Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has arrived in the holy city of Touba, where he is meeting the Kaliph General of the Mourid brotherhood, Serign Sidi Mukhtar Mbacke.

President Barrow will also perform his Friday Prayers at the Holy Mosque in Touba beside the Kaliph General of the Mourid brotherhood.

Earlier in the morning, President Barrow visited Tivaouane, another religious city and seat of the Tijanniyya brotherhood Sect which is some kilometers from the capital, Dakar. He was received by the spokesman of the Kaliph General of Tidjanes, Serigne Abdoul Aziz Sy Al-Amine, ” the Senegalese new agency, APS reported.

President Barrow is on his second day of a three-day official visit to Senegal.

Gambia’s President Adama Barrow who is in Senegal on a three-day state visit, today, Friday, March 3^rd, begins his days engagement with visits to the country’s main brotherhoods, wo which most Gambians also belong to.

He began his visit to Tivaouane, the seat of the Tijanniyya brotherhood Sect which is some kilometers from the capital, Dakar.  Mr. Barrow, accompanied by his wife and top government officials arrived in the holy town of Tivaouane before 10am GMT on the second day of his three-day official visit to Senegal.

Upon arrival, President Barrow and delegation were received by the spokesman of the Kaliph General of Tidjanes, Serigne Abdoul Aziz Sy Al-Amine, ” the Senegalese new agency, APS is reporting.

President Barrow later had a long  discussion with Serigne Abdoul Aziz Sy Al-Amine who offered him prayers and to the Gambian people. President Barrow arrived in Senegal on Thursday on a three-day state visit, the first foreign and official trip since assuming office.

Visit to Diamniadio

Meanwhile, late last Thursday, President Barrow visited the International Industrial Park of Diamniadio whose industrial space for new technologies is in its completion stage.

He was led to the area by Senegalese Prime Minister Mahammad Boun Abdallah Dionne. He visited all the industrial areas and integrated industrial platforms.

The Industrial Development and Promotion Agency (APROSI) is carrying out an industrial field with a State-of-the-Art technical configuration, born from the merger Project Sodida 2 and the Taiwanese Park.

“The integrated industrial sites and platforms developed are designed to offer optimum conditions for competitiveness to companies wishing to establish themselves here and to meet the demand of investors with regard to equipment and services,” explained the director of APROSI Momath Bâ.

The Gambia has finally agree to accompany its neighboring country Senegal in the quest for final peace in the troubled Southern region of Cassamance which has been in rebellion crisis since 1982.

This was announced on Thursday by Senegalese President Macky Sall during a Press Conference with visiting Gambian President Adama Barrow in Dakar, the Senegalese news agency Agence de Presse Sénégalaise is reporting.

President Barrow is in Dakar for a three-day state visit, which is his first foreign trip and state visit since assuming office. “President Barrow and The Gambia will accompany Senegal in the quest for peace. Senegal wants peace. We do not want war and that is why we have always stretched out our hands to the Movement of Democratic Forces of Cassamance (MFDC, Rebellion.) We have to go in that direction” President Sall said.

President Macky Sall said that since 2012, the Movement of the Democratic Forces of Cassamance (MFDC) has made a lot of efforts.

“I have to admit that they (MFDC) have made great efforts and since I’ve been here as President, there has been no problem, no shooting between the MFDC and the army, (But) it’s slow … I asked President Barrow to give us support, which he agreed,” the Senegalese president said.

Gambia’s President Adama Barrow for his part said that the security of The Gambia is the security of Senegal, adding that the two countries are discussing to find a defense agreement and of security. The Cassamance conflict, registered hundreds of civilian and military casualties.

A total of 98 prisoners who where serving various sentences at the State Central Prisons of Mile II have been released today, Thursday, March 2nd, 2017.

This batch of prisoners released including one female prisoner are among the hundreds pardoned by President Adama Barrow.

Among the freed includes 16 foreigners –Senegalese, Malians, Guineans and Sierra Leonean nationals, who were handed over to officers of the Gambia Immigration Department who escorted out to be deported.

Earlier on February 18^th on the Independence day of The Gambia, a total of 174 were released on Presidential pardon.

Ansumana Manneh, the Director General of the Gambia Prisons Service thanked President Barrow and his government for the magnanimity. He said the releasing is a process and a Committee chaired by the Ministry of Interior is responsible for the vetting.

“So, any time they need information, we will send it to them. If the President approves it, even at mid-night, we will come and release the prisoners. We hope that more and more will be released” he said.

According to him, those released where convicted of various offences raging from murder to drug trafficking among others.

“There is one among those release who was convicted of murder. There is also a woman among them who is release after serving 5 years on monetary problems. Others released includes convict of drug trafficking who have serve half of their sentences. Even the thieves have been released. We think they have been rehabilitated” he said.

DG Manneh advised the released prisoners to be law abiding and avoid returning to the prisons especially when they know fully how difficult the conditions are.

“Since you know the prison conditions, I urge you all to comfort yourselves better to avoid involving in anything that will bring you back to the prison” he concluded.

Lamin Sowe, Operations Commander, Gambia Prison Service equally thanked the government for the gesture. He equally called for creation of skills training means for inmate so as to help them acquire knowledge before they are released.

The Minister of Interior has urged men and women of the Gambia Police Force to work within the law, respect the fundamental human rights of Gambians and overall, the Constitution.

Mai Ahmed Fatty was speaking on Wednesday during his first visit to the Gambia Police Force Headquarters in Banjul since assuming office in the new government.

According to him, the Police Force overwhelmingly have good men and women but also they have others who have less regards for the law and do not care much about procedures and the Constitution.

“These few, we must all work together to change their attitude so that together we can continue to work as a team. There is nobody who cannot be reformed. When we work together as a family, we will be there. When you manage people, you find good and bad, tolerant and intolerant, hesitant, discipline and indiscipline, mature, and excellent etc but if you want to chose one group, and you will not work. We should influence each other, manage, lead and inspire. That is what you Commissioners and senior officers are expected to do” he said.

He further urged the senior officers to be tolerant with the junior ones and understand even their family problems because that can come along at work.  He urged them to be like families and understand that they are serving Gambians.

Gambia’s Army chief has reminded the Gambia’s 20th contingent heading for the Sudanese troubled region of Darfur, to always remember the principles of integrity, respect for diversity and professionalism as their guiding principles at all times.

Lt. General Masanneh Kinteh made the remarks on Wednesday during the farewell of the Gambian contingent heading for a peacekeeping mission in Darfur, a ceremony presided over by by the Minister of Women Affairs and overseer of the portfolio of the Office of the Vice President Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang.

The 208 personnel including 12 male officers, 6 female officers and 19 female soldiers under the command of Colonel Musa Trawally are heading to the Sudanese troubled region of Darfur on humanitarian and peace support mission.

The responsibilities of the Gambian contingent still remain the securing of the Mission Headquarters in El-Fasher and the provision of escort duties to UNIMID High Command and visiting VIPs. Other aspects include providing the enabling environment for humanitarian support to Darfurians, on issues such as the resettlement of Internally Displaced People (IDP) and protection of civilian population from all forms of violence.

CDS Kinteh also advised the men and women to work hard to win the hearts and minds of their fellow peacekeepers as well as the civilian population.

“This would require a high sense of commitment and dedication to the service of the mission and the people of Darfur. You therefore, need to stay focus, alert and fit at all times and execute your tasks in a highly professional manner. You need to be tolerant, tactful and polite in the way you relate with your peers from different countries. You must have respect for all those you come in contact with and be willing to  share your experience with your colleagues” he advised.

According to him, the men and women should be part of the solution to the trouble but not the problem and are expected to do everything possible within your limits to help build and keep the peace. He urged them to execute their duties within the amdate of  UNAMID, observing the rule of law and paying due attention and respect for human rights and dignity.

CDS Kinteh further implored on the Contingent to behave professionally and avoid anything that will stain the good name of The Gambia.

“You must respect the religion, tradition and local culture of the host country. Consider the people of Sudan as your own brothers and sisters and treat them with honesty and respect” he concluded.

Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow arrived in the Senegalese Capital, Dakar, Thursday, March 3^rd in his first foreign trip since assuming office.

President Barrow is in Dakar for a three-day state visit, which is his first foreign trip and state visit since assuming office.

He was received at the Leopold Sedar Senghore International Airport by his host and Senegalese President Macky Sall, flanked by Cabinet ministers and other top government officials.

During the three-day visit, Presidents Barrow and Sall are expected to discuss matters of common interest and wide range of issue pertaining to Senegal-Gambia relations.

Later today, the two leaders will hold a press conference, according to a statement from the Senegalese presidency as reported by the Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS).

 This will be followed by series of engagements and signing of bilateral agreements between the two countries on Friday.

On Saturday at 11 am at the seat of the Senegalese Presidency, the two countries will sign and issue a Joint Communiqué which will end the state visit.

It could be recalled that during the recent political impasse, President Barrow spent several days in Dakar as his predecessor, former Presidenty Yahya Jammeh refused to step down after loosing the presidential election. He was sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Dakar and later returned to the country after the exile of former President Jammeh to Equatorial Guinea following an ECOWAS-led mediation to end the crisis.

Picture credit: Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS).

Gambia’s Interior Minister has said it is the new government’s intention to change the name of the Gambia Police Force to The Gambia Police Service.

He said the word ‘Force’ will be omitted from the name to be replaced by the word ‘service’.

Mai Ahmed Fatty made the revelation on Wednesday, March 1 during his first visit to the Gambia Police Force Headquarters in Banjul.

According to him, the change will help meet international standards adding that the Police is part of the service sectors and its orientation should be geared towards delivering services to the Gambian people.

“The philosophy will change but we will do this along with you. We will carry you along. There will be consultations and we will work together so that we can reform together and you can own this reform because at the end of the day, you are going to be the engine of change. So the change will come from you and the initiative will come from you” he told Police.

Minister Fatty assured that they will give the policy support to bring it into effect. He assured them that the Gambia considers them important and surely, in future, they will see change.

He used the opportunity to call on all officers to acquaint themselves with the Constitution of The Gambia saying it is the document that they work with. “You should also acquaint yourself with the old Police Act. Every time you look at it, you will find something new” he advised.

Review Police Act

Minister Fatty also announced that they will review the Police Act as it is outdated.

“We need to review the Act and not only that but I think we need to come with a new Act that will take into consideration the changes in society, technology and our international responsibilities as a nation” he concluded.

The 20^th Gambian contingent dubbed GAMCOY 20 heading to the Sudanese region of Darfur for peace keeping mission, Wednesday March 1, bade farewell at a ceremony held at the July 22^nd Square in Banjul.

The Contingent bade farewell to the Minister of Women Affairs and overseer of the portfolio of the Office of the Vice President Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang.

The 208 personnel including 12 male, and 19 female soldiers under the command of Colonel Musa Trawally are heading to the Sudanese troubled region of Darfur on humanitarian and peace support mission.

The responsibilities of the Gambian contingent will include the securing of the Mission Headquarters in El-Fasher and the provision of escort duties to UNIMID High Command and visiting VIPs. Other aspects include providing the enabling environment for humanitarian support to the people Darfur, on issues such as the resettlement of Internally Displaced People (IDP) and protection of civilian population from all forms of violence.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Tambajang told members of the Gambian contingent to be role models and maintain the good image of the country during their tour of duty in Sudan. She said President Barrow admires people in uniform and that he will continue to support them taking into account that they are in the front-line in the maintenance of peace and stability.

“You are selected not based on merits but base on services to the nation and your exemplary characters. You are going to be our ambassadors, ambassador not only for the Gambia but as African ambassador,” VP Jallow-Tambajang added.

Peace she said is a challenging word and must be guided by the religion that you believe, saying humanitarian from the United Nations definition is serving somebody who did not have the privilege to peace, privilege to his livelihood and who have no privilege to stability.

“Your mission is a mission that you should respect, thus, it is significant you respect the communities that you are going to serve. When you serving a nation, you must be guided by their culture that way you will be easily integrated into their community, the society and finally you will be qualified to be ambassadors of The Gambia” she concluded.

Masanneh Kinteh, the new Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces said it is a pride seeing the contingent leaving for a humanitarian and peace support mission which would strengthen the tremendous successes that The Gambia has registered in Darfur over the years.

“Peace is one of the deepest desires of mankind. It has remained one of the basic yet elusive yearnings of human race. The conditions that threaten peace and security are increasing daily, thus, making it necessary to evolve new techniques and capacity that will transform them. Therefore, adequate training, logistics support and international partnership in peacekeeping operation with increasingly more complex UN Mandate is required to curb the threats that have over time, changing dynamics with irregular opponents” he said.

CDS Kinteh thanked the Commandant of the Gambia Armed Forces Training School and his team for the quality training provided to the troops and the British Armed Forces through the British Ambassador and the Defense Attaché accredited to The Gambia for the facilities of the pre-deployment training through the Royal Gilbraltar Regiment.

He said the contribution of the Gambia Armed Forces to peacekeeping missions worldwide has grown significantly in recent years. He said The Gambia has been steadfast in its commitment to help keep the peace in the region, and has stood by Darfur throughout this conflict period to restore their hopes and dignity.

He advised his men and women to stay focus, alert and fit at all times and execute their tasks in a highly professional manner.

Gambia’s Interior Minister has said that there will be no more executive directives asking the police to do what is unlawful.

Mai Ahmed Fatty was speaking on Wednesday during his maiden visit to the Gambia Police Force Headquarters in Banjul.

In the previous government of former President Yahya Jammeh, executive directives have been the order of the day in terminating services, effecting arrests and other ungodly activities in the country.

“You have no reason to be afraid in the performance of your duties. There will be no executive directives asking you to do what is unlawful. I will support you and as Father of the Ministry, I will be a good parent to the children of the family. You can go with pride and assurance that you have the fullest support of the Ministry of Interior and the government” he said.

According to him, his Ministry is bound by law and same applies to the Gambia Police Force. He reminded the Police Force that there are no more obstacles on their way because all have been removed for them to perform effectively, unless if they want to return it back by themselves.

Despite, he also reminded the Gambia Police Force to operate within the law saying the new government and the Gambian people want an indigenous Police Force, creative, transforming, build and creative so that Gambia will be consulted by other countries in solving crimes.

“You can do it and I know you have the competence to do it. What you lacked was motivation and the enabling policy support” he said.

Minister Fatty then assured the Gambia Police Force of the fullest support saying they will be empowered. He urged them to change, free themselves and use their knowledge to make sure The Gambia exports their efficiency within the ECOWAS region.

Gambia’s new Interior Minister Mai Ahmed Fatty on Wednesday made his first visit to The Gambia Police Force Headquarters since assuming office.

He was received by the Inspector General of Police besides senior members of the Police Command.

Speaking during a meeting with the minister, the Inspector General of Police Yankuba Sonko expressed delight and welcomed the new minister.  He assured that the Gambia Police Force is fully behind the new government of President Adama Barrow and will work more than ever to ensure a smooth transition as well as provide security to the nation.

He briefed the minister on the number of Police officers in the Gambia saying there are 6,000 Police officers under the Gambia Police Force.

“We have 52 Main Police Stations; 50 mini Police stations; 9 Police Intervention Units (PIU) bases; 10 mini-PIU posts countrywide. All units are working to ensure security” he said.

Interior Minister Mai Fatty in response said the Police are the people on the vanguard of maintaining law and order in The Gambia. According to him, with the sacrifice, commitment and dedication of the officers, the security of the country remains intact under the leadership of IGP Sonko.

He assured the Gambia Police Force of his Ministry’s fullest support and also extended President Barrow’s assurance and commitment to internal security in the country.

He made it clear that the government will empower the Gambia Police Force under the Police Act and substantially support the community policing project in order to continue to improve police public relations and in educating Gambians on the need to be law abiding and to see the police officers as friends and partners.

On the constraints of the Police, Minister Fatty said his Ministry will submit a comprehensive proposal to Cabinet with a view to reviewing the conditions of service of the Police Officers such as increasing pay scales, providing them with assurances etc.

“We need to make adequate arrangements so that your families will be comfortable and make them believe that they are cared for” he said, assuring them that this is a new dispensation and as Minister, there will be positive changes.

Minister Fatty reminded the Police that they are living in a region that is facing security volatility and uncertainty. He said terrorism has no boundaries, financial crimes and money laundering, cyber crimes etc are growing day by day and criminals are on the move.

“The Gambia must therefore upgrade its internal security apparatus in order to meet these challenges so that we would not be left behind. This entails institutional support, particularly, giving you the tools you need to effective, capacity training, both domestic and international and more so resources because combating crimes nowadays is an expensive business. The police have to have the logistics to be ahead of the criminals” he concluded.

The Minister was later led on a conducted tour of the Police Headquarters by the Inspector General of Police Yankuba Sonko.