of students killed or wounded after police opened fire on them. Some of the victims who were shot during the demonstrations have been appearing before the TRRC and their accounts have been largely heartrending.

On Monday, Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations said it is ‘deeply saddened by the testimony of Yusupha Mbye (a victim of April 10^th & 11^th Demonstration) at the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) on the 16th day of September 2019, regarding the brutality meted against him and the other victims of the April 10 & 11, 2000 student demonstration, and the health complications that he and the other victims continue to suffer.’

“During his testimony, Yuspha Mbye made submissions regarding the health complications he lives with as a result of the gunshot wound, he sustained at the hands of the para military. Mr. Mbye also sustained a spinal cord injury which affects his mobility. He also made submissions regarding previous overseas treatment he has received and the financial constraints which halted his treatment. Mr. Mbye further made submissions regarding further medical treatment and rehabilitation that is needed to improve his health and well-being,” the group said in a statement.

It added: “The injuries suffered by Mr. Mbye has affected his well-being and severely change his life. Shot at the age of 17, Mr. Mbye has been deprived of his ability to continue his education, and his autonomy as a person as he now depends on others for all his needs, as his health complications have bound him to a wheelchair. While we can’t give Mr. Mbye and all the other victims of the April 10^th and 11^th student demonstrations, back all the years they have spent in pain, we can, as a society and a Government ensure that he and all the other victims of the April 10^th and 11^th student demonstrations receive the best medical care and support possible.

“Thus, we implore the Government of The Gambia to speed up its support for the Victims of the April 10^th and 11^th student demonstrations and provide all the financial support needed for Mr. Mbye and the rest of the other victims to attain the necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation needed.

“The Gambia  Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations will continue to engage the Government of The Gambia to continue its support and fulfill its promise to Yusupha Mbye and all the other victims of the April 10th  and 11th  student demonstrations, in attaining medical care and rehabilitation oversee, bearing in mind that the government has a duty to ensure that the victims of the April 10th and 11th  students demonstrations and all other victims of human rights violations are accorded  with the relevant facility and care needed for them to heal and  reintegrated into society.

“The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations will continue to work with relevant partners to facilitate justice to victims, through national, regional and international mechanisms to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the country.  Not only must justice be done it must also be seen to be done.”

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia government has apologised to China after President Adama Barrow failed to address the East Asian nation by its official name.

President Barrow on Thursday addressed the National Assembly on the plans and policies of his government.

At the event, Mr Barrow who was fulfilling a legal obligation spoke on the achievements of his government in 2018, among them the marked improvement in the power sector.

However, the president’s speech has not gone without a setback.

China is one of The Gambia’s biggest development partners but the president during his speech erred by not referring to China by its official name.

The official name of China is the ‘People’s Republic of China,’ a name that is at the heart of the one China policy.

But in one instance, Mr Barrow referred to the country simply as ‘China’. In another, he referred to the country as ‘Republic of China.’

The ministry of foreign affairs swept in Friday in an attempt to reverse the damage.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia wishes to extend its profound apologies to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the typographical error contained in the President’s State of the Nation address,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveys its deepest regret and reassures the People’s Republic of China of The Gambia’s adherence and commitment to the One-China Policy and strengthening of our excellent bilateral ties.”

By Lamin Njie

The United States Embassy in Banjul has confirmed the arrest in US of a former member of former president Yahya Jammeh’s killer squad, The Junglers.

US Department of Homeland Security detained Michael Correa for immigration violations, a US Embassy official told The Fatu Network Friday.

Mr Correa is wanted by Gambian authorities over his role in gross human rights violations and abuses that occurred in the 22 years rule of former president Jammeh.

The former army lieutenant was part of an elite killing crew that received orders from the former Gambian dictator.

The death squad called, The Junglers, specialised in extrajudicial killings and torture of perceived opponents of the former Gambian leader.

The Barrow government set up the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission in 2018 to probe the human rights violations and abuses that marked the former leader’s rule.

At least five former members of the death squad have told the independent investigation Mr Correa participated in a number of killings including the brutal 2013 killing of two Gambian-Americans Alhagie Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe.

He fled to the United States in 2017.

The Fatu Network contacted the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, but they are yet to respond to our request for comment.

Correa is said to have been arrested in Denver, Colorado.

By Lamin Njie

Mansa Sumareh has said he has resigned his post as State House chief driver.

Sumareh resigned on Wednesday as he fights to dig himself out of an abyss following his implication in the raging diplomatic passport scandal.

A State House official told The Fatu Network on Wednesday Sumareh has been ‘totally frozen out’ in recent weeks.

Sumareh confirmed his resignation to The Fatu Network saying, ‘It’s true, I just decided that I should leave.’

His resignation letter appeared online and in the letter addressed to the secretary general, Sumareh said the working environment was no longer ‘conducive and friendly for me to serve.’

Sumareh and President Barrow were close friends and the two fought in the 2016 political trenches together.

By Lamin Njie

The director of press and public relations at the Office of the President Amie Bojang Sissoho has frowned at suggestions she leads an incompetent press department.

The presidency’s chief propagandist and her team have been afforded catastrophic reviews in recent weeks over their handling of the president’s image.

Former secretary general and head of civil service Momodou Sabally last month said Barrow’s communication and PR woes are down to incompetent communication practices of a team led by Amie Bojang Sissoho.

Femi Mahoney also said last month the president ‘been let down by his ‘PR Team’ especially Ebrima Sillah, Amie Bojang Sissoho, Ebrima Sankareh, Nfali Fadera, Sanna Camara, Lamin Cham (Statehouse), Dou Sano (sycophant #1) for failing to advising the president on how he should have been seen to empatise with the daily struggles of the average Gambian.’

“These folks, especially the Press Department, of the Statehouse have been advising Barrow to avoid Gambians and media outlets, all due to the inferiority and insecurity. Thanks to their foolery Barrow is now so unpopular, even Yaya Jammeh can trounce him any snap election,” Mahoney said.

He added: “With all due respect to the woman (Amie Bojang Sissoho), this is someone who was only known for reading Sarahule news in Radio Gambia. Then later joined her partner in crime Dr Isatou Touray to set up that GAMCOTRAP which the rest is history. She was given the job by Barrow because they were both brought up by Sarahule friends and knew each other from then. She’s my sister, but unfortunately she’s not capable”

On Wednesday, Mrs Bojang Sissoho met with Gambian journalists in which he addressed a question on how competent her team was in respect of one of the most complex jobs in the country.

“With regard to his communication team, for us as professionals who are working as communication officers in the office of the president… The first thing we look out for are what are the facts we have, do we have enough information to out to the public. Why do I have to call all these media houses just to come and stand here and not give them any information? So for us, we only communicate when we have relevant and factual information that we need to communicate to the masses,” she said.