If the government wants you, it will get you. You might run to a faraway country. Seek refuge in the safest of places. Block questionable people from accessing your social media accounts. Activate all security signals to watch your back. But if the government wants you. The government will get you.

Never trust anyone with your life. America and Saudi Arabia are bosom buddies. They trade in arms (Saudi Arabia is America’s top weapons buyer). They share military intelligence. They watch over each other’s back. America cannot throw their Saudi friends under the bus for the sake of one citizen. President Trump sent Secretary Pompeo to Riyadh to gloss over the matter so that it looks that America are doing something. They are doing nothing. They will do nothing to Saudi Arabia. Had Jamal Khashoggi been murdered in a godforsaken country, say Libya or Suriname, the Pentagon would’ve already dropped bombs and flattened the place. But Saudi Arabia will escape this with a slap on the wrist. Only God can protect you from your friends. Because you already know your enemies.

Technology will not help you when your neck is on the chopping board. Jamal Khashoggi had an Apple watch that was synchronized to his fiancé’s phone. Turkey says the Apple Watch recorded everything that went on inside that torture chamber and was saved in his fiancé’s phone. The gory data was retrieved, but Jamal Kashoggi had already been chopped into pieces. Technology will save you when your back is against the wall. But technology is not Jesus Christ.

We will move on when you die. Jamal Khashoggi was a columnist for the Washington Post. When his disappearance was first reported, the Washington Post protested by publishing a blank column on the paper under his name. The world took attention, White House was under pressure, Turkey was told to get into the consulate and find out what was happening, everyone who was involved in this murder was supposed to have been fired. The Consular General has not been recalled, leave alone being asked to step aside pending investigations. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is all over the place defending the Saudi Royal family and telling guys to chill. The initial noise is quietening. Reality is hitting home. Nothing will be done. It’s time to move on.

Alagi Yoro Jallow

The absolute majority isn’t going to be tractable if it’s implemented in The Gambia. The reason being is, we’ve to scrutinise, rationalise and understand the political culture and participation of The Gambian people. When it comes to voting in The Gambia, people have limited interest because of limited awareness about politics; thus leading to the practice of political apathy. This may happen when there is no absolute majority win in the first round of voting; the aftermath of such scenario leads the two frontliners to go for a second round of voting. The supporters of the losing candidates may refuse to vote in the second round because there preferred candidate is not contesting.

When such instances surfaced  the likelihood of a coalition government is rendered inevitable. Is a coalition government good for The Gambia. No! Compare to a government compose by a political party. We all know that a coalition government is always fragile and weak, because, no party takes ownership and when bad things occurred you wouldn’t even know where to apportion the blame because, everybody is there to protect and defend his or her party.

But if a government is compose by a political party, that party would make sure that they protect the political future of the republic by ensuring that all  institutions in the country are anchored on the basis of transparency and accountability. Therefore, they would always ensure that they do the right thing just to win the hearts of their people and also to be very mindful and careful of what they would be engaging on, and how they’re going to do it so that they don’t jeopardise the political future of the party.

A coalition government can be very dangerous and a threat to the nation’s sovereign wealth especially when the right people aren’t put in places. However, this may catapult a kleptocratic government of looters and tax evaders. And government composed of only thieves makes snail pace development a reality.

I think before advocating for absolute majority, we should first try to sensitise, educate, help and convince the people to participate and take party in politics both conventionally and unconventionally. If that’s successful then we can go for the absolute majority.

Seven (7) political parties came together to formed a coalition in 2016, but, they couldn’t even attained or pull out 50% due to the fact that the voter turn out was very low. If we really want to have the absolutely majority, then we’ve to change our political behaviour. And in essence, I’m of the perspective that we ought to first look into the party system of The Gambia in other to put a stop to the emergence of dubious political parties with clueless manifestos. Such parties are merely structured on political expediency.

In conclusion, We all witnessed the precious elections and it was only the presidential election which was better but the turn out for National Assembly and councillors elections were very poor.

Let’s not always try to imitate the democracy of  other countries even when such democracies does not suit our political reality.

May Allah the almighty continue to protect, guide and bless our motherland. Amen!

For The Gambia, our homeland.

Abubacarr Fulus Drammeh,
Student of the University of The Gambia.

State House, Banjul, 17th October 2018

The Gambia has been admitted as an Observer to the International Organisation of the Francophonie -OIF at the 17th Session of the Francophone Summit recently held in Yerevan, Armenia.

On behalf of the President, the Vice President, His Excellency, Mr Ousainou Darboe, led a delegation to the Summit, where The Gambia along with Ireland, Malta and the State of Qatar were admitted as new members of the Francophonie.   The Gambia’s membership to the Francophonie would provide opportunities for enhancing the country’s economic, socio-cultural and political transformation agenda.

The Francophonie   Community embodies the values of good governance, democracy, human rights, the rights of the child, empowering women, and harnessing the youth dividend among other things. The 88 member organisation is principally composed of developing countries that are set to promote the ideals of fair play in the world of globalization, in pursuit of the national development agenda of its members.  

Members consist of French and non-French speaking countries, and in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau are examples of the non-French speaking members.

At the Amenian Summit, the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, was elected as the Secretary General of the OIF for the next two years.   She replaces the Haitian-born Canadian, Michaelle Jean. The next Summit will be held in Tunis in 2020.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Vice President, Darboe was received by the Prime Minister of Armenia, His Excellency, Nikol Pashinyan, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara signed an agreement formally establishing diplomatic ties between The Gambia and Armenia.

Members of His Excellency’s delegation comprised of the Ambassador of The Gambia to France and his Deputy Head of Mission, Dr Mamadou Sedat Jobe and Dr Mariama John respectively,and Mr Baboucar Dumbuya from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Dr Cherno Omar Barry, Chair of the Board of Alliance Française de Banjul also attended the Summit.

State House, Banjul, 17^thOctober 2018

His Excellency, President Adama Barrow has lauded the initiative of the French government to invest massively in Agricultural commercialization and mechanization, stressing that value addition in agricultural production will greatly contribute to food security in the country.

The President made the remarks during a closed-door meeting with the Ambassador of France to The Gambia, His Excellemcy, Christophe Bigot,at the State House in Banjul. The delegation was at the presidency to highlight France’s willingness to support the Barrow government, particularly in the area of agricultural development, among others.

While commending the French government for its generous support since assuming office, President Barrow expressed deep appreciation for the visit as well as the recent approval for an Observer Status for The Gambia in the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF).

Speaking to the State House press corps shortly after the audience with the president, Ambassador Bigot described bilateral relations with Banjul as “very strong”, adding that France has been committed to supporting ‘New Gambia’ from the very beginning.

France has pledged €50Million grant towards agricultural development, urban water supply expansion in The Gambia amongst areas during The Gambia Conference in Brussels in May this year.

Such ventures would equally create more job opportunities for the youth, which is a top development priority for the Barrow government.  The Gambian leader called on the French to explore more opportunities and partnerships, especially in the area of tourism, which is the highestrevenue earner for the country.

The delegation, comprising Mme. Laurence Hart, Director General of the French Development Agency, Mr. Joel Godeau, Charge d’Affaires at the French Embassy in Banjul and Mr. Charbel Elhdji were accompanied by embassy staff to the State House.  Also at the meeting were Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Secretary to Cabinet, Ebrima Ceesay and Permanent Secretary MOFA, Sulayman Njie.

The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) has begun a four -days training for its staff and media partners on Tuesday, 16^thOctober, 2018. The induction, taking place at Baobab Beach Hotel in Bijilo, is meant to familiarize participants with the constituent documents of the CRC and the methodology for the implementation of the Commission’s tasks.

The CRC was established by the Constitutional Review Commission Act of 2017, to review and analyze the 1997 Constitution, draft a new Constitution for the Republic of The Gambia and prepare a report in relation to the review process and the drafting of the new Constitution.

The Commission’s report will outline the processes engaged in reviewing and drafting the new Constitution and provide the rationale for the provisions contained in the new Constitution.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary of the CRC, Omar Ousman Jobe, welcomed participants to the maiden capacity building for the CRC staff who already took their oath of office. He said the training will introduce and avail the newly recruited staff  to the core mandate of the CRC, its action plan and other relevant strategic documents the CRC had prepared.

The training is being facilitated by the Commissioners of the CRC and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).

The Chairperson of the CRC, Justice Cherno Sulayman  Jallow (QC), welcomed the new staff  to the CRC noting that, it is paramount that new staff and journalists understand the mandate and work of the CRC.

“It is important that we ensure that the particular goal of drafting the new Constitution for The Gambia and accompanying report is done properly, effectively, efficiently and in a timely fashion,” he said.

Justice Jallow recognized the value of the CRC staff  in ensuring the CRC executes its mandate and therefore enjoined them to be committed to duties and serve with due diligence.

He added: “The constitutional review process is designed to be fair, transparent and as objective as possible.”

He said the process is a ‘national endeavor’, designed to ensure that the Constitution will stand the test of time adding that the CRC is committed to fairness and impartiality in the process and that it will ensure that the document reflects the needs and aspirations of the Gambian people.

The chairperson noted that the constitution making process will include the inputs of all Gambians both in the country and the diaspora.

“We have a collective responsibility to ensure that whatever we do is transparent, fair and objective. The credibility of the CRC depends on the credibility of each and every one of us,” he advised.

During the course of the induction, participants are expected to be introduced to the CRC’s strategic documents and other thematic issues relevant to the development of the new Constitution.

Participants at the training expressed delight to be part of the process and resolved their unflinching commitment to relentlessly serve the CRC. They highlighted their expectations from the training.

State House, Banjul, 16^thOctober 2018

The top echelon of the United Nations, led by the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary Generalin West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Muhammad Ibn Chambas, has reaffirmed their unreserved support for the President of The Gambia, H.E. Adama Barrow, to stand by his government to successfully carry out institutional and governance reforms being undertaken.

The UN dignitaries made the pledges during a courtesy call on His Excellency, President Adama Barrow at the State House on Tuesday.

Stressing that The Gambia’s success is a victory for the United Nations, the UN-SG Special Representative promised his organization’s full backing of the Gambia government.

‘’You can continue to count on the support of the Peacebuilding Commission, right from the UN Secretary Generalhimself. We are there with you in support of your effort to build the newGambia. The commission is at your full disposal to make sure whatever is pledged [$20M for the peace process] is there for you’’, remarked Dr. Chambas.

In welcoming the UN team, President Adama Barrow expressed delight at the presence of the delegation at the launching ceremony of the TRRC in The Gambia, something he said, gives a good picture to the world about the importance the UN attaches to the transition period in The Gambia.

“We believe that without peace, we cannot succeed; without stability, we cannot move this country forward. My government has provided the political will to build a strong foundation for democracy and we are committed to strengthening the judiciary,” he said, maintaining that these are the cardinal principles upon which his government was built.

Despite inheriting a difficult past, President Barrow was upbeat that The Gambia will successfully forge on, just like other countries had a similar experience. He, however, maintained that the journey will not be realized without support from partners and friends like the UN.

The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Momodou Tangara described members of the delegation as “good friends” of the country who have been keeping alive the momentum on the Gambia at the UN.

“Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.” -Amilca Cabral

The pieces of the Gambian cake was swallowed by the western capitalists, the Jawara Adminstration and The Jammeh Administration. With the advent of the Barrow Government, we thought we are now out of the woods and saved from the wolves. It is not to be; we have a new maurading Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves masquerading as new Robinhoods.  They too want to have their share of the cake too. “It is our time to eat”, we can hear them whisper to each other.

Since independence, we’ve suffered from our own hands. While political leaders are scrambling for the pieces of our national cake, the poorest peasants in the backwaters of The country are struggling to have their three square meals. And that many tons of their groundnuts are in their homes without a market. Agriculture, which once was touted as the backbone of our economy, is neglected and the farmer is abandoned to plough a lonely farrow.  Thus, they’ve created a vicious cycle of destitution. It’s outrageous to realize that, destitution has became a way of life for poor majority of Gambians. The bourgeois is living on the sweat of the proletariat.

Arguably, both Jawara and Jammeh administration used state resources as a pillar to entrench themselves in power. They are all accused of controlling the state meagre resources.
“The poor were faced with making a choice to sell their     voters’ card in exchange for resources needed for their daily sustenance. Self-preservation under conditions of severe poverty seemed to be the most significant factor considered by many Gambians, as they accepted rice, money and other resources from politicians in exchange for their votes. Vote-buying was alleged in the Gambia even as far back as the 1962 elections, when MCP leader I. Garba-Jahumpa believed he lost his seat to UP member because the latter paid for many of his votes (Rice, 1967: 336).

This has weakened the political opposition in the Gambia, and exploitation continuously climbs the ladder. Poor voters have no real alternatives to survival, rather than selling their votes to the incumbent and continue living in the wretched of the earth.

Following the ouster of Jammeh, the Barrow leadership reported that the Gambia’s treasury was depleted, emptied so to speak. The most disheartening thing is to listen to the revelations from the Janneh Commission. By all indications, Jammeh and his associates conspired and looted our meagre resources, strangled our economy and hugely indebted our country in the name of unholy loans.

The Barrow Administration is also at it, his cases include, but not limited to;
(i) D10,000 donated to National Assembly members and Constituent chairpersons in a form of bribery and corruption.
(ii) D33 million supposedly donated to Fatou Bah Barrow Foundation by a foreign donor.
(iii) D11 million donations to the Gambian pilgrims.

This trend in our political system has raised a lot of fundamental questions: How much more will we’ve to suffer from the hands of our political leaders? Who will be the greatest physician to salvage us from the fangs of deep-rooted  cankerworm called corruption?

Buba S Njie
Political Science Student
University of The Gambia.

The Police have arrested one Babucarr Sowe, a senior commerce official at The Banjul International Airport allegedly involved in leaking confidential information to foreign partners.

Sowe has reportedly leaked information to Thomas Cook alleging that the runway at the Banjul International Airport is not safe for flights landing into country. He was allegedly dismissed by the Civil Aviation Board who reported the matter to the police for further actions to be taken.

Thomas Cook is the biggest tour operator from the United Kingdom to The Gambia. The Airline makes regular charter package holiday flights to the Gambia from four UK airports including Gatwick.

According to sources, the alleged culprit has named three accomplices at the airport who are currently under investigation.

The Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Lamin Njie has confirmed the incident.

“The suspect was arrested in connection to giving confidential information,” Police PRO Njie told The Fatu Network.

Though, he has not revealed the content of the leaked information but said the matter is under police investigation.

“He is not yet charged until the investigation is complete,” he said.

Sowe is reportedly helping the police investigation team at the Yundum Police Station.

Meanwhile, the Airport Spokesperson was contacted but he declined to comment.

Alagi Yorro Jallow

Alaji Mamudu: Julius Caesar was/is an exciting character, in history and in fiction. The historical Julius Caesar was a man of power. He was very unequivocal about where he stood on matters of law and power. He willfully subdued law for power, prescribing to his subjects: “If you must break the law, do it to take power… in all other cases, observe it.” The law exists for power, nothing more, he seemed saying. I am not sure he saw any other relationship between law and power apart from the former serving the latter. He would do everything, including murdering the law, to keep power, and, even death wasn’t enough to scare him from pursuing his first love – power: “I have lived long enough to satisfy both nature and glory,” he told a conquered people who were scared they could lose their republic to the ambition of the leader who was not bothered about anything else outside taking power and retaining it for its sake. By satisfying nature, Caesar meant he had lived long enough to die; by satisfying glory, he meant he had reached the peak of political leadership of the only super power of his age. So, nothing else mattered to him beyond coming, seeing, and conquering his enemies. The law is an escalator to higher grounds in power, fame and wealth. He had reached the port of power, nothing else mattered. Caesar has disciples in the Gambia.

Mamudu: The Gambia government has a mounting debt of $ 1. 2 billion which is equivalent to 59 billion (Dalasi); 54 % of which is coming from external sources and 46 % from domestic lending. These debts according to Mr. Bai Madi Ceesay, the Director of Budget says it represents 122% of Gambia’s GDP owed to creditors and international lending institutions and countries. But consider this, in 2017, the Gambia’s government incurred a debt of $1 billion, which would amount to 120% of the country’s GDP during the last decade of ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s rule, according to the IMF and World Bank. The IMF currently list the Gambia’s government debt as 99% of GDP $881 million. The most recently available figures say that of Gambia’s government debt, around 54% is owed outside the country, and 46% within Gambia. This would mean that of $1 billion of debt, $540 million is owed externally and $460 million domestically. The most recent figures from the World Bank and IMF are that Gambia’s government external debt is $467 million. Of this: $349 million is owed to multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and African Development Bank, $112 million is owed to other governments, $6 million is owed to private creditors.

Mamudu: Total debt of the nation stands at about $1.2 billion, about and in5 years, the debt is in trillion and counting. This year, the government will borrow supplementary of billion just to keep the lights on. The question we should all be asking is what we have got for 1.2 trillion in 5 years. Fuel prices are rising, millions live hand to mouth with most not even having 100 dalasis in their name that they can rub together, the health and education systems are not fit for purpose, state coffers are being looted left right and center. If you think the Gambia will ever be capable of paying that debt while your great grand-children are still alive, then clearly, you’ve stepped out of your damn mind and lost your senses.
Gambia government took benefitted from the Euro bond of about 200 million. The ministry of Finance restructured hundreds of billions of unexplained (inexplicable) commercial loans, like magicians, turning them to bonds. Some laws govern the application of public funds in this country. Has anybody obeyed these laws in the sharing and application of these funds? The law can be broken if the objective is the taking and retention of power.
Mamudu: Do you break the law because the country is broke? Do you break the law because your government is broke? Do you break the law because you want to keep power? Even Caesar, who recommended law breaking as a legitimate pathway to power, in a moment, said his wife “must be above board” always. Are politicians’ no longer wives we contracted to manage our affairs according to established rules and mores? Why are they becoming husbands over their husbands deciding when to feed the home, what size of morsel to offer and when not to offer anything at all?
Noise over Asset Declaration is another. It has become another reason for power here. We appear confused over what we want with power in this democracy. It does not matter what happens to the power we invested our leaders with. They can use it to commit class murder (or is it class suicide), but very poor you would see it as your duty to follow your tormentor’s corpses to the grave. The hungry and disinherited is the ‘Jaliba’ of this democracy. He is made to make the loudest noise about who is thief, who is not. His mind and eyes are closed to all other possibilities, including why the left thief is condemned and the one on the right is the executioner.
President Adama Barrow is fighting the battle of his life. He is helmed in by all the instrumentalities of power in the Gambia. He has won surprise victories. We’ll watch how this turns out. It may become another paradox in the chain of paradoxes that define the Gambia nation. Even the history and proposed Anti-corruption Agency, itself is one interesting tale about the paradoxes girding Gambia’s flawed system. The government of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara attempted to set it up Anti- Corruption Commission in the early 1990’s before the military coup of Yahya Jammeh but the new military regime refused to invest it with the required legal teeth. It did not enjoy this framework until Yahya Jammeh set up Commission of Inquiries probe former officials of the People’s Progressive Party government. We all condemn and crucify the Sir Dawda Jawara and Yahya Jammeh regime for having scant regard for anti-corruption policies. But that government enacted the Anti-Corruption law which has become a one -stop shop for today’s men shopping for fame and revenge in the current wave of anti-corruption sentiments blowing across the country.
All is fair in politics as in war. You can break the law, it is allowed – provided it will serve the purpose of advancing your gaze at illusion of power. So, if you are on Adama Barrow’s side and feel unjustness in what is going on in this democracy, just take a deep peep into history of politics and war. It is a salad of surprises, ironies and paradoxes. Any of the sides may yet serve fresher plates of these in days to come.

A victim of the past regime, Sheriff Kijera has warned President Barrow not to follow the footprints of his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh. Sheriff was speaking at the launching of TRRC at The Dunes Hotel in Kotu.

“Mr President, certainly you will vacate the State House one day, and don’t want to be escorted out of our dear motherland like your predecessor,” Sheriff Kijera told President Barrow.

Kijera who was speaking on behalf of the Victims Centre called on the Gambian leader to avoid things that could give birth to another TRRC after he left office.

He added, “Mr President, there is life after presidency. You have to work hard to earn the respect of all Gambians.”

“We don’t want to have another financial commission to investigate the dealings of a former president,” he said.

The human rights victim of the past regime lamented about the appointment of perpetrators to elevated positions whilst the victims are still suffering with indignities and dying from sicknesses under the Barrow Administration.

“The victim centre has documented 100s of cases but still the real number will not be known”

Kijera said some of the victims are still mourning the loss of their loved ones whose whereabouts remained unknown. He added that they want to know whether they were properly buried and where they were kept.

Meanwhile, he commended the Justice Ministry for supporting the centre.

BANJUL— The Gambia has finally launched the most anticipated Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) to investigate human rights violations and abuses of the former regime. The event took placce at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi.

The Truth Commission was setup by an Act of Parliament in 2017. It has a 2 year mandate to cover the past human rights violations and abuses from July 1994 to January 2017.

It is reported that the truth seeking commission would amongst other things, endeavour to bring social cohesion, justice and national reconciliation to rebuild the country after 22 years of the dictatorial regime of the former President Yahya Jammeh.

Eleven new Commissioners including the Chairman were sworn in at the launching, they are all Gambian nationals. They are, Chairman Dr Lamin J Sise, Deputy Chairperson Adele Sosseh, Jammeh Ceesay, Anna Ngulu Jones, Mustapha Kah, Imam Ousainou Jallow, Lang S Kinteh, Abdurahman Sey, Ma Nyima Bojang, Bishop James Allen and Amie Samba respectively.

The newly sworn Chairman, Dr Lamin J Sise who has a work experience of over 30 year at the United Nations (UN) said it is imperative for the Gambia to investigate the human rights violations of the past regime.

“The investigations will cover from July 1994 to January 2017,” Chairman Ceesay said.

The TRRC Chairman posited that the commission would provide opportunity for the victims to relate accounts of what happened to them under the past regime. At the same time, the alleged perpetrators will be invited to testify before the commission.

Speaking at the Launching, the Honorable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr Tambadou emphasised the need for a balance between social cohesion, justice and the building of democracy in the new Gambia.

“The primary function of the TRRC is to investigate the past human rights violations and abuses under the dictatorial regime of of the former president,” AG Tambadou said.

He added, “Today, marks a day to show the world that we are capable of handling our own affairs.”

Justice Minister Tambadou who was one time a UN human rights prosecutor further stated that the launching of the TRRC marks a day to show the world that the Gambia will never condone human rights violations. He added that too many people have died under the former regime whose death shall not be in vain.

Tambadou called on the victims as well as the perpetrators to come forward to help the commission to heal the wounds and bruises of the nation.

In his keynote address, President Adama Barrow said the launching of TRRC is a relief, saying the Gambia has far too long suffered in the past authoritarian regime.

“For a long time we have looked forward to this day,” President Barrow said.

He added, “We will not have gotten here without the sacrifice of the victims of the past regime.”

The Gambian leader gave assurances to his audience that the dark days for the country is over.

“We believe for the TRRC to be meaningful it must be free from external influence,” he said.

President Barrow told the newly sworn commissioners that the hopes of the nation lies on their shoulders.

The Gambian born ICC Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Besouda commended the establishment of the truth commission, saying her office would closely watch the proceedings.

“This is good for Gambia to turn a page and write a new chapter,” Chief Prosecutor Bensouda said.

She expressed delight to work in solidarity with the commission.

Several speakers including the UN Special Representatives to West Africa, Muhammad Ibn Chambers addressed the gathering.

Meanwhile, the former Vice President, Aja Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang Aand Agriculture Minister, Omar Jallow alias OJ were present at the ceremony.