Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr Tambadou has Friday, August 4,  launched the National Consultations on the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

Minister Tambadou in his keynote address said the country must know the truth of human rights violations of the former regime of Yahya Jammeh who has ruled the tiny West African country with impunity for the past 22 years.

The Justice Minister said the government has taken his ministry as a focal point to launch the commission and its implementations with the broad objective to obtained the views and opinions of the Gambian public about the commission and sensitise the general populace on the concepts, issues, rationales and objectives of the commission..

“To maximize the effectiveness of our consultations, we shall include all the key stakeholders in this process,” he asserted.

Minister Tambadou said the emphasis of the government is to ensure that the processes and mechanisms put in place are inclusive, extensive and driven by the people in the hope that it will guarantee a transparent, credible and effective outcome.

“The process of the national consultations will no doubt lay a solid foundation for reconciliation in our communities broken and shattered by the atrocities of the last two decades,” Minister Tambadou asserted.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice who was a former prosecutor at a genocide tribunal said the consultations would bring together representatives of a cross section of Gambian communities including youth, women and children organisations, civil societies, religious communities, media, and staff of the ministry of justice who shall form the core team for the consultations. He stressed that the meetings will be open to the general public.

“The principal objective of the truth, reconciliation and reparations commission shall be to create an impartial historical records of the violations and abuses of human rights from July 1994 to January 2017,” he pointed out.

“We must know the truth as a first step to promote healing and reconciliation, responding to needs of the victims, addressing impunities and putting in place mechanisms to prevent recurrence of the past violations,” he added.

Minister Tambadou said the commission will seek to make known the fate of disappeared victims among other things. It will also give opportunity to the victims to relate the account of abuses suffered and recognized the sufferings to restore the dignity of the victims through granting reparations in appropriate cases.

“The Commission shall submit to the president a comprehensive report which will set out its activities and findings base on factual and objective information,” he said.

Minister Tambadou further stated that the commission would make recommendations to the president with regard to creation of institutions conducive to the development of stable and democratic society as well as the institutional, legislative and administrative measures which shall be taken to prevent abuses and violations of human rights in the future. The commission, he said shall recommend the granting of amnesty of persons in appropriate cases. It will be mandated to enquire into all manners of human rights abuses under former president Jammeh from 22 July 1994.

“This is not only about the recent victims of the junglers but it is for every single victim throughout the 22 years of former president Jammeh,” Justice Minister said.

The Minister said they might not be able to prosecute every single perpetrator but they must be encouraged to at least tell the truth about the abuses in a manner normal criminal proceedings would not permit. He said it will take different forms including guarantees against future prosecutions in appropriate cases.

“Perpetrators who does not come forward to tell the truth before the commission, will face prosecution should there be credible evidences of their involvement in any abuses,” he interjected.

The Minister reiterated that the commission will be guided by international laws in granting amnesty. He called on the support of the international donor partners.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Madam Ade Mamonyane Lekeotje commended the TRRC and the Gambian people for their patience.

“I’m confident the victims will be given the opportunity to express their problems,” UN Coordinator asserted.

She emphasised the importance of dialogue in the process.

Meanwhile, there were several stakeholders including victims and families of the victims present at the launching of the commission.

President Adama Barrow has said his government is open to any initiative that will bring peaceful resolution to the conflict in the south of Senegal, including allowing the rebel leader Salif Sadio to pass through The Gambia with his men to attend peace talks with the Senegalese government in Italy.

The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) is the main separatist movement in the Casamance region of Senegal that has been fighting with their government since 1982.
Italy-based Community of Sant’Egidio, a Christian community with 50,000 members in more than 70 countries, has since brokered a peace talks between Senegal and the separatist.

In June, Salif Sadio told Zig FM that they want to reach out to The Gambia as a transit point to travel to Italy to have peace talks with the Senegalese government but Barrow said they are yet to make any official contacts.

“They have not made any official contacts yet. I have met an Italian priest who is involved in these peace talks and as far as we are concern, we will be part of anything that will bring peace in Senegal or its southern region Casamance,” Barrow told The Standard.

“It is in the interest of both The Gambia and Senegal. Without peace, nothing is possible. If there is anything like that, we will fully cooperate.”

The Gambia and Senegal have deepened bilateral ties since the fall of Jammeh, however, President Barrow promised The Gambia won’t be a party to a conflict it wants to solve.

“We do everything on principle. Principle is the guiding force behind whatever we are doing in this country… We want to do things that are correct and we want to make sure we protect the rule of law,” Barrow said when asked if Sadio won’t find himself in a trap if he attempts to transit through The Gambia given the very close relations between the two countries.

“We want to be judged for good things after office. If you want to solve a problem, you should not be part of the problem.”

“Jammeh gave us the facility to go through The Gambia to go to these negotiations in Rome,” Sadio had said.

“With the new authorities, we have not yet contacted, but the community of Sant’Egidio is worried.”

Source: Standard Newspaper

The mayor of Kanifing municipality has accused the National Environment Agency, (NEA) of trying to politicise the national cleansing exercise, set-settal.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Yankuba Colley said the NEA’s decision to organise last Saturday’s set-settal without consulting his office was an act of sabotage calculated to paint a bad image of his leadership.

“The NEA deliberately staged Saturday’s cleansing exercise ignoring my office’s suggestion to push to another weekend to allow us to mobilise more manpower. I am very disappointed with the NEA and I must admit that the situation is getting out of control. I don’t know, but maybe some people are just doing this to the [Kanifing Municipal Council] to sabotage my leadership because I come from the opposition APRC,” Mayor Coley lamented.

He said the majority of the KMC’s workforce is old people and the council had to cough up D200, 000 just to collect and dump the waste.
“At one point, we even had to seek help from the military. I want to make it very clear that, KMC didn’t organise the last cleansing exercise and that being the case, nobody should blame us for anything. We advised the NEA not to stage it at that time but they refused to adhere to our recommendation,” he grumbled.

He pointed out: “Gambians should recognise the fact that Kanifing is the biggest municipality in the country… and it is obvious that the Council don’t have the capacity to do it all alone.
“I would also like to call on all Gambians to put their political differences aside and focus on national development. Yes, I am from the APRC, but that doesn’t mean that people should work towards my downfall at the expense of the entire council and municipality. We have to be patriotic and rise above partisan politics,” Mayor Colley concluded.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The Ministry of Justice in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will conduct nationwide consultations on the establishment and implementation of a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) in The Gambia from 14^th to the 24^th of August 2017. The national consultations will be led by the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubacarr M. Tambadou.

The main objective of the consultations is to solicit the views and opinions of Gambians on the establishment of the proposed Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission in The Gambia. Some of the pertinent issues to be discussed with public will relate to the proposed objectives and functions of the TRRC.

Objectives of the Commission

The proposed objectives of the Commission are to –

(a) create an impartial historical record of violations and abuses of human rights from july1994 to January 2017, in order to-

(i) promote healing and reconciliation,

(ii) respond to the needs of the victims;

(iii) address impunity; and

(iv) prevent a repetition of the violations and abuses   suffered.

(b) recommend the granting of amnesty to persons in appropriate cases;

(c) establish and make known the fate or whereabouts of disappeared victims;

(d) provide victims an opportunity to relate their own accounts of the violations and abuses suffered; and

(e) grant reparations to victims in appropriate cases.

Functions of the Commission

(1) The proposed functions of the Commission is to initiate and coordinate investigations into-

• violations and abuses of human rights;
• the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights, including the antecedents, circumstances, factors, context, motives and perspectives which led to such violations and abuses;
• the identity of all persons, authorities, institutions and organizations involved in such violations;
• the question whether such violations were the result of deliberate planning on the part of the State, its organs or other groups or an individual;
• the gathering of information and the receiving of evidence from any person, which establish the identity of victims of such violations, their fate or present whereabouts and the nature and extent of the harm suffered by such victims; and
• determining what evidence have been destroyed by any person in order to conceal violations and abuses of human rights.

(2) The Commission shall-

(a) prepare a comprehensive report which sets out its activities and findings based on factual and objective information and evidence collected, received by it or placed at its disposal; and

(b) make recommendations to the President with regard to the creation of institutions conducive to the development of a stable and democratic society as well as the institutional, administrative and legislative measures which should be taken in order to prevent the commission of violations and abuses of human rights.

The Government of The Gambia under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice will launch the National Consultations on the TRRC, at the Djembe Hotel on the 4^th day of August 2017. Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corp, Judges and members of the legal profession, international development partners, civil society organizations, journalist, religious/traditional leaders, youth groups, women groups, the victims association, etc. will be in attendance. The Minister of Justice will deliver the keynote address and perform the official launch of the nationwide consultations. This will be preceded by addresses from the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme of The Gambia and the Executive Director of Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA).

The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters is expected to receive a US$30 Million Dollars investment from the West Africa Regional Fisheries Programme (WARFP) to develop fish landing sites in the country.

Hon. James FP Gomez, the Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters  made these revelations in his opening statement at a two day stakeholders retreat at the Djembe Hotel, Kololi.

Minister Gomez informed the participants that The Gambia has joined other countries and would benefit from the second phase of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Programme (WARFP).

“The expected investment for The Gambia from this programme is US$30 Million with justifications on developing the landing sites and adding value to the fisheries products for improved food security and poverty eradication,” Minister James Gomez said.

Minister Gomez further disclosed the formation of Project Preparatory Team (PPT) during the first quarter of the year. The team he said has started work in earnest, identifying and preparing for the project implementation with effect from January 2018 for 5 years.

He spoke about the project development objective of WARFP to improve the management of selected fisheries, increase the post harvest value of catch in targeted landing sites and improve an enabling environment for aquaculture development.

The Fisheries Minister further revealed another budget of US$442, 000 thousand dollars project secured from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations that is intervening in the Aquaculture sub-sector. He commended the support and collaboration of the European Union EU and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP. He also spoke about the Memorandum of Understanding MoU signed with the government of Turkey. He mentioned the bilateral cooperation signed between the Gambia Government and the Republic of Senegal.

The Food and Agriculture Organization FAO Representative, Dr. Perpetua Katepa Kalala commended the Ministry of Fisheries for bringing together key stakeholders to jointly discuss and identify the main challenges that the sector faces and map the way forward to improve the country’s development objectives.

“The sector has great potential which when attained will be a game changer for national development,” Dr. Perpetua FAO Representative said.

He added: “A major contribution to the Gambia’s socio-economic development is embedded within this sector which could help in poverty alleviation with 12 percent to GDP.”

Dr. Perpetua said FAO has been providing technical assistance and advice in the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, programmes and projects in fisheries and agriculture sectors aimed at improving food security.

He disclosed that the FAO has recently supported the sector with three Telefood projects, through capacity building and provision of fishing boats with outboard engines, life jackets and boats to two inland fishing communities and ten boats to TRY Oyster Association and its fifteen affiliated villages for the sustainable and efficient harvesting of oyster.

She thanked the Fisheries Minister for signing the FAO Country Programming Framework and the preparation of the next cycle CPF 2018–2021 that has commenced.

Meanwhile, the specific objectives for organising the retreat among other things is to engage stakeholders and partners in sharing information relevant to improved planning of the management and development of the fisheries sector. The retreat would identify and prioritise issues affecting the contribution of the sector in national socio-economic development. He also highlighted that the government would collaborate with its development and donor partners to improve value chain for fisheries and aquaculture transformation among other principal outcome areas.

Jarreh Darboe, 37, a Gambian staying in Hawthorn Road, Little Sutton in the UK and another man have been jailed for attempting to import £43,000 worth of drugs.
Darboe whose rented house in Hoole was at the centre of the case – was sentenced at Chester Crown Court along with John Richards, 50, of Bourne Mill Drive, Birmingham.

Darboe was imprisoned for two years and three months while Richards was jailed for one year and eight months. Their downfall came thanks to a joint investigation by Cheshire Police and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) which began in June 2014 when the UKBA intercepted a parcel from South Africa that contained 4.48kg of cannabis.
The parcel was addressed to a resident on Sumpter Pathway, Hoole in Chester.

Checks were conducted at the address, where it was established that the parcel was addressed to a former tenant and the home was now occupied by Darboe, who claimed he knew nothing about the delivery.
However, suspicions were aroused once again in October 2014 when UKBA intercepted a second package containing 4.22kg of cannabis resin which was destined for Sumpter Pathway.

After making the discovery the UKBA contacted colleagues at Cheshire Police, who intercepted the parcel as it was delivered at Darboe’s address on October 13. At the time of delivery, Darboe was working in his Chester hair salon in Brook Street but, having been told that his parcel was about to arrive, he swiftly arranged for a member of his family to return home to sign for the parcel.

However, the man sent to collect the parcel got more than he was expecting when undercover officers swooped to arrest him on suspicion of drugs offences, before searching the address.
Officers also conducted a warrant at Darboe’s Brook Street salon and arrested him on suspicion of importing class B drugs.

Darboe denied any involvement, claiming he believed the parcel contained hair products that his friend, ‘Tony Mendy’ from Birmingham, had asked to be delivered to Darboe’s address.
Source: Chester chronicle

Source Standard Newspaper

China has waived a U$D12 million loan to The Gambia following the signing of a debt relief protocol this week with China where Foreign affairs Minister Ousinaou Darboe is currently on a visit.
Saikou Ceesay, the spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry confirmed to The Standard that the “four interest-free” loans were contracted between the years 1975 to 1991.

“The Chinese side agreed to exempt The Gambia from repaying the aforementioned debts due and totalling of 82, 850, 000 RMB Yuan ($12,322,909),” the agreement seen by The Standard states.
Meanwhile, Chinese local media reported on Wednesday that China have offered to support Gambia in infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and other areas.

Gambia’s new government, which took over from former long-time leader Yahya Jammeh this year, has pledged to continue relations with Beijing.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Wang told Ousainou Darboe at a meeting in Beijing that China was ready “to enhance cooperation with Gambia in infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and other fields.”

Wang said the resumption of diplomatic ties had not only brought bilateral relations back on the right track but also opened up broad prospects for cooperation.
Gambia would stick to the one-China policy, which asserts that Taiwan is part of China, and was looking forward to pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields, the ministry quoted Darboe as saying.

Source: The standard Newspaper

Information reaching this medium has it that 31 Gambian immigrants have been deported from Tripoli, Libya.

According to reliable sources the 31 deported immigrants arrived at the Banjul International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday. They were reportedly escorted from the airport to the Independent Stadium where they are kept for documentation before leaving to meet their family members. Sources say they were not happy with the situation at the stadium.

The deportation of the immigrants from Tripoli is said to have been coordinated by the United Nations and International Migration Organization with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad.

Many of the deportees disclosed that they have volunteered to come back because of the deplorable living conditions in the war torn Arab country. They talked about the kidnappings by the rebel groups who requests high amounts of money for ransoms. They said there are so many Gambians who are ready to come back home.

Talking to Hatab Jeng, one of the deportees who spent 5 years in the unstable country said he was captured by one of the rebel groups and was detained for six months.

“We were living in very difficult conditions there,” Hatab Jeng said.

Hatab said he traveled to the Arab country in search of greener pastures to support his family at home. He said he was engaged in skilled work such as engineering, welding and construction to earn a living.

The deportees complained of hardship at the stadium saying they were not given any food except a small piece of bread.

Meanwhile, the officials could not be reached for comment.

Omar Sise has been appointed, on promotion, as Gambia’s National Under 23/CHAN Team Head Coach with immediate effect. Ceesay’s appointment came a week after the Junior Scorpions woeful exit in the African Nations Championship ( CHAN ) Qualifier to Mali after the side’s 4-0 lost and thus ending their hopes to appear at the 2018 edition in Kenya.

Omar’s first assignment is the WAFU Cup of Nations to be hosted by Ghana in September. The young and one of Gambia’s enterprising tacticians would be assisted by ABDOULIE BOJANG.
The Gambia Football Federation says Omar will retain his job as Under 20 coach.

Meanwhile CEESAY has called on the Junior Scorpions for training ahead of the WAFU tournament in Ghana. The team kicks off training at the National Technical Training Center in Yundum before eventually moving to the Independence Stadium in Bakau later in the week.

OMAR CEESAY was in charge of the Gambia U-20 team that was narrowly edged out by Guinea Conakry in the 2016 Qualifiers for the Zambia U-20 tournament. Omar guided an ebullient side of teenagers that cruised over Sierra Leone, Morocco both home and away legs but halted their climbs to Guinea Conakry on a 2-1 aggregate when the Conakry Guineans beat the visitors 2-1 in Conakry after a goal less draw in Banjul. That feat has earned the Young man to be inducted into Gambia’s record as one of the country’s most successful Coaches at national side.

Source: GFF Facebook Page

The new Inspector General of Police on Tuesday 27^th July, 2017 started a nationwide familiarization tour. The tour is aimed at visiting officers and offices under his purview and also to meet regional and local community leaders. The IGP was accompanied by a high-powered delegation from the police headquarters, which comprises of Police Chief of Operation, Alhagie Modou Gaye, Commissioner Police Intervention Unit, Omar Darboe, Deputy Commissioner Police Finance, Ousman Cham, Commissioner Police Engineering Unit, Lang Fofana and other senior carder of the force.

During the tour, IGP Kinteh and delegation visited almost each and every Police post, check point, station and barracks as well as paid a courtesy call to the regional Governors of North Bank Region, Alhagie Ebrima K. Dampha, Central River Region, Mr. Sulayman Barry, Upper River Region, Mrs. Fatou Jammeh Touray, and Lower River Region, Mrs. Fanta Bojang Samateh Manneh and district chiefs, Alkalis’ and members of the community.

In his opening remarks, the Chief of Police Operation, Alhagie Momodou Gaye, on behalf of the IGP, DIG and the entire senior management of the Gambia Police Force, express gratitude to the regional police commands, Governors, Chiefs, Alkalos and the entire communities of the regions for the warmth welcome accorded to the IGP and the touring delegation.

According to Chief of Operation Gaye, the IGP is embarking on this tour because after his appointment by His Excellency the President of the Republic of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, it is incumbent on the new appointee as tradition and constitution requires for him/her to embark on a nationwide familiarization tour in the regions and units under his purview. For that reason, IGP Kinteh is prompted to embark on a nationwide tour so as to have a first-hand knowledge of the successes and constrains affecting the Police and the community with regards to issues of security concern.

COP further remind police officers to work hard for the interest of the nation and always follow the due processes of the police procedures and the code of conduct. According to him, gone are those days when members of the police are seen as masters, that henceforth, the police must realize that they are accountable to the communities they serve. He also warned members of the Police Force to always maintain high sense of discipline at all time since discipline is the bed rock of a standard police force.

The Governor of North Bank Region, Alhagie Ebrima K. Dampha who also doubled as the chairperson of the regional joint security task force, said the IGP’s tour is very timely and welcoming thereby, commend him and his delegation for the foresight.

According to Governor Dampha, the police is doing a great job in curbing crimes and criminal activities but stress the need for collaborative efforts for the national police to be strengthened in terms of resources and equipment. He said this is so because the police are given much more bigger responsibilities that includes internal security and other missions outside the country.

The Governor attest that his region is prone to armed robbery attacks and cross boarder criminal activities such as cattle rustling, shop breaking to name a few and those doing such crimes are armed, therefore, one does not expect unarmed police officers to attack and arrest armed robbers. These according to him has rendered the work of the police difficult.

The governor urges the IGP to also look into the accommodation and mobility constrains faced by the police in doing their work.

Similar sentiments were re-echoed by all other governors, Chiefs, Alikalos and members of the communities in the regions.

In his part, the new Inspector General of Police, Landing Kinteh thank everyone who has in one way or the other contributed in making the tour a possibility. He commends the regional police and administrators for the warmth welcome.

IGP Kinteh stresses the need for a collaboration and full participation of all to see to it that the Gambia has a very highly professional, dedicated and motivated police force that can meet the demands of her people and match international standards.

According to Kinteh, it is so disheartening to see the deploring conditions of the majority of police station and the difficult condition police officers are living, especially those in the provinces.

He also promises to do his best to better the conditions of the men and officers working under him. According to him, the Gambia Police Force under his leadership has taking some proactive measures by setting up a Think Tank at the police headquarters that is task to look into issues that is making police work very difficult and come up with a strategic plan document that will move the GPF to international Standards. The Think Tank which comprises of expertise from the police are assigned to embark on a nationwide tour of the country, so as to get the input of each and every police officer and also seek the opinion of the communities they are serving.

The IGP also promise to address the issue of road traffic accident which has become a big concern for every Gambian. According to him plans are already on the way to have a lasting solution to that, thus, sometimes two weeks back, he visited the Mobile Traffic Unit to have a frantic discussion with them.

In the area of discipline, IGP Kinteh stress the need for a highly discipline force, thus, plans are under way to strengthens the Complaint and Discipline Unit and decentralize it to the regions. According to IG Kinteh this will serve as a watch dog office that will monitor the unlawful activities of some police officers and regulate them. It will also make the police to be accountable to the communities they serve.

The IGP also promise to empower the regional police commissioners, officer commanding, station officers so on and will have little or no interference from the police headquarters so that they can have the authority to enforce and maintain discipline to the highest level.

Furthermore, the new IGP promise to improve the general welfare of the members of the police force, such as bringing back credit facilities from banks the police use to enjoy during the first Republic, and to improve the general wellbeing of his men. He reminded the officers that since there are no much funds from the central government to support the police 100%, his office has already started working closely with the international donor and partners to support the Gambia Police Force to achieve her development aspirations to reach international standards.

Finally, the Kinteh urges the police and the general public to strengthened a closer collaboration in the spirit of community policing, so that all hands will be on deck to prevent and coil suspected crimes, since national security should be the business of all.

The tour which is expected to continue in the Kombos on Tuesday 8^th August, 2017 was chaired by the Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Foday Conta who also emphasizes on discipline within the police force, which he said is the bed rock of Gambia Police Force.

Police PRO

Fajara, 1 August 2017.

The European Union has informed President Adama Barrow that it has
committed 8 billion Dalasis available as budget support to the Gambian government. Of this total, 25 million Euros is the first concrete contribution, which has been disbursed. Receiving the EU
delegation in his office in Fajara this morning, Mr Barrow thanked the EU for supporting his
administration as it stabilises.

The Director of the European Commission’s Department for Development Coordination, West and
Central Africa, Ms Carla Montesi, said their visit reflected the EU’s firm commitment to and support for the Barrow administration.

Speaking specifically about youth migration, the Gambian leader said migration was a challenging
issue, as young people leave for the West with the hope of better livelihoods. President Barrow urged all stakeholders to engage in dialogue, as migration was a global problem that could be best
addressed through job creation for the youth. He called for investments that would create jobs to
engage the youth in industrial development and in agriculture.

The President assured the visiting EU delegation, led by EU Ambassador to The Gambia Attila
Lajos, that his administration would cooperate on migration issues and create opportunities for the
youth. He commended the EU for supporting the ECOMIG forces in The Gambia and assured the
team of the political will to bring positive change in The Gambia.

Ms Montesi commended President Barrow for the progress his government had made in its first six
months, including the holding of successful National Assembly elections and progress with freedom of the press and transitional justice issues. She assured him that the EU would continue to work with the government to support the National Development Plan, and that it would take a global approach to support the energy sector, youth employment and other equally important areas.

Illegal migration is one of the global challenges for world leaders. It was understood from the EU
briefing that a high percentage of illegal migrants in Europe come from The Gambia. Latest figures
indicate that some 12,000 Gambian migrants recently arrived in Europe. Gambians were said to be
among the highest percentage of youths leaving their home country for Europe. Conversely, some
young Gambians are known to have voluntarily returned home from Libya with the hope of resettling back in the Gambia.

The European Union has been keenly following developments in The Gambia, and has conducted
several missions to engage with the government on areas of cooperation.

Other members of the delegation with Ambassador Lajos and Ms Montesi were the European
Commission Director for Migration and Protection, Mr Laurent Muschel, Special Envoy,
Ambassador Jose Luis Pardo from Spain, Senior Counsellor Thomas Wixler of the Embassy of
Germany in Dakar, and Ms Sibylle Rieder from the European External Action Service.

Fajara, 31 July 2017

President Adama Barrow has called on the people of Foni to work together to
turn the country around positively. The President made the call today when members of a a Foni
reconciliation team paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Fajara. The team has been working on national reconciliation, especially between the people of Foni and the Barrow administration.

President Barrow assured the group that the concerns raised in a report they presented to him would
be reviewed. He decried tribalism and commended the group for courageously engaging in dialogue
to solve the problem. He said that while citizens had worn their party colours during elections, it was the national colours that took precedence once elections were over.

The President stressed that he would continue to work based on principles and not on personal
sentiments. He assured the group of his commitment to The Gambia, without discriminating against
any sector or region of the country. Mr Barrow said Gambians should take pride in the mature
manner in which the political impasse had been handled, adding that it had become best practice
worthy of emulation across the world. He commended the Foni team for its maturity and said their
visit and the spirit in which they came was “a demonstration that we can resolve our own problems.”

He told them that while in office, he intended to make best use of his time and he emphasised: “It is
not the period you are in office, but what you are able to do during the time you are there that is
important. I am convinced that together we can change the colour of Foni. It is part of our country.
Remain strong and brave and the truth will remain.”

Speaking for the delegation, Retired General Lang Tombong Tamba said that being received by the
President was indicative of the interest President Barrow had in the people. He spoke about why
reconciliation was necessary, why the efforts had been made to send a message of peace and to call
on the people of Foni to support government of the day.

General Tamba said Foni had always been a support base for the government in power, and that was
why its people did not accept Yahya Jammeh for two years, because of their support for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime. He said a similar scenario presented itself when the Barrow government came to power. He assured the president that the people of Foni had no major issues with his government or himself personally but he did share a few concerns. These included an appeal to drop the charges against the protesters in Kafenda and Sibanor; reinstatement of those wrongfully dismissed; and access to fertilizers for the farmers. General Tamba assured Mr Barrow that the people of Foni were ready to support him, and urged him to address them.

Presidential Political Adviser Yusupha Cham – who President Barrow had earlier sent on a mission to Foni –thanked the people of Foni for warmly receiving him during his visit. He said the protests there had been unfortunate and were not supported by the majority. Mr Cham noted that the people who spoke when he visited Foni, like those who visiting the president today, accepted Mr Barrow as President, and were aware of his family link in Foni. He said that despite the fact that many women support the APRC party, they would want President Barrow to go there and address them. Mr Cham encouraged the reconciliation team to continue their efforts to foster peace in the area.
​
The efforts to bring peace and reconciliation in Foni have involved many actors, including National
Assembly representatives from Foni, the youth of Sibanor, Foni Jarrol, the Peace Ambassadors group and the local authorities from the West Coast Region.

Justice Basiru Mahoney has slammed the former pro government newspaper, The Daily Observer with a fine of D100,000 (Hundred  Thousand Dalasi) for appearing late at the High Court in Banjul.

The former pro government paper is involved in a tax scandal with the country’s tax authorities that is claiming the sum of D17, 473, 584.47 Million being the amount for tax evasion.

When the case was mentioned Lawyer Ma Nyima Bojang announced her appearance for the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) while the defendant was not represented by any lawyer except the Managing Director, Deputy Editor-In-Chief and another person who appeared in the name of the company.

According to the particulars in the charge sheet, there are additional claims of corporate income tax, sales tax, value added tax and payroll tax from 2000 to 2016 with an interest rate of 25 percent.

Meanwhile, the paper is said to be facing financial troubles prompting the staff to petition the management particularly the Managing Director and Deputy Editor-In-Chief to resign from their positions immediately.

The criminal trial involving the former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and eight other officers will not proceed until after the vacation of the high court.

The nine former NIA Officers standing trial are Yankuba Badjie, former NIA Director General, Louis Gomez, former Deputy Director General, Sheikh Omar Jeng, former Operations Director, Babucarr Sallah, Yusupha Jammeh, Haruna Susso, Tamba Massireh, Lamin Darboe and Lamin Lang Sanyang who are facing charges on the murder of Solo Sandeng, a political activist who was allegedly arrested and tortured to death while in custody.

When the case was announced this afternoon before Justice Kumba Sillah Camara of the Banjul High Court, she has adjourned the case for adoption of briefs and suspended the rulings until after the vacation of the high court.

Lawyer Antouman Gaye, the Special Prosecutor told the court that some have already made arragements to go on vacation including some members of the prosecution team.

“Today is the end of term,” Special Prosecutor Antouman Gaye said.

Defense Lawyer C. E Mene said there are several lawyers at the prosecution and the absence of any of them should not stop the proceedings.

At this juncture, the trial judge decided to stand down the matter for almost ten minutes for the prosecution and defense teams to discuss among themselves.

When the matter was resumed the Special Prosecutor informed the court that they have agreed for the court to adopt briefs on the August 3 and adjourned the ruling until after the vacation.

Subsequently, the trial judge has adjourned the case to August 10 for the adoption of briefs and pushed the ruling to the end of vacation.