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TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER – AJARATOU FATMATTA CAMARA (YABOI)

This is not a biography about my mother.  It is just an attempt by a son to put on record an account of a remarkable woman so full of love, care and understanding, whom I am blessed and so fortunate to have as a mother.

 

It is difficult to know where to begin with this tribute to my mother for two reasons;

 

Firstly, on Tuesday 19thof March 2019 when my brother Omar called me while I was at work to break the saddest news of my life, the passing away of our mum (Yaboi) my whole world broke into pieces, and the memory of that day is still fresh on my mind.

 

Secondly, another difficulty I find in writing this tribute is the fact that I have lived with my mother except for a brief period, throughout my life.   Where does one begin with such a tribute?

 

These are some of the challenges I face in writing this tribute.  There may be others but I feel like I am communicating with my mother in the process and I must carry on.

 

My mother’s name is Fatmatta Camara fondly known as Yaboi to many.  She was born in Banjul on the 19thof October 1944.  Her father Ousman Camara (Baa) and her mother Aja Fanta Darboe (Mma) both of blessed memories originally hail from kiang wurokang.  My mum had five siblings all boys, myself Edrissa M’Bai (Bai), Ousman M’Bai, Omar M’Bai, Ebrima M’Bai (Bai Nyass) and Malick M’Bai.

 

My mum had a very special relationship with her mother Aja Fanta Darboe (our grandmother) affectionately known as Mma.  Their relationship was so special.  It was like two best friends.  She always used to give her mother long notices of the exact day she would be arriving in the Gambia so that she could start counting the days until her arrival. Once she booked her flight she would either phone and tell her, or she would tell me to tell her when she would be arriving.  The excitement of knowing that is a couple of weeks’ time my mum would be coming home for holidays was always a great joy to my grandmother.  Every weekend my grandmother would send us a hot bowl of porridge which she cooks herself.

 

My grandmother always calls me either Bai Sambang or Ndary M’Bai Sambang.  My mother simply calls me Bai (having been named after my paternal grandfather who was also referred to as the father of my village, Sambang).  These are two strong, remarkable women who did everything they could, sometimes even against their own comfort zone to make us comfortable in life.  They made us who we are today and we shall continue to be eternally grateful for their sacrifices.  May their gentle soul continue to rest in peace.  My grandfather Baa was a very quiet man. You could hardly hear him when he speak unless you pay extreme attention.  He was a man who was never in a rush.  In those days we used to grow corn at the back of the yard in Dippakunda. I could never escape Baa whenever I had with me roasted corn.  He would simply call me “Bai Sambang let me see that thing you are having”.  He would use his fingers slowly to take a few rows then return the corn to me.   Many years later I came to know what Baa was teaching me is the virtues of sharing.  I remember Baa passed away the day my uncle Ablie Camara returned home from the UK.  Although less than 10 years at the time I could very well remember the day. It was a very sad day and the first time I saw so many people in our compound crying.

 

I consulted my cousin Muhammed Singhateh about the exact date Baa passed away and he informed me that Baa passed away at around 8.30pm on 29thDecember 1975. I can still fondly remember him sitting on his favourite chair in the living room in Dippa kunda.

 

Camara Kunda at Dippa kunda  was the base where we all grew up happily with our uncles and cousins as one family. On Saturdays and Sunday morning together with my uncles, cousins and brothers we would go to Manjai Kunda to fetch for firewood which was used for cooking.

 

As a child I have on many weekends been sent by mum to the Serekunda market with my uncle Alieu Sanneh (Nfally) to do some “Nduga” for her.  Because of the girls I was likely to meet at the market I never look forward to going to the market.  My mum would go to work in Banjul and after closing she would return home in Latrikunda to do her cooking using charcoal or firewood.  Today I would be more than proud to go to any market for her at any time.

 

After finishing her schooling at Methodist Girl’s High School (Later known as Gambia High School) she proceeded to Yundum college to get her teacher training certificate qualification before going to teaching at the Serekunda primary school.  The late S.W. Riley and O.D. Mbye  were her classmates at Gambia High School.  Miss Macmason was my mother’s first teacher in high school.

 

Her care for people led her into the field of nursing. She worked as a nurse for decades both in the Gambia and in the UK.  She worked at the RVH (now EFSTH) as a midwife and later as lecturer at the Gambia School of Nursing where with the Head of the school Mrs Palmer, together with Mrs Maram Bobb and others, she taught those aspiring to become nurses most of who later qualified as nurses and have been contributing their quota since as nurses in the Gambia and abroad.

 

Her boss at the Gambia School of Nursing Mrs Palmer saw potentials in her couple with her dedication to work.  She was given two full scholarship opportunities to further her nursing training abroad but missed both due to circumstances beyond her control. Scholarship in those days was not easy to get and having missed two opportunities she was told by her authorities that if she would not make use of the third opportunity which was a nine months course in the UK, they could not guarantee that she would ever be given any scholarship in the future.

 

I am happy to have supported her in making the tough decision not to miss that golden opportunity, an unpopular decision which later turned out to be not only the right decision but also a blessing for the whole family.

 

While in the UK she worked in several hospitals such as Hillingdon Hospital and later at St. Pancras  Hospital for Tropical Diseases at King’s Cross.  She did morning, afternoon and night shifts.  Occasionally she would do agency work for extra cash to reduce the financial pressure that was ever present throughout her life.  These were tough times but my mum belonged to the old school which is to live by one’s sweat.  She never believed in begging people because she was naturally a shy person.

 

She retired in 2004 and continued doing agency work at various hospitals in London to reduce her debts before the banks went after her to recover their debts.  One of the banks later realized that rather than she owing them, they actually owed her as well as many of their customers.

 

It was a great relief to her when the bank eventually paid her because some of her financial worries were greatly reduced eventually.

 

She returned home in the Gambia in 2012 to live in the house she built many years ago but which she never fully enjoyed except for her occasional yearly holidays when she would spend between one month to six weeks.

 

Myself and all my brothers as well as others have lived with our mother for most of our stay in London at Windsor House.  I have lived with my mother at three different places in London, first at 68 Huntley street, Grafton Way and finally at Windsor House.

 

She had a large heart and would go all out to make life comfortable for everyone. While we were going to school in the Gambia, getting some books used to be a challenge so she was always running around bookshops in London to send us any request made over the years.  It was not only books, but whatever we needed.

 

I cannot recall how many times I have gone to the post office to receive a parcel sent by my mother, or to receive shipping with my uncles full of goods from the ports in Banjul to be shared amongst us all and not one item was for sale.  Even the newest baby in the compound would have his or her share.  The shipping would usually contain clothes, shoes, medicine, food stuff such as Digestive biscuits or cream crackers, tuna sardines, corn beef, giant size packets of Tetley tea bags, Imperial body soap, old newspapers, books  etc.  Sometimes the arrival of the shipping would meet her in the Gambia on holidays so that she could do the sharing by herself.  In those days even a Tetley tea bag from UK was not as popular as our local tea called “tea bush”,” mbor mbor”for some or “kingkiliba”for others.

 

For most of the time we were going to school she had been away but she always made sure that we were never in need of anything that was necessary and useful.  Every month she would either send our monthly allowance through the post or she would give a letter with cash to someone coming from the UK to the Gambia.  Sometimes she would meet these people usually Gambians, at the train stations or even at the airport and at short notices just so that our allowance is not delayed. On one occasion she enclosed over 250 pounds  sterling in an envelope and gave it to someone to bring for us but not having heard from the said person for days since his arrival,  I contacted him through the phone only to be told by his mother that the envelop was lost.  On my mother’s advise we made no issue out of that matter and that was the end of it.

 

At a time when it was not unusual to see the wives of some senior Government officials using official government vehicles to attend weddings and naming ceremonies, my mum would queue in the early hours of the morning near the Latrikunda mosque to join a GPTC bus to work where she was earning less than D1000 a month.

 

On one such occasion, while I was comfortably seated at the front of the bus, unknown to me my mum was standing at the back of the bus wearing her white nursing uniform going to work.  Assie Hydara, a neighbour and a student of Gambia High School who was also in the bus, drew this to my attention and I immediately gave her my seat.

 

This situation continued until the late Mr Abdoulie Mbacke who was then in charge of Transport at the Ministry of Justice came to the rescue of my mum to ease her transportation difficulties but only for the vehicle to take her to work and back home.

 

My love for Agatha Christie and my appetite for reading developed thanks to my mum who would send us any book she considered worthy of reading.  Be it newspaper cuttings, magazines, you name it, she would send them to us regularly.

 

When she was lecturing at the Gambia School of Nursing she would occasionally bring home copies of World Encyclopedia which broaden my understanding to the biographies of great American presidents especially.  It was from this period that I became intrigued about the lives of president Richard M. Nixon and Jimmy Carter to this day.

 

I will never forget that cold winter night when getting an accommodation for me in London was becoming too difficult, my mum and I under the rains using the London underground, went all the way to Willesdeen Green, having read from a newspaper the availability of a room only to be told by an old English lady wearing thick glasses, upon seeing us that the room was no longer available.  My mum and I were both disappointed but she gave me the assurance that everything will be fine.  Few weeks later she was able to get me an accommodation in Chingford at Walthamstow, near the Dog Stadium with the help of my uncle Ousainou Camara, to live with a Sierra Leonean lady who I came to know simply as aunty Oumu, then living with her 10 year old son called Tokumbo. This was in 1992.

 

While studying in London I did all kinds of work be it as a waiter at Belushi’s Bar and Restaurant in Covent Garden or as coffee maker at Pret A’Manger at St Martins Lane, or by simply giving my name and phone number to Agencies to contact me whenever there was any job offers just to ease the financial burden from my mum’s shoulders which as far as I remember have always been present in all her life and never reduced.

 

I remember working for a Mexican Restaurant known as Chiquitos in Covent Garden for two days then I was asked to bring along my passport so that they could employ me.  I could not bring my passport because it was stated on it that I am not permitted to engage in any employment in the UK without a work permit which I never had.  I was never paid for my two days’ work.  Years later any time I go to London I feel tempted to go to that same restaurant and make an expensive order and after eating to quietly leave without paying.

 

Teaching and Nursing being her background my mum generally love children and never want to see a child cry.  She shared all she had with the needy regardless of who you are or where you came from.

 

At the time she lived in London, whenever she goes to the Gambia on holidays she would try to reach out to as many people as possible and the same gesture was always reciprocated.

 

To say that my mum loves flowers is an under-statement. She could not live anywhere without having flowers around and nothing gave her greater joy than watering her flowers by herself. It has always been a common thing to see flower pots in our house centrally positioned near the window where they will receive enough sunlight.

 

She loved taking a walk to Regents’ Park which was just few minutes walking distance from where we were living at Windsor House.

 

Jim Reeves was her favourite and she would usually sing along when the music was playing.  Her frequent playing of Jim Reeves made me also fall for his music to this day.  Kenny Rogers, Jimmy cliff, Bob Marley, Youssou Ndour, Neil Diamond, Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Nina Simon, Don Willaims, Ifang Bondi and Kinneh Lam to name a few were some of her favourites but gentleman Jim Reeves was top of her list.

 

Although we never went to watch any matches at Wimbledon, knowing my love for tennis my mum took me to the Wimbledon Museum and bought me some tennis memorabilia that are still with me more than two decades now.

 

Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Steffi Graf, Monica Sellas, Yana Navotna, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis were some fine tennis players she loved watching display their talents and skills in the finest art of sportsmanship at Wimbledon.  This was the time when the new tennis sensation, the William sisters (Venus and Serena Williams) were just beginning their professional career at Wimbledon.  At that time the two sisters were identified more by the colourful beads on their hair than their performance in the tennis court which they came to dominate for many years both in winning trophies and in rankings.

 

These are precious moments that I will always remember sharing with my mum.  I remember watching with my mum the historic victory of Manchester United at the finals of the 1999 European Champions League over Bayern Munich when they were one nil down until in the dying three minutes Manchester United scored two goals.  Many of Manchester United fans had already left the stadium at the time believing they lost the match.  What a jubilation I had with my mum that night.

 

We all used to say our mum’s headquarters was Camden town where she did most of her shopping for the simple reason that she could buy most of her fruits and vegetables at a more reasonable price compared to other places.  On a normal week she would go to Camden town at least twice.  Our meat seller at the corner shop Raja from Pakistan where we buy halal meat knew my mum’s favourite is either lamb chops or chicken wings.

 

My mum saw all of us as her children and her love for us was unconditional.  She did not only show us love and care, she treated all of us with the same love.  When one of my brothers then living in the US had an accident and was hospitalized my mum did not just offer him prayers, she flew to the United States on two occasions to give him the necessary moral and financial support he so much needed.

 

She never stopped caring for us at any time.  If we were not so fortunate to have a mother like her I can honestly say that our story today would have been different. She was like the roots of a tree (though not visibly seen) without the roots there would be no tree to enjoy the fruits or its shade.  She never enjoy taking the lime light and she never claim credit for anything.  She always like doing her own things unnoticed. I can safely say that my mum was camera shy because for her any publicity for anything she did was of less significance to her.  She was never comfortable in making known publicly or privately whatever good deed she did for people.  She was a very private person.

 

Her generosity and caring transcended not only to people but even to animals.  While we were living at Latrikunda (near the big tree) we had a brown dog called chips that my mum made sure was well fed on a daily basis.  My mum was so distraught when chips was killed by a car.

 

She was like Mother Theresa, generous to all and love sharing all she had with everybody, especially the less privilege.   She was more concerned with helping the needy than buying expensive jewelries and dresses for herself but this does not mean she never appreciated quality.  She knew exactly where to find quality whenever she needed one.  H. Samuel, John Lewis, D.H. Evans, Harrods, Burtons, and Argos were some of the shops in London she did most of her shopping.

 

Sainsburys, Tesco, and Budgens were supermarkets she used to go frequently using her ATM card.

 

 

My mum was not only the best cook I have known, food was never in shortage at Windsor House. A bowl of salad after meal, ice cream, fruits, a cup of tea, fresh orange juice you name it was always available. When it comes to apples granny Smith was my favourite but my mum would also buy golden delicious and coxes just in case someone prefers those ones.

Every December 31stshe would make sure she record from BBC the important events that took place that year throughout the world in a video cassette and send it to us in the Gambia just in case we missed out certain major events in the news even though at that time I religiously listen to BBC radio with my black 9 meter band radio that she sent me.

 

Every year my mum would buy The Sunday Times newspaper either the last Sunday in December or the first Sunday in January just so that she could send me the Rich List which was usually published together with the Sunday Times at that time of the year.  I still have some of those magazines.

 

While I have no doubt that my mum has saved my life many times, I can still fully remember two painful incidents that without her swift intervention I could have easily died many years ago.  The first of these incidents happened when I was sent to Dankunku for schooling.  My brothers Ousman and Omar were sent to Bansang. I was exposed to a room with a mosquito net that had so many holes.   Naturally I got sick with malaria.  Until you get malaria you sometimes don’t know whether the constant mosquito noise on your ears that make you wake up in the middle of the night that is more painful and irritating, or the mosquito bite.

 

Even though communication at that time was not as good as it is today, no land phones in Dankunku no mobile phones then, how my mum knew I was sick I never found out but she instructed my uncle Alieu Sanneh (Nfally) to fuel my uncle Momodou Lamin Camara’s (uncle) vehicle and go pick me without any delay.  That was a distance of over 145 miles.  I was then staying with my aunty Bajen Awa.  Because of my critical health condition she could not object to my going back.  Upon arrival at Dippa kunda my mum used her thermometer to take my temperature.  It was unusually high.  I was suffering from cerebral malaria and I remember my mum telling me later that if I had not received medical treatment a day late there was no way I would have survived that sickness.

 

As far as I remember that was the first time I was given Nivaquine tablets to drink.  After drinking the tablets I developed a reaction causing me to scratch all over my body.  When the scratching was not helping the situation I decided to take shower. That was a bad mistake because the itching got worse. Later on anytime I got sick with malaria, I always take some piriton tablets first before taking Nivaquine tablets.

 

The second incident my mum saved my life was shortly after she left for her nine months course in the UK, malaria made another attempt of my life.  I was so sick and so weak that I could not walk, I had to crawl from the bedroom I shared with my three brothers and a cousin, to the toilet. This one also even though she was in the UK my mother again instructed my uncle Alieu Sanneh (Nfally) to use my uncle’s vehicle to take me to Dr Kurang for treatment forthwith.  Yes it is true that my mother made all the necessary arrangements before leaving for the UK for us to get medical treatment whenever the need arose.

 

Many years later when I come to think about how my mum knew I was so close to death due to suffering from malaria the only conclusion I could come up with is what I would call as a mother’s intuition.

 

My mum passed away quietly on her bed when three of her brothers Ebrima Camara (Burama), from South Africa who is next to her and Suwaibou Camara (Sai) from Australia, the youngest in her family, came to see their sister at Bundung that afternoon. My uncle Ismaila Camara (Soum) from Germany later came to see his sister (our mum) that very day.

 

My uncle Burama explained to me that she went quietly.  My mum decided to take her exit in life when all her brothers for the first time as far as I can remember were around in the Gambia  from South Africa, England, Germany, Sweden and Australia to attend the 40 days charity of their mother (our grandmother, Mma) who passed away on Friday 25thJanuary 2019 and her 40 days charity was Tuesday 5thof March.

 

Exactly three weeks after her passing my first cousin Lamin Camara from Sweden passed away in the USA on Friday 15thFebruary 2019.  Before Lamin’s 40 days charity on Tuesday 26thMarch my mum passed away one week earlier.

 

My brother Ebrima M’Bai (Bai Nyass) who live in the US, was here on holidays and had just left on the 9thof January this year.  Within 48 hours after the death of our mother he was back home to share with us our great loss.  This just shows the special love we all have for our dear Yaboi.

 

She enjoyed watching David Dimbleby’s Question Timeon Thursday night.  She was never happy with the way Jeremy Paxmanusually put off students in his programme University challengeAndrew Marr’sSunday morning programme was one of her favourite TV programmes.   She enjoyed watching Mastermind hosted by Magnus Magnusson. Zainab Badawiand Moira Stewardwere some of her favourite TV newscasters.

 

She never missed any of our birthdays by sending a special birthday card as well as make a phone call on the day itself to wish us happy birthday however busy she was.

 

She had so many friends such Ya Haddy Gibril, Aunty NabihaFaye, Aunty Kaindehbut without a doubt Aunty Fola Allenwas her best friend, a friendship that started well before I was born.  I remember so many times when Aunty Fola would bring her basket full of fruits, and ‘Nanburoo’ every Easter.

 

She had a special liking for Christmas probably because being born in Banjul and growing up in Grant street she had so many Christian friends.  We were always treated with a special meal on Christmas day with plenty of nuts, fruits and drinks as well as listen to nice Christmas Carrols.

 

When I reflect on the past I am just so happy to have had the courage to stand for my mum and to have given her all the moral support she needed when many years ago she had to take some tough unpopular decisions which decisions years later have turned out to be not only right but a blessing to the whole family.  Whatever she did for us she did out of love and not because it was obligatory on her.

 

I am still using the nail cutter she bought for me since 1990.

 

No one can fully be prepared for the death of a person no matter how old or sick the person may be. The day my mother passed away and the day she was buried are two days I will never forget in my life.  Since her death I have visited her grave more than a dozen times.  My brothers Ousman and Ebrima (Bai Nyass) live abroad, so Omar, Malick and I after every Jumma pray meet at her grave at the Dippa kunda cemetery to offer some prayers for her and others.  I believe that even though she is gone she is keeping an eye on all of us every single day.

 

Certain things are better kept silent, painful as it may be on my part, I would be abdicating my moral responsibility as a son if in an attempt to make a befitting tribute to my mother I fail to state the pain and sufferings she had to go through for most of her life.  I am a living witness to some of the trials and tribulations of life she had to unfortunately go through.

 

On Sunday 28thof April after the 5 O’clock pray we shall all gather at Dippakunda, Camara kunda at the family compound to observe her 40 days charity by prayers and recitation of the Holy Quran. We shall do so with comfort and satisfaction that we were very lucky to have been blessed with the kind of mother we had, so caring, so loving, so humble and so hardworking.

 

Although we lost a mother we are comforted by the fact that her only sister Ajaratou Ramatoulie Camara (Nna)  whom she performed the pilgrimage to Mecca  with in 1995 is here with us.

 

I will end this tribute with two quotations.

“The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.”

John F. Kenedy.

 

“People will never truly understand something until it happens to them.  God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.” John Eliot

 

Until we meet again Yaboi, lots of love from your boys.

 

 

 

EDRISSA  M’BAI (BAI)

 

 

Oumy Sall Ndiaye, the Legendary Woman behind JIFAD

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After a long and rich professional experience in France, Europe and Africa where she dedicated a great part of her time coordinating the strategy and communication of various candidates running in elections, Oumy Sall Ndiaye, a Franco-Senegalese woman, has launched an ambitious project that seeks to recognise African women working in the Diaspora. The project, International Day of the African Women of the Diaspora, JIFAD, has been designed to appreciate the achievements of African women in the diaspora.

Busy as a bee, Oumy Sall Ndiaye goes the extra mile. She answers the questions of visitors while doing her best to adjust the details or dashes around the venue to greet the official guests. As for reporters who request interviews, they must show patience: Oumy is running out of time and that is understandable.

It is 5 PM on this Sunday, March 17, 2019 in the prestigious lounge of La Palme, in Bobigny, in the outskirts of Paris, and Oumy who is a communication expert and who runs Proxi Communication, a global communication agency, has an appointment with a group of high-profile figures from the African continent and the Diaspora, mainly well-renown Africanwomen in their sector of activity either in France or the other European countries.

With her impressive communicational skills, Oumy Sall Ndiaye manages to convince a range of African authorities in the Diaspora to attend the event.

At 5 sharp, the venue is already overcrowded. Some have been there since late morning. Inside their countless exotic stands, exhibitors display their products including cosmetics, art objects, and intellectual works. The event features also dining outlets where African dishes are served to visitors keen on satisfying their food curiosity in a folk atmosphere.

For this first edition held under the theme of Examplariness, the organizer didn’t spare any effort for the event to be a success. In her role of mistress of ceremony, the Senegalese-Cape Verdean journalist, Juliette Ba, who is the host of the program “ça roule” broadcast on TV5, (she recently moved her viewers by disclosing her fight against endometriosis) also rose to the occasion.

On the VIP side as well, Oumy Sall Ndiaye was able to convince a range of African authorities in the Diaspora to grace the party including the Deputy Ambassador of The Gambia to Paris and brilliant scholar, Dr Mariam JOHN, who was the godmother of this first edition of JIFAD; the Chancellor of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mrs. Germaine LUBASU, Vice-Consul of Senegal in Paris, Mrs. Awa Diop Mbacke, who is the first ambassador of JIFAD; and representatives of the Organization of Francophonie and UNESCO.

Oumy and Dr Mariam John

Other eminent guests came from afar like Ms. Aida Diop Diouf (Law expert) who made the trip from Geneva at the helm of a strong delegation including her husband Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf and Mrs. Adja Aicha FALL, (SENELEC DAKAR), both Ambassadors of JIFAD, etc.

Celebrating the woman! But not only that! Because behind this festive mood, the ambition of Oumy Sall Ndiaye through the JIFAD which is due to be organized every year in March, is especially to provide a privileged moment of exchanges and friendship, with the aim of “favoring the exchange, overcoming the divisions and creating networks between valuable women.”

Promoting women’s entrepreneurship, rewarding success and inspiring career paths, mentoring and coaching women who have entrepreneurial projects or the skills required for informal enterprise in order for them to develop their structures , are other major objectives of the concept launched by Oumy Sall Ndiaye.

This is in fact the ground-breaking aspect of the promoter, in relation to all these events that also aim at the development of the African woman in the Diaspora. Indeed, it must be recognized, days dedicated to African women and celebrations of all sorts are already organized in the Diaspora. However, these events are generally held without much of a content or follow-up. They mostly feature a festive aspect with entertainment (singing, dancing…)

“That’s one of the reasons why I created this event. I want the JIFAD laureates to serve as role models and a source of motivation for all other women,” Oumy asserts.

“While many do believe that women are an important segment of society, few can tell us about women’s leadership in the Diaspora. In addition to their daily professional activities, African women in the Diaspora show unflinching bravery and unwavering commitment in the social, humanitarian and community sectors. They play a pivotal role in the local development of the regions where they hail from through international solidarity actions. These women are also real queens of entrepreneurship,” the Director of Proxi Communication opines.

In fact, in order to inspire and motivate women towards excellence, JIFAD will annually reward women for leadership.

For this first edition, three prominent women will leave Bobigny with an award namely Dr. MUKENDI PAPA Cécile, a Belgian-Congolese general practitioner who lives in Essonne and is very active in access to care for all (she created Primary, an innovative platform); Me Magou SOUKOUNA, a young Franco-Malian lawyer who is a member of the Bar of Bobigny with an extremely inspiring career, and Gambia’s Adja Mama F. DRAMMEH, a self-taught successful businesswoman and outstanding mediator for the city of Evry.

JIFAD Award Winners

If the JIFAD is in its first edition, its initiator, a native of Senegal is a seasoned organizer of events.

Holding a Master II in Political and Public Communication in France at the University Paris 12 (UPEC), a Master of Sociology of Organizations from the University of Evry-Val d’Essonne, a post-graduate degree in Social Anthropology at the School of Higher Studies in Social Sciences in Paris, Oumy Sall Ndiaye has already held the reins organizing successfully international symposia for ministers, organizations and public institutions. Not to mention her long and rich experience through rubbing shoulders with politicians both men and women: she was in charge of the coordination of the communication of several candidates running the presidential, legislative and municipal polls in Senegal, Africa and Europe.

However despite her time-consuming professional career, the Director of Proxi Communication, is also very committed to championing the rights of women based on her skills in leadership and advocacy

Oumy Sall Ndiaye is the helm of a Think Tank called the Diaspora Club, an entrepreneurial, societal, economic and cultural structure whose aim is the creation of a directory of African economic actors in the Diaspora.

To be able to successfully pursue her professional life simultaneously with the career of an activist, alongside her life as a mother, Oumy Sall Ndiaye must have been inspired by her mother, who passed away.

Recalling her mother, Oumy “as a woman she was a leader, very dynamic, warmhearted and a role model. In addition the freedom of the woman was one of the main struggles of my mother. In that regard I took from her a lot. Hence my presence here today among you”, Oumy Sall Ndiaye, disclosed, during her welcome speech to Bobigny on 17 March, 2019.

Ironically, 17 March coincides with the anniversary of his mother’s death (17 March). As JIFAD 1 came to a close, the director of Proxi Communication began to lay the groundwork for the second edition. Better still…

This first edition was unquestionably a success. As Oumy’s first attempt it was a master stroke so much so the event was the subject of an unhealthy attempt of “misrepresentation”. An Ivorian politico-media figure was caught in the act of “misrepresentation” during and after the ceremony. In fact the gentleman was taking a malicious pleasure of making sure he appears in all the almost all the official pictures. His behavior bothered some of the figures present at this event and tarnished the works of the photographer. The gentleman did not stop there. The day following the event, he was sourcing (or sign under pseudonym) articles by posing as “the guest of honor of the JIFAD (which is at odds with the truth), and by purposely failing to mention the organizer of this event.

Never mind, Oumy Sall Ndiaye has already moved to the next level. Right after the end of JIFAD 1, the director of Proxi Communication immediately dedicated herself to the preparation of JIFAD 2. She started indeed draw the outlines of new projects which she intends to be as ambitious and innovative. These so-called projects, which for some are scheduled for 2020, are also meant for the African Diaspora; a large program in prospect for this Franco-Senegalese woman who has made the showcasing of the achievements of African women of the Diaspora a calling.

Oumy Sall Ndiaye, Dr Mariam John & Vice Consul of Senegal to Paris, France

Journalist Juliette Ba Served as JIFAD Master of Ceremony

 

Group Photo

Editor’s note: This article is culled from Afrique Connection and has been translated from French to English. 

 

US Embassy Recognises Hatab Fadera

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By Lamin Njie

Hatab Fadera has landed an award after helping the United States Embassy in Banjul address its goal of building stronger relationships between Gambians and Americans.

Fadera edged out others for the embassy’s Employee of the Year award at an annual award event held on Friday.

The US embassy said Fadera won the award because of his “excellent judgement and work ethic, while covering for multiple positions and ensuring that public diplomacy is able to address the critical goal of building stronger relationships between Gambians and Americans.”

And Fadera reacting to the achievement said in a Facebook post on Friday: “This really came as a huge surprise and I am humbled by it.”

The US Embassy cultural affairs assistant added: “I am dedicating this award to my late sister, Mariama Fadera. None of these achievements would have been possible without her. Thank you U.S. Embassy for this high recognition. I am inspired and challenged by it.”

Fadera joined the US Embassy in 2015.

GMC Slaps back at UDP’s Taal

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By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Moral Congress has slammed Almami Taal over what it described as the UDP spokesperson’s reckless statements against the party.

Almami Taal in a recent interview with Gambian Talent Promotion claimed that GMC was a one-man party and asked who else was in the party aside Mai Fatty.

But in a statement on Friday, the GMC said Taal’s statements are ‘highly audacious, irresponsible, reckless and corrosive.’

The statement said: “GMC National Executive is extremely concerned under the rare circumstances, to respond to the impudent comments of the UDP Spokesperson. Almami Fanding Taal, officially speaking on behalf of the Leadership of the UDP in an interview with Gambia Talents TV online, and posted in the web on the 24th April 2019, characterized GMC in the worst pejorative of terms.

“It would have been different if Mr. Taal had clearly distinguished his utterances as his own personal position, and not that of the UDP,  on whose behalf he derives the unfettered authority to speak to the media on his Party’s position.

“The highly audacious, irresponsible, reckless and corrosive statements made against GMC by UDP Spokesman is generally interpreted to represent the official attitude of the UDP leadership towards the GMC and its leadership. Considering that GMC had always treated the UDP as a veritable political ally, this latest arrogant verbal onslaught, without any provocation, is intended to sever that notion, to attract extensive public odium against our Party as well as rubbish the great sacrifice and contribution of both our Party and leadership towards the political evolution of our country. Indeed, the records would prove the intrepid support and solidarity GMC had always granted to the UDP at its hours of need more than any other political Party in the country.

“It is unfortunate that this loyalty and support was misplaced. While UDP media continuous it’s relentless misinformation campaign against the GMC leadership, our Party continues to prevail over our membership to shun such divisive propensity and not to respond to such desperate provocation. On this occasion though, enough is enough! Mr. Taal is fond of making uneducated and uninformed statements against allies or potential allies of the UDP, without sanction.

“GMC strongly condemns the reckless comments which only serves to further divide and set our particular peoples against each other. GMC demands an unconditional public apology and a demands an immediate end to the relentless unprovoked, targeted, organized smear campaign.”

 

Plan to Remove 92 Soldiers from Army not Scrapped

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By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Armed Forces hasn’t walked out a plan to have at least 90 people removed from the army.

The Fatu Network broke the news on April 11 that the army was asking dozens of soldiers who were culled from the police to leave.

But the spokesperson of the army Major Lamin Sanyang told The Fatu Network it was in fact the police who requested that the men be sent back to the police as they were needed there.

On Friday, reports emerged that the army leadership met with the affected soldiers and has decided to walk out of the plan.

But the army spokesperson has said the reports are false.

“That’s not true. The meeting we have with them was to brief them that this is the situation. But a decision is not yet reached as to redeploying them back. But we’re on the process,” the spokesperson of the army Major Lamin Sanyang told The Fatu Network Friday.

Gen Martin Under Fire over Torture Allegations

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By Lamin Njie

Alagie Martin has come under heavy fire over allegations he masterminded the torture of detainees at Mile Two prison.

Former AFPRC vice chairman Sanna Bairo Sabally on Thursday told the TRRC the top Gambian army general was the leader of a torture team that visited him at Mile Two prison during his detention there.

Sabally claimed the team visited him more than 20 times and meted out various forms of torture to him including waterboarding, castration and enforced homosexual behaviour. The alleged incidents happened more than two decades ago when Martin was only a sergeant.

The former AFPRC junta No. 2’s allegations are on the back of similar allegations made by Lieutenant Colonel Baboucarr Sanyang of the Gambia Armed Forces.

Sanyang told the TRRC in March that Martin bossed a team of torturers who tortured him during his detention at Mile Two Prison in 1995.

Gambians have taken to social media on Thursday and on Friday to launch vicious attacks on Martin – now a brigadier general in the Gambia Armed Forces – with many calling for him to be sacked from the army.

 

Sabally Pooh-Poohs Sait Darboe’s Wild Junta Chairman and Vice Chairman Position Claims

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By Lamin Njie

Former AFPRC vice chairman Sanna Bairo Sabally has dismissed claims that he (Sabally) and former president Yahya Jammeh drew a gun on each other which saw them become chairman and vice chairman of the junta.

“Sana Sabally pulled out his pistol to Yaya Jammeh and told Yaya Jammeh you are the chairman and Yaya tell him that you are the vice chairman,” former army private Sait Darboe in February told the TRRC as he detailed how the Junta members got their positions.

Testifying before the TRRC on Wednesday, Sabally said the claims are false.

“No, that’s totally false. In the army what we know is chain of command. Who seniors you seniors you and that’s how Yahya became the chairman,” Sabally told the TRRC.

On Thursday, Whats On Gambia uploaded a three-minute video of Sait Darboe’s testimony where he could be heard talking about the gun pointing claims.

Gambians quickly jumped on Darboe and accused him of lying to the TRRC.

Ndey Sarr Guéléwar commented on What’s on Gambia’s wall: “For some reasons, I have this feeling that Sait Dabo wasn’t all okay that day.”

Baldeh Yaxy said: “Never mind this man he need some weed to tell the truth (sic).”

AbuBakr SidiQk Dibba said: “From now on I desist from using marijuana cuz no matter how long it will use or pay back to me either (sic).”

Sanna Sabally Testimony Exposes a National Malaise

The initial testimony of Sanna Sabally exposes a malaise in our society that could be found widespread and deep – in both the educated and the uneducated populations. This malaise goes to explain in fact the bad governance and underdevelopment that this country has been experiencing since Independence unabated. Two issues reflect this malaise in Sanna’s testimony, i.e. the idea that the military has a duty or role to overthrow a corrupt government and that the Geneva Conventions are useless!

 

When Sanna forcefully and seemingly innocently claim the right of the military to address political issues means the man lacks basic understanding of the nature of democratic governance and constitutionalism in a republic.  This error in understanding the nature and function of institutions and processes can be found prevalent until today in the minds of many Gambians. For example, it equates quite well with the scenario where the current president just like his predecessor would sack a Member of the National Assembly on the pretext that the president nominated that member.

 

This misconception of the nature of laws and institutions and the power entrusted to public officers can also be found in even some well-educated lawyers and intellectuals who defended the sacking of a parliamentarian by the president. They claim, albeit erroneously that indeed a particular section of the Constitution justifies such action simply because he who appoints can also sack! Thus, in his ignorance of the very rationale and role of the military institution in a democratic republic Sanna could not find ever again any barriers, moral and legal to stop him from executing his diabolical objectives since he has already found justification for his actions on a misconception of institutionalism, constitutionalism and democratic governance.

 

Yes, the Constitution imposes a duty on all citizens to defend the Constitution, but one cannot just seek an outright overthrow of a government just because one perceives a particular government to be corrupt or violates the constitution. One will find that in any well governed state there will be abuses and excesses by public officials and the government as a whole at certain times. But in such states, one will also find processes and institutions of accountability that work reasonably and most of the time to ensure that there is redress. Furthermore, one will also find that the space is open and free for citizens and political parties to challenge that government in various ways. Thus, so long as accountability measures exist reasonably it will be difficult to justify a violent overthrow of a government especially by the military which is supposed to be under civilian control in the first place.

 

Indeed, the PPP Government of Dawda Jawara was not the best of well governed administrations in the world but despite all of its shortcomings there were institutions and processes that allows for citizens to seek redress and change things. Secondly the political space was open enough such that various political actors could engage in order to bring about change. This is not to say there were no incidences of corruption or abuse of power and violations of rights. They were there. But then given the Gambia’s overall history and context and the relatively open and reasonably democratic nature of that government it is fair to say that this was an emerging nation-state that did not deserve a coup at that time.

 

For example, we have seen how in the 1980s a journalist published a damning story about corruption involving key minsters, yet the journalist was not subjected to arbitrary arrest or his paper closed down. Even though his trial on sedition was not enviable however the journalist had his day in court and was eventually acquitted and discharged. This was in the 1980s!

Fast forward to 1994 to 2016 when if another journalist would publish the same kind of story under the APRC regime, there is no doubt that such a journalist would disappear, and the newspaper closed down as we saw many times during the period. Hence one could rather contemplate justifying a violate overthrow of the APRC regime than the PPP Government simply because the former closed all means for accountability and made political activity an extremely risky business while the former allowed accountability processes and the political space to remain open, peacefully.

 

Therefore, the narrative by Sanna that the military particularly has a duty to overthrow a corrupt government is symptomatic of the malaise afflicting our society when individuals harbour very narrow perspectives of reality only to reach extremely faulty and dangerous conclusions. In some instances, it is about being utterly subjective, partisan or sectarian such that one cannot see beyond one’s institution, tribe or religion. Rather we perceive reality and life as a whole in terms of our peculiar environment first.

 

The other misconception perpetrated by Sanna is the idea that the Geneva Conventions don’t mean anything. This is in fact more scary coming from a soldier when it is clear that the Hague Conventions 1899 and later the Geneva Conventions 1949 have always been active since when they were first conceived. Sanna’s perspective clearly begs the question as to what and how is the Gambian military trained? Is his perception reflective of the mindset of the generality of Gambian soldiers or not?

 

As a soldier Sanna should have been quite accustomed with the laws of war and prepared to solemnly abide by them thus reflecting indeed his level of professionalism and dedication to military culture. Any soldier who thinks even slightly that the Geneva Conventions can be disregarded even by an inch then such a soldier is indeed a criminal who must not serve in any military.

 

Hence this testimony clearly shows that Sanna Bairo Sabally must not have been recruited into the Gambian army in the first place if indeed the recruiters could have deciphered his mindset from the very outset. This testimony therefore calls for urgent security sector reform so that the women and men in uniform are properly educated and cultured. Great military women and men are those that do not only know how to use the weapon and fight well but also abide by the norms of civilized society as espoused in the laws and institutions that guide conduct in any walk of life.

 

At best I can only classify Sanna as a hugely ignorant man and at worst as an inherently evil person who must not have been allowed in the first place to get near the military much more hold any leadership position in the society. He has demonstrated that he lacks any morality and sense of humanity to realise that leadership is responsibility that must be guided by higher values and standards. Courage and bravery exist in a person when she submits to and defends those values and standard and not when she blatantly breaks values with impunity!

 

Sanna’s blatant disregard for human life by perceiving everything in terms of ‘either-or’ or as a zero-sum game makes him erroneously believe that perceived and real enemies must be crushed to death simply because that is what the ‘enemies ‘would have also done to him. He has completely forgotten, in fact ignored the fact that he was the Vice Chair of the State that has legal and political obligation to protect the rights and lives of all Gambians regardless.

 

I find this perception quite disturbing and deep since one can find such narrative alive and kicking even right now in the way our political leaders and their parties and supporters relate to each other. It appears our society lacks the ability to attempt to understand each other in order to negotiate and compromise among ourselves for the good of the nation. When we hold positions of power there is a tendency in Gambians to unleash force and violence as a means to dominate and control all others which we erroneously perceive to be bravery and courage. Go to Gambian homes, communities and offices and you will see how in many instances the people who hold power use it to conquer and destroy fellow family members, colleagues or citizens!

 

Sanna has demonstrated, after 22 years in which he served at the highest level of leadership in the country including spending 9 years in prison that his mind is still weak and poor to comprehend and submit himself to the dictates of morality and the rule of law. His understanding of power is so distorted that he could only use power to unleash pain and misery. Sadly, he still cherishes that extremely polluted notion!

 

This testimony therefore has indeed offered huge lessons for our society for one will still find many Gambians who think and perceive the world in the same distorted manner as Sanna. There are many among us who either do not understand the nature of things in their proper context or if they do, they care less. This could be about God, ethnicity, religion, constitution, laws, human rights, institutions, power and sacred values and standards. How many of us misunderstand the very purpose of our institutions or merely condemn international institutions and disregard international law just like that? What difference are we with Sanna who also thinks that the military has a governance role or that the Geneva Conventions are useless?

 

This same distorted mentality in Sanna is the same distorted mentality we could recall in Yaya Jammeh when he would also lambast ECOWAS, AU, UN, Commonwealth or the ICC and even go ahead to remove the country from these institutions as he liked. Not that these are impeccable institutions but when you have leaders misconceive the nature and purpose of domestic and international institutions, processes, laws and norms then woe betide that society!

 

Is this a Gambian trait? Are we an arrogant people or do we just have low self-esteem? Is it because our education and culture are weak and poor such that we cannot develop critical thinking for the purpose of doing the good and just in the right way? We need serious self-refection.

 

For the Gambia Our Homeland

 

Spotlight: One Government at a Time

Amid recent cabinet reshuffle by his excellency, the president, i rise to throw dice at the much talked-about speculation and buzz drumming social media ablaze.
Although one had resisted not to be dragged through the mud of petty partisan politics, it has become rather difficult to sit tight or quiet given the state of play. In the case of a political junkie drawn into the seedy world of high government, conventional wisdom requires of us to dive in from time to time unpack the scene, analyse contents.
The target audience is always students on the prowl to excellence, in a ploy to spark critical thought. To start with, we should remind ourselves that ”critical” does not necessarily mean negative view or against, but of a ”well-informed” viewpoint, ”fair” and ”balanced”.
By any estimation, the state of our politics today is quite bizarre. For reasons still shrouded in mystery, a unified ”coalition” team that played its way into the hearts and minds of Gambian voters, has disintegrated into very unequal parts. But that should not surprise us, for historically, coalition governments tend to play out that way. What is surprising though (and new), was the arrogance and sense of entitlement to government roles by a select few  – an ungrateful few that was:
In normal circumstances, to be appointed cabinet minister serving one’s country should be an honour of the highest order, moreso a privileged portfolio of vice-president. It has to be said ‘Darboe’ never appeared grateful or satisfied with either, nor was he patient enough to wait turn at the next election. The UDP leaders desire to be the ”top” man in the country could not be hidden any longer, edged on by certain elements – a distraction to the governance structure.
And I dare say in a civilized society built on democratic values, underpinned by globally accepted rules and norms – there can only be one government at a time in charge of the affairs of state.
We cannot have a shadow government operating in the dark, nor a government within government. Given its history traced through time, ours promises to be a population of mix cultures, backgrounds and faith constantly re-configure on a zig-zagging path to development.
From an analytical lense measuring the situation that was, one came to the conclusion that ‘Darboe’ had grown to be a negative influence in cabinet, and a destabilizing force within government. Therefore, reshuffling the pack was the pragmatic choice at the president’s ‘disposal’ (sic) if he is to establish authority & leadership on his signature development plans (NDP) for the country.
The president has to shoulder a certain responsibility on the direction of the country, much less conflict with his coalition partners. A day long summer retreat with the various stakeholders therein could help clear the air on bottlenecks between them. Talking is always good, in diplomacy always encouraged – ultimately, however, the rule of law must always prevail.
As stakeholders in the matter, we should remind ourselves that national unity ought to be the overriding factor in the process of national politics. The ”national interest”, engendering national unity, should be an article of faith binding on all and each one of us.
Politicians should shy away and desist from the tired old adage of regional divides, lacky politics & tribe bashing on the campaign trail – but to see Gambia in a city-state possibility, as Singapore came to be.
Much credit to the tourism ministry on recent efforts to diversify that industry exploring communitarian tourism, spread the benefits far and wide. We should also encourage domestic tourism for ordinary Gambian families, the middle class especially, with incentives on weekend breaks, holidays inland around coastal or rural Gambia for comfortable stays at healthy retreats, help boost local tourism.
Exciting stuff – what dreams are made of, inspiring views within picturesque scenery for a globally known #DestinationTourism provider to the world #CityOfBanjul #Farafenni #GeorgeTown #Sifoe #Juffreh #GambiaRocks.
The plan always was to design and build a democracy with Gambian characteristic. A transparent state of play whereby we may argue, trade barbs or policy in an adversarial but insult-free ”Yarr Akk Teggiin” style politics. Political parties will always try to push the bar of civility to the cliff-edge, a concerning edge – let each one of us police theirself in rhetoric and deed.
Civility in our politics is an unwritten rule, unspoken. Really Gambia, do we actually need a constitutional provision requiring of us to exercise restraint in our politics? Does those admirable SeneGambia traditions & values mean anything these days? Clearly, we are losing track on certain character traits, high culture, ethics and standards the Gambian child came to inherit – fast eroding under our very own eyes. The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) got to embark on civic education programs.
I call on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) – to speak up to demarcate, educate political parties mark seasonal dates on the political calendar earmarked for campaigning. The polity appears unregulated, as if all year round campaign events are being normalised. I give high marks to party PDOIS, shunning the nonsense. With all the millions assigned to its annual budget despite no election activities this or next year, the IEC is still yet to come up with credible reforms we had desired in the manner political parties conduct on the scene.
Gibril saine

Sana Sabally In Perspective

By Momodou Ndow

Sana Sabally took responsibility, but he basically blamed his actions on age, he was 27 years old. I am not sure what people should be doing at 27 years of age, but I bet killing and terrorizing people would be considered extremely abnormal and inexcusable anywhere in the world for a 27 year old to be proudly engaged in, regardless! Not only was Sana engaged in such horrific actions, he continually tried to justify them all through his testimony!

To try to accomplish his goal of justifying his brutal actions, Sana constantly painted a picture of war/battle, where one has to kill the enemy at all cost, including those who were captured and tied. In addition, Sana also continually attempted trashing the Geneva Convention at every chance and even called it “shit” at one point today.

In his efforts to further double down on his trashing of the Geneva Convention, Sana probably went home yesterday after being challenged by the commission’s chairman who expressed disappointment in his ridiculous bashing of the Geneva Convention and did some quick research, to try to clarify his position. So he returned today with the story of when the Emperor caught some enemy soldiers trying to scale the wall in Geneva in the sixteen hundreds and hanged them.

In Sana’s mind, the Geneva Convention, which was negotiated in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1949, was “shit” because of an event that happened in Geneva in the sixteen hundreds. But it was that same “shit” of a “Geneva Convention” that rescued him and gave him the chance to relocate to Germany and realized his dream of being in the medical field. In essence, the Geneva Convention is “shit” when Sana Sabally is the law, but golden when Sana Sabally became victim!

Sana told us that he came to the TRRC to tell the truth about his role, but the truth was already established by multiple witnesses, and Sana only came to corroborate that “truth” and accepted responsibility. According to him, he was not going to lie because others who were there under his command knew what happened. Sana also told us that when he sees people beating their chest claiming to have kicked Goloh out (including the President), dafdey hahatie beh halangu. But it’s the same Sana who sat there beating his chest about how he is not scared of anyone and will take a bullet in the chest any day. How ironic!

Let’s not forget that Sana is now a professionally trained counselor in Germany; and what do counselors do? – they work with the mind and know how the mind works, so he came well prepared. He’s had years to be prepared for this day because he knew it was coming. His every statement was calculated, and his every defense reinforced, including the trashing of the Geneva Convention and the Junta’s right to take over the government at the time, despite the illegality of their actions.

In his closing remarks, Sana pleaded with the TRRC and the current government to intervene because the German project his was working on in Senegal was halted by the German authorities, and offered his psychotherapy service free of charge to his victims. Did the German authorities halt the project when “shit” hit the fan and they became aware of Sana’s crimes? With the Holocaust in their past and the human rights violations that happened there, the last thing the Germans want is to associate  themselves with such crimes, they will quickly distance themselves from it. And with Sana’s offer of psychotherapy free of charge, it is nothing but a case of “ma reye la beh parey jaleh la”, something the Junta was good at.

In conclusion, Sana was a 27-year-old who thought it was justified to stage a military coup to correct the corruption, and part of that correction was to kill, torture, and abuse citizens. And also once in a while, find nurses who skipped work and went to their boyfriend’s houses, knock on the door (pam pam), tell them that you were Chairman Sabally, and dragged them back to work. Waiting for them to show up to work was not an option. Throughout his testimony, Sana talked about forgiveness and reconciliation, but he forgot to mention justice. Yes Sana came voluntarily to tell the truth that was already established, but telling the truth doesn’t exonerate anyone from the crime of murder, and that’s why there is no statute of limitation for murder. Let justice guide our actions!

PS: Sana wants Gambians to know the truth and judge for themselves, so I did just that.

Foreign Affairs’ Touray Says She Has No Knowledge of Kemesseng Jammeh’s Sacking

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By Lamin Njie

The permanent secretary (1) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said she has no knowledge on the sacking of the Gambian ambassador to Turkey Kemesseng Jammeh.

“This is news to me. I don’t remember or see, have seen any recall letter or firing letter sent to Mr Kemesseng Jammeh. So I don’t know where this is coming from,” Salimatta Touray told The Fatu Network on Thursday.

Reports emerged Thursday that Kemesseng Jammeh has been sacked as the Gambian ambassador to Turkey by President Adama Barrow.

But according to the foreign affairs top official, while she’s not the appointing authority and has no purview over the appointment of ambassadors, she should be in the know should such thing happen.

“If that information should come through it would come through me and I would know. But as I’m talking to you now I don’t know,” Touray said.

SBS Says Babucarr Jatta Couldn’t Have Stopped the 1994 Killings

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By Lamin Njie

Former AFPRC vice chairman Sanna Bairo Sabally has told the TRRC the former commander of the Gambia National Army was not in a position to stop the 1994 savagery.
Eleven soldiers mostly officers were killed on November 11, 1994 after they were accused of trying to overthrow the APFRC junta.

Sabally on Wednesday told the TRRC he is responsible for the killings as “I’m the commander on the ground.”
On Thursday, Sabally was questioned on Babucarr Jatta’s involvement in the killing of soldiers at a bush near Brikama.
“I don’t think in his position there, he could have stopped anything, to be quite honest,” Sabally told the TRRC.

The lead counsel for the TRRC Essa then asked Sabally using the phrase, ‘quite an irony’, to confirm whether it was Jatta who suggested that the bodies be brought back to Yundum Barracks for burial.

Sabally said: “If he had said so, Babucarr I have never known him for lying. If he had said so, I would 100 percent go with his word.”

Babucarr Jatta and Essa Faal were last week involved in a testy exchange as the former army chief gave evidence regarding the events of November 11, 1994.
During the exchange, a seething Jatta told Faal he is a ‘very’ sincere person.

He also said Faal didn’t understand military matters and that he was just guessing.

But Faal fired back by saying he understood the whole law about command responsibility and how soldiers are organised.

IS ADAMA BARROW’S GOVERNMENT STILL LEGITIMATE?

Dr. Ousman Gajigo

This question is not being posed for the sake of just being provocative. It is a real question that we must seriously ask ourselves for it has implications for the future of democracy in our country. When Gambians went to the polls in December 2016, they faced three choices for presidential candidates: Yahya Jammeh of the APRC, Mama Kandeh of the GDC and Adama Barrow of the Coalition. Given these choices, the Gambian people voted for the coalition led by Adama Barrow.

For that coalition to come into existence, the 7 opposition parties and one individual came to an agreement. Without dwelling on the details of that agreement, suffice it is to say that there would have been no coalition without an agreement of some sort among the parties.

An understanding of that agreement is that the parties would form and be part of the government. It is hard to fathom that any party would have agreed to form a coalition had there been an understanding or even a hint that Barrow would unilaterally dismiss any of them from the government.

Everyone knows that the reason Adama Barrow ‘resigned’ from the UDP was because that was one of the decisions made when the coalition was being formed. That is, the flag bearer of the coalition would not be representing any single party but symbolically representing everyone by belonging to no party. Other than this reason, there was no other explanation for Barrow resignation from the UDP where he was a deputy treasurer and had unsuccessfully contested a national assembly position under the party.

It is also important to note that a critical member of that coalition is the UDP. It is safe to say that had UDP not joined the coalition, it is highly unlikely that a much smaller coalition composed of only NRP, NCP, PPP, PDOIS and GMC would have won the election. In other words, the size of UDP as a party is highly pertinent to the success of the coalition. For instance, it is highly unlikely that the participation of Mai Fatty or the Isatou Touray (the independent) were as decisive in the victory of the coalition over the APRC. While it would be against the spirit of the coalition to remove any of those two from the government against their will, the reality is that the political strength and the size of the average support for the coalition government would only be minimally affected if that were to happen.

Why is it important for us to be concerned about Barrow’s lack of respect for the agreement that led to the coalition formation? Recall that it took years of fruitless attempts by various Gambian groups to bring the opposition parties together. Many of us witnessed the painful experience of NADD. Whatever the details of the agreement that brought the parties together in 2016, there must have been conditions in this last coalition negotiation that convinced the parties to put aside their reservations and finally form a coalition strong enough to defeat Yahya Jammeh. Given that Barrow has decided to treat the articles of those coalition agreement as toilet paper, what are the implications for future of coalition formation should we face another autocracy?

In 2016, Gambians voted for the coalition – a coalition that selected Adama Barrow. Adama Barrow did not form a party, nor did his charisma, such as it is, propelled the opposition to victory. Any other leader of the parties that formed the coalition would have ended up as the president of the country for the simple reason that the Gambian electorate had decided that the time was up for Jammeh.

Having decided to unilaterally kick out of government other key members of the coalition, there is a strong case to be made that Barrow’s government no longer has moral legitimacy. I have no doubt that his government can legally serve out the rest of the term legally. But a man who cannot respect an agreement that was instrumental to achieving the position he now holds is an individual with no integrity. And such a man should not be trusted.

This lack of integrity is also evident by the types of individuals Barrow has now surrounded himself with. As we begin to count the billions of dalasis squandered by Jammeh, the dictator’s key enablers such as the minister of finance continue to be the key advisers of Barrow. Individuals such as Seedy Njie, who were willing to plunge the country into a civil war and supported Jammeh to the very end are now among the key officials and advisers of Barrow and his youth movement. In other words, Barrow hungers for power so much so that he does not mind whom he associates with. One is left with little doubt that were Yahya Jammeh to return today and offer his support, he would be embraced just as key members of administration have been welcomed by President Barrow.

Adama Barrow appears to have grown a convenient amnesia about the events that led to the ouster of dictator Jammeh. Lately, he has taken to falsely and unashamedly announcing that he singlehandedly removed Jammeh. Witness his recent claim to Kombo East supporters that while other opposition parties and figures have tried unsuccessfully to unseat Jammeh for 22 years, he succeeded in just a matter of months. Within a matter of just few years, this man has managed to convinced himself that it was all about him.

Such delusions of grandeur are some of the defining features of budding autocrats. We should be aware that not all autocracies come into being in dramatic fashion like a coup d’état. Elected individuals can and have morphed into autocracies.

Given that Barrow has shown no scruples to go against the agreement that the transitional president should only rule for 3 years, should we be confident that he would honor restrictions on his length of rule? Do we have reasons to even believe he would respect term limits when the time arrives? We would be fools to take him at his words but he has already demonstrated that an agreement with him is not worth the paper it is signed on.

 

Ousman Gajigo is an economist. He has held positions with the African Development Bank, the UN, the World Bank and Columbia University. He holds a PhD in development economics. He is currently an international consultant and also runs a farm in The Gambia.

Woman Injured in Accident in 1991, Wakes from Coma 27 Years After

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A woman from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who was seriously injured in a traffic accident in 1991 has made a seemingly miraculous recovery after emerging from a 27-year-long coma.

Munira Abdulla, who was aged 32 at the time of the accident, suffered a severe brain injury after the car she was travelling in collided with a bus on the way to pick up her son from school.

Omar Webair, who was then just four years old, was sitting in the back of the vehicle with her, but was left unscathed as his mother cradled him in her arms moments before the accident.

Ms Abdulla – who was being driven by her brother-in-law – was left seriously injured, but last year regained consciousness in a German hospital.

Omar has opened up about the accident and about his mother’s progress following years of treatment in an interview with the UAE-based newspaper The National.

“I never gave up on her because I always had a feeling that one day she would wake up,” Omar told the newspaper on Monday.

“The reason I shared her story is to tell people not to lose hope on their loved ones; don’t consider them dead when they are in such a state,” he added. (Vanguard)

 

Sabally Says Samsudeen Sarr Will be Last Person He’ll Inform of Coup Plot

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By Lamin Njie

Sanna Bairo Sabally has said that the former commander of the Gambia National Army Samsudeen Sarr will be the last person that he will inform about a coup plot.

Testifying before the TRRC on Wednesday, the former vice chairman of the AFPRC junta said a number of senior officers of the Gambian army including Samsudeen Sarr were not informed about the coup d’état of July 22nd 1994.

“One would expect that they will be informed but here is a situation where you needed a closely knitted confidential team together. And having been together for some years we knew each other along the line. That if I should tell someone something the next minute B and C will get to know about it,” Sabally told the TRRC.

Asked whether Samsudeen Sarr was informed about it, Sabally quickly responded: “In reality, to tell you the truth, Samsudeen Sarr will be the last person I Sanna B Sabally will inform about a coup plan.”

His response was greeted with chuckles from among the audience even as Gambians took to social media to mock a man who says he is proud of his friendship with former president Yahya Jammeh.

Saikou Danso commented on QTV’s live broadcast of Sabally’s testimony on Facebook: “Hahaha Sam Sarr great liar that’s why lol.”

Kumba Njie said: “Super kanja mouth.”

Saidou Ceesay: “Because he got a big mouth.”

Aladin Smoky Cham: “Lol cuz Samsidin have a basket mouth.”

Lamin B Ceesay: “Bcuz of his Super kanja mouth.”

Ex-AFPRC Top-Shot Sabally Takes Responsibility for the Brutal Killing of Soldiers in 1994

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By Lamin Njie

Sanna Bairo Sabally on Wednesday told the TRRC he is responsible for the brutal execution of at least a dozen soldiers in 1994.

“I’m responsible, counsel. I’m the commander on the ground and I gave the orders,” Sabally testified before the TRRC regarding the killing of army lieutenants Basirou Barrow and Abdoulie Faal.

“The rest of the group, when we came back the next day, we got the ringleaders, we took them to the Brikama range, not exactly at the Brikama range but the forest and we shot them and brought them back to Yundum Barracks for burial.”

Former AFPRC vice chairman Sanna Sabally formed a key part of a group of junior officers who overthrew the democratically elected government of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara on July 22nd 1994.

At the TRRC tell-all on Wednesday, Sabally who oozed confidence said the July 22nd coup plotters ventured into the illegal act to enforce their rights as Gambians.

“We believed in any genuine democracy, the constitution is the supreme law. And we as the armed forces of The Gambia coupled with our Gambia Armed Forces Act we had a bounding duty (sic) to help preserve the country, to protect our national integrity,” Sabally said.

According to Sabally, the original day of the coup was on July 21st and the plan was to arrest former president Jawara as soon as he returned to the country from England.

“My task was to make sure that I block the airport gate to make sure that nobody goes out until Jammeh and Edward Singhatey had apprehended Jawara and his entourage.

“When they went to the airport for the guard of honour, I was only waiting for a call from Jammeh or Edward to start my operation. It never came. For me everything was completely destroyed.

“We had to go to plan B. The alternative was when that fails, we wage a war, we get hostages and then we raise the flag and then UN can come in.”

On the November 11, 1994 counter coup, Sabally said the junta had first classed it as a disturbance.

Sabally said: “On Thursday we have our cabinet meeting and on Friday we have our council meeting. On this particular Thursday, on the 10th of November 1994, we were in cabinet meeting. A call came from Samba Bah the then NIA director. He said, ‘vice.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said there is disturbance reported at Yundum Barracks.

“Here we talked about a disturbance not a coup up to this time. We qualified it as a disturbance first. He said their was disturbance in the military barracks at Yundum. We called the army commander at the time Baboucarr Jatta and said we should addressed the situation immediately.”

Sabally’s appearance before the TRRC elicited unprecedented levels of interest.

Gambians first began to struggle in containing their emotions after it emerged early Wednesday that the former AFPRC junta No. 2 was the TRRC’s next witness.

Sabally will return to the commission on Thursday.

TRRC and Its Legal Team are on Track!

In the wake of misconceptions and distortions being generated in some quarters against the TRRC and especially about its Lead Counsel Essa M Faal in the way it is exposing the truth it is necessary to call on Gambians to stand with the TRRC. For that matter I find the path and the manner of questioning by the Lead Counsel to be on the right track so far. To protect the integrity and professionalism of the TRRC does not lie only with the Commission rather all Gambians must be committed to ensuring that the TRRC is professional and credible and at the same time protected from disrepute and interference from any quarter!

TRRC is not an ‘attaya vous’ by the street corner where individuals would come just to chat by claiming and denying their own stories as they wish. If that were the case then it is not necessary for witnesses, either as victims or perpetrators, to take a prescribed oath with the Holy Bible or Holy Qur’an in their right hand! Yet it is common knowledge that some individuals would still lie blatantly even if God The Almighty Himself was standing before them.

TRRC went out to appoint lawyers of the highest caliber simply because it is clear that to seek the truth from human beings, whether they are victims or violators, require a certain level of expertise and experience so as to prevent distortion. If the art of seeking truth was that simple or if TRRC was merely a bantaba drama certainly there would be no need to hire expensive lawyers and invest so much resources in the entire process and its institution.

Therefore, the way and manner Essa Faal is pulling the truth out of witnesses is on the right track so far. One must bear in mind that the TRRC is not merely about the violations that took place under the AFPRC/APRC regimes. Rather the TRRC is also meant to understand how the whole system of governance and the rule of law broke down leading to abuse of power and perpetration of injustices and human rights violations for 22 years. TRRC is to understand how did a supposedly good society like the Gambia deviate from its moral, religious, legal and constitutional and republican values and standards to become a vicious society of survival of the fittest.

For example, if one followed closely the testimonies of perpetrators it is not strange to notice how political, legal, cultural and security leaders and ordinary citizens allowed or succumbed to favoritism, patronage, abuse and disregard of the law to prevail just to satisfy their whims and caprices. But one will see that in many of these testimonies also some witnesses sought to distance themselves from responsibilities that laid squarely within their hands. Imagine former Army Commander Baboucarr Jatta seeking to deny his presence during the November 11 shootings!

In instances like this and especially where a witness sought to deviate from or contradict her or his own written statement, it is therefore necessary that the Lead Counsel pin that witness to the facts without mercy. This is also why the TRRC has an investigations department purposely to obtain facts knowing full well that individuals will also seek to distort and give misleading statement about their own roles and experiences.

Therefore, a truth commission is not meant to only understand the details of the damages a society went through but also based on that understanding to propose how to rebuild a broken society and its people and institutions. The TRRC is therefore aimed at recommending the necessary restructuring, rebranding and repositioning of the Gambian state and society by building strong republican and democratic foundations that would produce a dignified and just people with robust institutions.

Truth commissions are about exposing the truth first and foremost. International and regional human rights bodies have noted that victims of gross human rights violations and their families, as well as other members of society, have the right to know the whole truth about past human rights violations. The right to truth has both an individual and a collective dimension. For example, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights notes that the right to know the truth is a collective right that ensures society access to information that is essential for the workings of democratic systems, and it is also a private right for relatives of the victims, which affords a form of compensation.

International law places an obligation on states to ensure that the right to truth is protected by ensuring that states provide information on the causes of the events that have led to a person having become victim of a human rights violation; the reasons, circumstances and conditions of the violations; the progress and results of the investigation; the identity of perpetrators (both subordinates and their superiors); and, in the event of death or enforced disappearance, the fate and whereabouts of the victims. Both in its individual and collective dimensions.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights states that the right to truth is an inalienable right, which stands alone. It should be considered as a non-derogable right and should not be subject to limitations. Hence Essa Faal and his co-counsels should employ all means within their powers and according to law to question witnesses in order to establish the truth. If that requires that they become combative then they should be just as if it requires that they become compassionate they should be compassionate as well.

So far we have seen these lawyers demonstrate the right means to eke out the truth from witnesses with the right attitude. The have employed a lot of natural and trained intelligence to distinguish between falsehood and the truth while at the same time showed utmost respect and necessary bluntness to ensure that the truth comes out. We must recognize that the fundamental issue in this process is the right of victims and their families, first and foremost, to know the truth. Both the witnesses and the Gambian State have the duty to ensure they expose the truth.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had stated that, “The value of truth commissions is that they are created, not with the presumption that there will be no trials, but to constitute a step towards knowing the truth and, ultimately, making justice prevail.” Amnesty International has therefore stated that the role of truth commissions is to ensure that victims of human rights violations have an effective remedy. There cannot be effective remedy without first establishing the truth about human rights violations as a means to pave the way for justice and reparations.

I wish to therefore state my unflinching support to and confidence in the TRRC and its Lead Counsel in the way they conduct their work. The TRRC has the powers of the high court hence one must not expect that witnesses will merely come to enjoy a colourness chat when they sit on a mountain of evidence yet refuse to share truthful information about their roles, experiences and knowledge either as victims or perpetrators.

For the Gambia Our Homeland

KILLER MARABOUT: Police Thank Taxi Driver Lamin Marong

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By Lamin Njie

Police in The Gambia on Tuesday said they are appreciative of the efforts of Lamin Marong in the murder case of a Marabou, Boubacarr Jallow.

Police at the weekend arrested Boubacarr Jallow for killing his client, cutting her into pieces and disposing of her remains in three bags.

Mama Barrow went missing on Sunday March 10 after leaving her house in Tallinding, according to a complaint lodged at Tallinding Police Station by the victim’s sister Bintou Barrow.

On Tuesday, police told reporters at a press briefing held at the police headquarters in Banjul that Mama had in fact gone to see Boubacarr Jallow in Banjullinding where she ended up meeting her death.

Jallow told the police he fought with Mama after an altercation over money she owed him.

And according to the police spokesman, the marabou Boubacarr Jallow hired Lamin Marong who works as a taxi driver to dispose of Mama’s remains.

Lamin Njie said: “We want to commend the efforts of a taxi driver Lamin Marong. He’s a taxi driver who played a crucial role… The first thing that happened when the Marabout wanted to dispose the body, he called the taxi driver and said, ‘come and help me, I have a charity that I’m giving and this charity is in the form of meat but it’s not supposed to be eaten by anybody – I have already done the rituals that I have to do and now what I’m about to do is just to throw the body away.’

“So the guy came and then realized the body language, the gestures and all the suspicions that he was going through. Immediately he did that, he went to the police station in Farato and made a report.”

 

After Designating Jammeh’s Hezbollah Pal Bazzi, US Says it Will Pay Up to $10M for Information

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By Lamin Njie

The United States has announced it will pay up to 10 million dollars for information that disrupts the finances of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant organization.

A U.S. government official announced the award on Monday, saying the sum would be paid to those who give information about major Hezbollah donors and financiers as well as businesses that support the organization and banks that facilitate the group’s transactions.

“Make no mistake, the United States government will use all available tools to extinguish Hezbollah’s sources of revenue. We will also target any and all financial means of the group and its masters in Iran and any mechanism that they together use to support terrorist activities in the Middle East and in fact around the world,” a senior State Department official said.

“Since 2017, the Treasury has moved at an unprecedented rate to disrupt Hezbollah’s financial activities and deny it access to the global financial system. We designated more than 40 individuals and entities, working behind the scenes as well with friendly nations, scores of countries to close down Hezbollah controlled companies, money exchanges and laundering operations from Argentina and Paraguay to The Gambia to Dubai.”

The State Department listed three alleged Hezbollah financiers as examples of the activities they are hoping to stop.

Adham Tabaja is allegedly a Hezbollah member who has direct ties to senior Hezbollah organizational elements, including the terrorist group’s operational component, Islamic Jihad. Tabaja also holds properties in Lebanon on behalf of the group.

Ali Youssef Charara allegedly received millions of dollars from Hezbollah to invest in commercial projects that financially support the terrorist group, and Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi allegedly provided millions of dollars to Hezbollah generated from his business activities.

Meanwhile, the payments will be made by the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, which until now was focused on offering cash rewards for information that leads to the capture of wanted terrorists.

Under Fire Faal Vows to Stick to his Style

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By Lamin Njie & Alhassan Darboe

Essa Faal on Tuesday said the TRRC will not allow anyone to treat it with contempt and ridicule.

The TRRC lead counsel has come under fire in recent days for his tough questioning style and for trying to corner witnesses to admit to offences they might have committed.

WhatsonGambia, Gambia’s most popular and controversial online platform last week opened up the flood gate of criticism on counsel Faal’s questioning style when it posted thus “AT THE TRRC: Counsel Essa Faal vs Witness Baboucarr Jatta. OUR TAKE: Counsels should avoid excessive interventions while witnesses are testifying. It is causing more harm than good. All witnesses should be offered the opportunity to properly put forward their case and not hectored into accepting what the TRRC wants them to accept.”

Also weighing in on the questioning style of the TRRC lead counsel, Pata P.J,a Gambian political commentator wrote: “I think Lead Counsel should ALLOW Babucarr Jatta to testify. We heard more from the junior witnesses who confessed to being participants. Interestingly, Col. Jatta’s account of what happened at the Fajara Barracks seems to be corroborating Njie Ponkal’s.”.

Pata P.J also added that “If the testimonies of the ‘subordinates’ could be used as evidence to confront a ‘superior’ witness, especially where he’s implicated or adversely mentioned, I think it’s not only fair but necessary to allow the ‘superior’ elaborate. That shouldn’t be a ‘success or failure’ battle.”

Simon Peter Mendy, another Gambian commentator added: “It seems TRRC has made up their mind that the allegations are now evidences. Note their references to the present witnesses. They discredited earlier witnesses as liars yet TRRC uses the same discredited witnesses’ testimonies as evidences.”

However not everyone is unhappy with counsel Faal’s line of questioning and tactics to squeeze the truth out of witnesses.

Yunus Hydara, a Gambian social commentator wrote: “The TRRC is an extremely credible & competent institution. Keep up the great job Dr. Jallow, Dr. Sise, Essa Faal, Horejah & the rest of the team.” Mr. Hydara also added, “The TRRC is exposing The emptiness of the souls of the worst type of Gambians. These criminals and social parasites sucked the blood out of poor people for decades masquerading as decent people. They rendered no service to their country; they took salaries they never earned.”.

Also defending Faal’s tough stance on witnesses, Adama Cham also added “It is proven beyond doubt that Gambians don’t appreciate their own. That said, doubting the competence and impartiality of ESSA FALL only exposes one’s ignorance and disrespect to the family of the victims. All genuine Gambians are with you ESSA FALL. You have proven your competence at the international stage.”

On Tuesday, Faal called a press conference where he said the TRRC will not allow witnesses appear before it and obfuscate things.

“We try to elicit the the truth from witnesses in a respectable manner. However, where witnesses are uncooperative, misleading or play games, we have an obligation to use the repertoire of skills in our toolbox to tackle the situation. If we don’t, more witnesses will come and treat the commission with contempt and ridicule. We will not allow anyone to get away with that,” Faal told reporters.

 

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