By Lamin Sanyang – The properties of Gambia’s exiled former President Jammeh in his native village of Kanilai are abandoned without security guards except a handful of village youths who are acting as guards.

The military encampment was removed while the armed security men were disarmed and redeployed to other military camps by the joint forces of ECOMIG and The Gambia Armed Forces.

The place used to be called ‘the second State House’ where the former president spent most part of his vacation or weekends. It has a very high wall with three gates before reaching the entrance to his house. There were heavily armed security men mounting checkpoints at each of the gates.

Multi million dollar housing projects, farm and zoos among other things were built there by the former President from the state coffers. He used to organized festivals including wrestling competitions, and invited civil servants, public institutions and party supporters to work at his farm.

Apart from the above listed, the place was also known to be dangerous during Jammeh’s era. A deep well said to be the dumping ground for bodies of his victims is located somewhere near his home. Many said he fed the crocodiles in his zoo with the remains of his victims.

The exiled former president was defeated in the last presidential polls. He first conceded defeat but later made a U-turn causing a political impasse prompting sub-regional military intervention. He was forced to relinquish power and went into exiled in Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, walking to the home of the former dictator was quiet interesting but historic as well. There were no sign of security men at the gates. Few youths were brewing green tea at the first gates while the farm workers were going to his farm.

The village youths at the gates said there are no security guards but they took it upon themselves as family members of the former dictator to protect his properties. They said the person in charge is the farm manager, one Major Alieu Sowe, he is the one they working with to guard the properties.

Sowe was called on his phone but declined to talked to our reporters. He ordered them not to allow anyone to enter, saying the order for access should come from the military high command.

“We are family members of the big man and we will protect his properties,” one of the youth said.

Meanwhile, the journey to the former president home was full of unexpected surprises as one could barely see green flags on the road like before.

The men arrested are Abdoulie Jallow alias “Jalino”, Amadou Badjie, Bussoh, Lamin Badjie and one Sambou former orderly to the former Inspector General of Police Ensa Badjie, “Jesus”. Sambou was one of the Intelligence officers of the “Jungulers”, former President’s assassin team.

According to a security source, authorities have informed The Chief of Defense Staff, Ousman Badjie to withdraw the participation of all five men in the upcoming mission to Darfur, of which they have all been trained for. The withdrawal the source said have already been made.

The men are arrested in connections with unnecessary tortured, forced disappearances and killings under the command of former President Yahya Jammeh, who was also commander in chief of The Gambia Armed Forces.

The men are current detained and are helping the police in their investigations. Bussoh and Sambou were active members of the Police Intervention Unit before they were moved to the State House.

The chief of defense staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, Brigadier General Ousman Badjie has confirmed to the Fatu Network that he is still the CDS as far as he knows. “I have not received an official letter of removal or deployment as at now ( Friday, February 24, 2017 )”  CDS badjie said.

“I still have my official vehicle and my guards are still here with me” he added. Asked if other Generals have been removed, The CDS said he is not aware of any removal or deployment in the army. “I’m not sure if I will be fired tomorrow saturday, but as at now I am the CDS” he concluded.

The Director of Gambia Prisons Service, David Colley has been fired with immediate Effect from today, Friday, February 24, 2017, this medium has confirmed.

David Colley is been replaced by one Commissioner Ansumana Manneh.

Manneh held several portfolios at the Gambia Prison Department. He was one time Director of Administration and also Camp Commander at Jeshwang Prison.

It is not yet clear whether Mr Colley is arrested after his removal. He is seen as one of the biggest enablers of former President Yahya Jammeh especially when it comes to the ungodly treatment of detainees. Known as ‘wicked man’ by all prisoners especially those in Mile II Central Prison for been heartless to them, Colley have been executing all orders of inhumane treatment to political prisoners under the directives of former President Jammeh.

It could be recalled that Mr Colley was sometime back in 2011 accused of feeding prisoners with a dead bull. This resulted to the death of many of them. He was fired and arrested but later bounced back after he was freed by the courts.

by Edward McAllister and Emma Farge for Reuters

Funds from a dollar bank account in the name of the Jammeh Foundation for Peace, a charity founded by Gambia’s former president Yahya Jammeh, flowed to Jammeh himself, not to foundation projects, according to bank records and interviews with a former charity official and a former presidential staff member.

In 2012 and 2013, over $8 million was paid into the account at Gambia’s Trust Bank. Over half of the money was withdrawn in cash, Reuters has found.

Reuters was unable to determine whether donors intended to support the charity, or if donors, charity officials and the bank were aware that Jammeh was using the account to build his personal wealth. Reuters could not determine how the withdrawn money was spent.

Gambia’s new government has accused the former president of plundering many millions of dollars during his 22-year rule. On Monday, Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh said Jammeh had committed fraud on a massive scale including siphoning off tens of millions of dollars in public money into various bank accounts not in his name but from which he withdrew cash, including at the central bank.

The Jammeh Foundation for Peace’s former deputy CEO, Modou Lamin Manga, told Reuters that the charity did not at the time receive donations via the dollar account, which was one of two accounts held in the foundation’s name at Trust Bank during Manga’s tenure from 2010 to 2015. Manga was let go from the foundation during layoffs in 2015.

The Jammeh Foundation for Peace did not respond to multiple requests for comment. An official at Gambia’s Trust Bank Ltd, who declined to be named, confirmed the foundation banked there but declined to give further details.

Attempts to contact Jammeh in Equatorial Guinea, where he fled into exile last month after an election defeat, were unsuccessful.

Edward Gomez, Jammeh’s lawyer until last month, said he was unaware of any misspending by Jammeh. “I know that many people have benefited from the foundation but I can’t say where the money came from and who had access to it,” Gomez said.

The bank statements reviewed by Reuters showed that over $8 million was deposited in 11 instalments into the U.S. dollar account in the foundation’s name at Trust Bank in 2012 and 2013. All of the money was withdrawn.

There were 15 cash withdrawals in 2012 and 2013, ranging from $75,000 to over $500,000: $4.3 million in total. A further $1.5 million was transferred to overseas accounts, the statements show. The remainder was drawn down in letters of credit, miscellaneous withdrawals and interest charges.

Some cash withdrawals give direct reference to Jammeh, who at the time was the foundation’s chief patron, meaning he lent his name in support of its work. Manga said Jammeh played only an occasional role in the foundation’s activities. These include education, health and agricultural projects, according to its website.

In March 2013, a $75,930 withdrawal was detailed as: “CASH WDL B/O DR YAHYA AJJ JAMMEH”. A Trust Bank worker interviewed by Reuters said that B/O stood for “by order of” and WDL stood for “withdrawal”.

Reuters was unable to determine the source of most of the money in the account.

But five payments into the account in 2013 totaling $2.55 million reference Euro African Group, or its acronym EAGL, according to the transaction details on the statements, including one $500,000 payment on May 8, 2013 described as “FUNDS TRF B/O EURO AFRICAN.”

Euro African held exclusive rights to import fuel to Gambia between 2008 and 2013 and a fuel supply deal to the state-run utility.

Euro African head Mohamed Bazzi told Reuters the company made three payments to the foundation totalling $1.3 million in 2013. Bazzi did not specify which account the money was paid into. Reuters was unable to account for the difference between this total and that reflected on the bank statements. Bazzi was unable to explain the difference.

Bazzi, a prominent Lebanese businessman who has done business in Gambia for over a decade, told Reuters the money went towards a mosque, a hospital and bringing in foreign doctors to Gambia. Bazzi said Euro African made the payments on behalf of a telecommunications company that he declined to name. The telecommunications company was a separate entity and the money was not Euro African’s money, he said.

The statements also show a $99,982.50 payment was made on April 17, 2013 by Selectra AG, a Swiss-based engineering firm. Selectra did not respond to requests for comment.

MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

The foundation’s former deputy CEO Manga said he first became aware of the account and the deposits when Trust Bank accidentally sent him statements for the dollar account in 2013. He said he thought the money could be used to fund scholarships and a hospital.

Unlike the Trust Bank account that the charity used for everyday expenses, this one held dollars, not dalasis, the local currency, and had far more money.

When Manga approached officials at Trust Bank Ltd about the account in 2013, they told him not to touch the money, he said. The account manager told him it was “Yahya’s” (Jammeh’s) account, Manga said.

“We were struggling to run communities and we had all this money in this account. Why couldn’t we make use of it?” said Manga.

A former member of Jammeh’s staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he frequently collected money from the foundation dollar account at the president’s request and returned to State House with bags filled with cash in bundles of $10,000, wrapped in a paper band carrying the Trust Bank seal.

“Whenever Jammeh needed money, he would go to that (foundation) account and withdraw money. If his wife went travelling, they would take money out,” he said.

Reuters was unable to reach Jammeh’s wife, who until last month was the foundation’s president and closely involved in the running of the charity, according to the website.

Another source who worked as a personal assistant for Jammeh from 2009-2012 and who was fired and jailed for espionage, charges he denies, said he withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in 2011 and 2012 from another account called the National Security Account at Trust Bank, on Jammeh’s behalf.

Other times, he said he wired money from that account to Jammeh’s wife’s personal account in the United States.

Trust Bank declined to comment on the National Security Account and who had access to it.

ROLLS ROYCES, MANSIONS

Jammeh’s spending hinted at his riches. He had a fleet of black Rolls Royce limousines whose headrests carry his name embroidered in dark thread, and a house in Maryland, according to a Reuters witness and a U.S. official.

On a trip to New York for a UN summit in 2002, Jammeh had $1 million in cash in cellophane wrapping brought to his hotel room, his former lobbyist John Aycoth told Reuters. He bought expensive watches and tipped a dental hygienist $20,000, said Aycoth, who successfully sued the Gambian government in a US court for failure to compensate his firm in 2006.

Reuters could not independently confirm these accounts.

“I know he had great wealth. I have no doubt about that,” said Jammeh’s former lawyer Gomez.

Gambia’s new leaders said Jammeh took a fleet of luxury cars with him into exile.

Now, in the aftermath of his rule, many Gambians demand his wealth be returned immediately. The country’s economy is in tatters with only three weeks left of import funds.

“The president and his government will take all steps and measures to ensure that all the lost, stolen and misappropriated assets are returned to the Gambian people,” Gambian Finance Minister Sanneh told reporters on Monday.

The former Director General of the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and eight other officials of the agency were on Thursday charged with conspiracy and murder before the Banjul Magistrate Court.

Yankuba Badjie & Co are charged with the murder of Ebrima Solo Sandeng, the opposition United Democratic Party member who was tortured to death on April 15, 2016.

The other accused persons are Louis Gomez, former Deputy Director, Saikou Omar Jeng, former director of Operations, Haruna Susso, Yusupha Jammeh, Tamba Masireh, Lamin Darboe and Baboucarr Sallah, all operatives and Lamin Lang Sanyang, the medic.

The NIA under the 22 years of former President Yahya Jammeh were the most feared agency in the country. Their only duty was to arrest, detained, torture, forceful disappearances and even killing innocent people on the orders of Jammeh.

Yankuba Badjie and Co like many others have ever been pointed finger at for aiding and enabling former President Jammeh in executing ungodly acts in the country.

The late Solo Sandeng was arrested on April 14th 2016 at Westfield Junction while staging a peaceful demonstration calling for electoral reforms. He was picked up, taken to the NIA where he was reportedly tortured to death. He was buried in an unknown location by the NIA.

His death prompted another peaceful protest on April 16th, 2016, led by the UDP Party leader Ousainou Darboe and members of his executive, calling on the then government of Yahya Jammeh to produce Solo Sandeng ‘dead or alive’. They were equally rounded up and detained, charged and later convicted to three years imprisonment for each of them.

While serving their jail term, the coalition that nominated current President Adama Barrow from the same UDP Party as leader to challenge former President Jammeh was formed.

On December 1st, Gambians went to the polls and elected President Barrow ending the long time ruler Yahya Jammeh’s 22 years regime.

During the first week after loosing the elections, then President Jammeh ordered his controlled courts to released Mr Darboe and Co in a sign of smooth transition, though it never ended well as he later reversed his decision of conceding defeat and rejected the results, thereby plunging the country into a political impasse which almost ended with a military intervention until the last minute when a solution averted such to happen. Mr Jammeh then flew to Equatorial Guinea where he is now living in exile.

Diaspora Gambians have on Thursday, February 23, paid a courtesy call on President Adama Barrow at Kairaba Beach Hotel.

President Barrow has commended the role played by the diaspora during the campaign period especially the online radios and social media among others.

” You have the liberty to come home,” President Barrow said.

Barrow further acknowledged the financial contribution they made to the struggle, saying it would not have been easy without them. He said his government would ensure that everyone enjoys the rule of law in the country.

“The system of animal farm would not be allow in this country again,” he pointed out
President Barrow explained that the struggle has now moved to a new phase which is the development of the country. He said there is a lot of work to reform the system. He called on those with expertise to come home and contribute their quotas to national development.

He also talked about the state of the country’s economy which he said was not in very good shape but added that the new government has lots of goodwill around the world.

Several speakers representing various organizations in the diaspora took turns to raise their concerns with the new government.

“We could not understand your reinstating the group of ambassadors that have been vilifying us in the diaspora. These are the people who called the police on us when we protest at the embassies,” Alkali Conteh said.

Conteh called on the new government to help them to exercise their civil rights to vote in the elections.

Lamin Jatta of GDF from the United States said they participated in raising fund to end dictatorship, saying they would continue to support the coalition efforts for development.

Musa Jeng, another diaspora Gambian paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the struggle such as Njagga Jagne, Lamin Sanneh, Solo Sandeng and Solo Krummah among others. He said he will speak on their behalf because they are not present to speak for themselves, saying they cannot allow their families to feel their absence.

“We have some of our people arrested in the United States for their involvement in the 30th December attacked. Some of them have lost their jobs,” Musa Jeng said.

Jeng called on the new government to reach out to the Trump Administration to release these people.

Saul Mbenga of DUGA also made a request for family members of Jammeh’s victims to meet the president of the republic.

Meanwhile, several speakers spoke on behalf of different organizations including Madi Jobarteh, Alhagie Kanteh, Sohna Sallah and Tuku Jallow.

The spokesperson of the coalition government and President Barrow’s adviser on governance has finally cleared the air on his position in the ‘New Gambia’ by announcing his intention to contest for the Serrekunda Constituency Parliamentary seat in the upcoming April election.

Halifa Sallah who was expected by many to be the next Speaker of the National Assembly since he did not occupy any ministerial position in the new government said he wouldn’t be qualified to be Speaker if he contest as candidate according to the Constitution of the Gambia.

Sallah was speaking on Thursday, February 23, during a Press Conference to clear the air on the position of the Coalition government in the coming Parliamentary elections.

The Gambia goes to the polls to elect its 53 Parliamentarians who will be joined by five other members to be nominated by the President from whom the Speaker will be elected from.

Sallah made it clear that the coalition did not make any conclusion as to how they will contest the coming Parliamentary elections but promised that by Friday, February 24, they will make a conclusion and convey the message to the Gambian people.

Mr Sallah expressed appreciation and acknowledged all the comments and phone calls for him to take a ministerial position in the government.

“Everybody wants Halifa Sallah to occupy a big position and I thank them for that. Even the president wishes the same but it is not about Prestige, it is about serving the nation” he said.

According to him, if he contest for National Assembly seat, its another way of serving the nation.

“National assembly is as important as the executive. It guides and checks the executive in governance. Remember ministers will be bringing bills and policies to the Assembly and it is important when they look around they see faces that they respect” he said.

According to him, they want to make sure there is a National Assembly that represents the people and not the president or a party and he will work to make sure that it will not be a rubber stamp.

“We need to get the best National Assembly that acts as an oversight institution, holds the government accountable and stand for the Gambian people. This is the Assembly we want” he concluded.

After the recent revelations by The Finance Minister about former President Yahya Jammeh making withdrawals from GAMTEL, is the managing director of the company out again trying to bribe and corrupt The Barrow administration through GAMCEL? The Government which came to power in December has told Gambians that they are totally against bribery and corruption, but this latest move by GAMTEL/GAMCEL is a test for the government to prove to Gambians that they mean their words.

Credible sources have informed The Fatu Network that, the managing director of the company, Babucarr Sanyang, has authorized the purchase of sixteen phones for members of Barrow’s cabinet through GAMCEL.

With the recent change in government, many top officials are uncertain if they will retain their jobs. Some are therefore wondering if this is an attempt to bribe the government.

GAMTEL/GAMCEL has in the past been engaged in bribing government officials of the former president Yahya Jammeh by handing out cell phones, laptops and many other accessories in exchange for favors which many say contributed immensely in corrupting the former government. “I will be very disappointed with our new ministers if they accept the gifts. Why can’t they use their own phones? I’m sure they all have phones” a source said. The source added that the government cannot make a revelation about Jammeh’s financial dealings, then turn around and start following his footsteps.

A source close to GAMCEL has disclosed that the sixteen phones will cost the company D441, 000 when their accounts are in red “Why buy such expensive phones, when the company is struggling to pay salaries due to cash flow problems. Enough is enough, state funds should not be used for selfish interest” the source said. Another source said “Tell the ministers to not accept this so called gifts for they will be putting their integrity at stake if they do, we are watching” he concluded.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017, Gambia’s Finance minister, Amadou Sanneh has revealed that the nation owed a domestic debt of D48.3 Billion ($1.5 Billion). The minister revealed that a number of significant withdrawals were made directly from GAMTEL coffers by the former president.

Meanwhile, the phones have been picked from the supplier who is said to be demanding for payment as we speak without success, this according to sources is because GAMCEL does not have the funds to pay for it. What is not clear though is whether the ministers have already received the phones or not.

We will keep you posted as Gambians watch if The Barrow administration will also contribute in milking the nation’s telecommunication giant.

By Madi Jobarteh

A Bar association is not merely a voluntary association of lawyers. It is also an integral part of the State and a mechanism for the delivery of justice to citizens. Hence a Bar association is a human rights protector and a defender for the respect for the rule of law. For that matter a Bar association is a guarantor of peace and security as well as development in a civilized democratic society. Without an effective and vibrant Bar association, the independence of the Judiciary will be stifled leading to a weak justice delivery system. This is a recipe for disaster.

 
To understand the role and value of the Bar association one has to understand the nature and operations of a constitutional democracy in a republic such as the Gambia. The basis of a constitutional democracy is founded on the principle of separation of powers between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. This principle is spelt out in a constitution that sets the necessary checks and balance in terms of a set of rules and processes, which altogether constitute the rule of law. It is these checks and balance system based on the rule of law that ensures transparency and accountability of the State. It is this rule of law that therefore not only restrains public officers and state institutions from abusing their powers but also ensure that they perform their duties diligently. By acting within their powers and performing their duties, the State therefore ensures that the rights and needs of citizens are protected and fulfilled.

 
The Judiciary is the third arm of the State that is responsible for interpreting the law to ensure that actions and decisions of the State and private citizens are in line with the constitution or not. Hence the Judiciary serves to ensure that no one takes the law into their own hands to do as they wish. This is why a key right of every citizen under Section 24 of our Constitution is that one is innocent until proven guilty by the courts. For this matter, the Judiciary or the courts ensure accountability and redress in a democratic society. In fact in many parts of our Constitution, the right of citizens to go to court to restrain the government has been guaranteed.

 
But in order for the Judiciary to function efficiently to ensure access to justice, there must be lawyers to defend individuals who are in conflict with each other or with the law. This is why Section 19 of our Constitution says anyone arrested must have access to a lawyer. These lawyers are those that constitute the Bar association. The Gambia Bar Association is the only civil society organization mentioned by the Constitution under Section 145 as a member of the Judicial Service Commission. This commission plays a key role under Section 147 in ensuring an efficient delivery of justice and better administration of the courts. It plays an advisory role to the president on matters of law and justice such as appointment of judges. It also conducts public sensitization about access to justice and administration of the courts.
Therefore the Bar association is an integral part of the governance and development process of the Gambia. By delivering justice and ensuring the sanctity of the Constitution, the Judiciary therefore has become the heart of good governance and sustainable development. An efficient Judiciary means citizens will have confidence in the political system to protect their lives, rights and properties. A corrupt and weak Judiciary means there will no peace and development in that society. We have seen how Yaya Jammeh had used the Judiciary for that purpose. In the final analysis, the efficiency or weakness of the Judiciary lies with the role played by the Bar association, hence the Bar association largely determines the quality of our democracy.

 
Therefore to ensure an efficient Judiciary, hence better governance and development, the critical body in that scheme is the Bar association. For far too long, the Gambia Bar Association did not play its rightful role, as it should. It has hopelessly watched as the Executive flouted the independence and professionalism of the Judiciary. The hire and fire of judges by Yaya Jammeh, and the flouting of court orders by the NIA and APRC elements was a common practice. Unlike many other societies, where the Bar has been in the forefront of the promotion and protection of democracy, in the Gambia the Bar was completely subdued and useless.

 
However the Gambia Bar Association redeemed itself for the first time on 12 December 2016 when it became the first Gambian civil society organization to unequivocally and strongly condemn Yaya Jammeh for his attempt to reject and annul the election results. That was an historic and a bold step demonstrating what a true Bar association must do in such situations. We could all recall when the Pakistani Dictator Pervez Musharraf sacked Chief Justice Choudary in 2007 thus triggering the Pakistani Bar Association to launch a massive protest that led to his overthrow.

 
Now that the Gambia Bar Association has redeemed itself, it is necessary to remind them that this must continue. The Bar Association must henceforth become the true voice and conscience for democracy in the Gambia to ensure the protection of rights and the adherence to the rule of law. We expect the Bar will now lead Gambians to stand against any abuse of power and the flouting of the rule of law by the Government and indeed any entity in the Gambia. We expect the Bar to ensure and protect the independence of the Judiciary and the security of tenure of judges and magistrates. We expect the Bar to provide honest and clear advice to the Chief Servant to ensure the effective and efficient management of the courts and just delivery of justice. This is what we expect the members of the Bar to do.

 
We do therefore wish to see our lawyers in the Gambia Bar Association only interested in making money out of poor and oppressed people. Many of our lawyers indeed profited from the APRC Tyranny by taking up cases for which they knew they could not win because the entire Judiciary was in the hands of Yaya Jammeh. Yet they charged huge sums of money from poor folks only for those poor folks to lose their cases before mercenary judges and sent to prison. Those lawyers and the Bar association instead should have led Gambians to condemn the abuse of the Judiciary rather than condone and allow a corrupted Judiciary to prevail. We need lawyers who have conscience and a sense of justice and patriotism and are prepared to stand with the poor masses to ensure democracy prevail in our motherland.

 
Let us remind the Gambia Bar Association that more than ever before the Gambia needs them more today. Let them work with Chief Justice Hassan Jallow to ensure a truly independent, just and efficient Judiciary. But more importantly let them protect the sanctity of our Constitution and the rule of law as set out in the supreme law. Let the Gambia Bar Association lead and join citizens in holding the Gambia Government to account to prevent abuse of power and disregard of the rule of law but to ensure a just and efficient delivery of justice.

God Bless the Gambia.

By Alagie Manneh
Politician Basiru Gassama has attacked fellow APRC steward Seedy Njie, telling him to shut his mouth as the nation is bigger than both him and the former exiled leader Yahya Jammeh.

 
Njie has come under heavy criticism during the country’s political deadlock, as Gambians accused him of ‘being a national traitor’, after he publicly appeared to be the mouthpiece of the former leader, who lost to President Adama Barrow in the December polls and seen backing his unconstitutional stay in power.
Now his onetime fellow APRC staunch supporter felt Mr Njie’s actions were tantamount to treason, saying there was in fact no need for the Parliamentarian to accept a ’ten day’s Ministerial job’ just to fill up his pockets.

 
“Those people who were urging him not to concede defeat don’t love him, and they certainly don’t love the Gambia,” the outspoken politician, who ex-President Jammeh took to Mecca last year stated.
“And that Seedy Njie,” he went on, “I tell him one thing, the nation is bigger than Yahya Jammeh, bigger than him, than me and bigger than everybody. That is why I commend the coalition for their maturity to understand and maintain the peace.“At that time of our political impasse, there was no need for him to accept that 10 days ministerial position, knowing he himself wasn’t fit for that position. Why did the former Minister of Information Sheriff Bojang leave the position? He has seen the truth. Anybody who has seen the truth and the lie, yet you follow the lie, then you are not Godly,” Bass said.

He described Seedy Njie as a ‘very small boy’ who was still going to school when he enters politics, and therefore do not have what it takes to make a good politician.

 
“Seedy was only looking for money the man was giving him, but for people like myself, what we have done for the politics, we were doing it for the interest of our country and people,” he stressed.

 
According to him, the December election was free, fair and transparent.“There could be no cheating,” he went on, “in the first Republic, yes, because at that time it is conducted by the local government PS, who was the returning officer. But the IEC is independent. I commend the IEC chairman for his bravery, I commend him for the professional work with his entire staff.” He also commended the security agencies, who he said conducted themselves maturely.

 
“From the Chief of Defense Staff and other security agencies, I commend them all for their understanding of the constitution. The oath of allegiance they took expired on the 18. On the 19, they put their allegiance to the new elected President, who is the choice of the Gambian people.”

 
Asked if they could have done better, Bass said: “All the arms and everything was controlled by General Badjie and others so close to the big man. So if they acted they could have lose their lives. They have seen even camp commanders being hunted and arrested. For me, I commend and urge them to be loyal like I have always tell them, for coup in Africa is over. It ended in the era of Yahya Jammeh.”

 
Asked if the APRC party still has his support and influence, the outspoken politician replied: “Me? Don’t you hear what I say? I am a Muslim, I believe in the will of Allah.”

 
On what the APRCs fate should be, Bass retorted “whatever happens to them is left to them. All these APRC supporters are strong supporters of PPP before.”

 
On whether the former Vice President has ‘moral ground’ to share the table with the Gambia’s new government, he said leaders must be given due respect.

 
He added that during the first Republic, when Jammeh overthrew Jawara, there was a Commission which  victimized people. So if this new government’s Commission is established, anybody who is seen faulty must dance to his music. What is good for John is good for Mary. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.”

 
He advised the new government to stay in unison for the development and stability of the Gambia, saying the Gambia is a blessed nation.