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Fatoumata Tambajang is Gambia’s new Vice President

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Fatoumata Tambajang is Gambia’s new Vice President

Fatoumata C.M. Jallow -Tambajang, the Gambia’s political change agent has been appointed as the new Vice President of the new government of President Adama Barrow.

Tambajang has ever been a good mediator engaging opposition parties to create a credible gender-balanced coalition for the 2016 National Elections which resulted to her election as Chair of the Coalition that fought to effect a regime change.

Her appointment was announced on Monday by Halifa Sallah, the Spokesperson of President Adama Barrow at a Press Conference held in Banjul. He further announced that the remaining list of Cabinet ministers will be announced later on State TV GRTS.

Tambajang did great strides to unite opposition members in defeating the former dictator Yahya Jammeh in the December 2016 presidential election, ending his 22 years rule of tiny West African nation.

Fatoumatta C.M. Jallow Tambajang was born on October 22 1949 in Brikama, a trading town in The Gambia. She schooled in the Gambia, Dakar and France. She is a national female icon, mother of eight (8) children and an award winning UNDP-groomed development practitioner focused on gender mainstreaming.

During her work with UNDP and Women NGOs in various leadership capacities for over 20 years in both in stable and challenging environments, including 5 years in war-torn Mano River and Great Lakes Regions leading to her being victim of a rebel hostage situation in 2001 and 2002 she still strived and stuck to her commitment gender parity.

She is a dynamic human rights defender with effective women’s rights and political activism in the Gambian mainstream Struggle for Democratic Change against the 21 year dictatorial regime for social justice, poverty alleviation, equity and prosperity.

Last year, she was pinpointed as a mediator engaging opposition parties to create a credible gender-balanced coalition for the 2016 National Elections. She later was elected Chair of the coalition due to her great strides to unite opposition members in defeating the incumbent in December 2016.

Fatoumata was former adviser on women and children affairs to the First President of The Gambia and has chaired the Gambia National Women’s Council and represented it at the Gambia National Economic and Social Council for six (6) years bringing about the strengthening of the National Council/Women’s Bureau and key women NGOs, empowered women in entrepreneurship, basic education and maternal and healthcare; a marriage bill was also adopted against early marriage; Government also supported the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): 1980 Council’s Act.

She was also former Secretary of State (SoS), Health, Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs and engineered reforms and initiated and launched a fund for special needy medical patients – The Sera Jarjue Fund.

She was awarded Gambia’s highest national citizen award by the the first Gambian President, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.

Did Halifa Sallah fault Mai Fatty’s allegations of D500M withdrawn by Jammeh?

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Did Halifa Sallah fault Mai Fatty’s allegations of D500M withdrawn by Jammeh?

Halifa Sallah, the spokesperson of Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow ‘faulted’ allegations by President Barrow’s so-called adviser Mai Ahmed Fatty who alleged that former President Yahya Jammeh who went into exile in Equatorial Guinea, within the period of two weeks alone, nearly withdrew nearly 500M dalasis approximately (11M or £8.8M).

At a press conference in the Senegalese capital, Dakar on Sunday, Fatty who is said to be President Barrow’s special adviser alledged that exiled former President Jammeh made off with more than D500M during a two-week period alone plundering the state coffers. This he said is a lot of money considering that we spent about 200M dalasis on recurrent expenditure relating to payment of civil service and so forth.

“The Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are virtually empty. That is a state of fact. It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia” Fatty Said.

Fatty also confirmed that a Chadian cargo plane had transported luxury goods out of the country on Jammeh’s behalf in his final hours in power, including an unknown number of vehicles. He said officials at the Gambia airport have been ordered not to allow any of Jammeh’s belongings to leave. He said officials “regret the situation,” but it appeared that the major damage had been done, leaving the new government with little recourse to recoup the funds.

He said this is only what they have discovered so far since Jammeh and his family took an offer of exile after more than 22 years in power and departed late Saturday.

Meanwhile, in the same night, Halifa Sallah, the spokesperson of President Barrow who is in Banjul, faulted Presidential Adviser Fatty’s allegations on the BBC Newsday late night programme.

Halifa said no institution has been audited so far to know something has been lost in an institution. “President Barrow has aides but also has his spokesperson in my very person. If you want authentic and reliable information, please rely on what he says and what I say” Sallah said.

Below is the full interview!

 BBC: Can you verify the claims by one aides and adviser to President Barrow that this huge amount and materials where taken away by Mr Jammeh?

Halifa Sallah: President Barrow as you said has aides but also has his spokesperson in my very person. If you want authentic and reliable information, please rely on what he says and what I say.

BBC: Ok the person who this statement is attributed to is Mai Ahmad Fatty, just to be clear because its obviously a very big allegation that is been made. Is it true that Yahya Jammeh emptied the coffers, took luxury goods including cars and loaded them onboard a plane and took it out of the country?

Halifa Sallah: The mediation team comprised of the President of Mauritania and the President of Guinea who did broker an agreement for Ex-President Jammeh to leave and that has actually happened. What is on the ground now is the attempt by the government to protect all the properties of the government…(BBC interrupted)

BBC: OK let me play you this clip so that you listen to it and hear yourself what Fatty said!!

Halifa Sallah: Well, what is important is to bear in mind that we are not arguing what SOMEBODY says. We are saying processes…………..(BBC interrupted)

BBC: But as spokesman of Mr Adama Barrow, I hope you will accept that there is need to clarify this. Did Mr Jammeh took away all these.

Halifa Sallah: I don’t need to clarify anything. We have an institution and institutional processes……(BBC interrupted)

BBC: And that’s not my question Sir. I appreciate that you have institutions but………..(Halifa interrupted)

Halifa Sallah: No institution has been audited to know something has been lost in an institution.

BBC: That is a fair point. I will accept that. But…….(Halifa interrupted)

Halifa Sallah: Government is about institutions and institutional processes. No institution has been audited at the moment to know anything is lost in an institution. I am telling you as a person who knows how a government works and am telling you how the government is going to work. Ministers are going to be appointed, they will go into those institutions and find out what has happened in those institutions, report about that because its a government that is ready for accountability. But you cannot make allegations without any auditing of accounts; you don’t know what has happen there. These are things you as a journalist and we as people to run a government base on processes should not be led to believe.

BBC: Halifa Sallah, Spokesman for President Adama Barrow thank you!

Eq. Guinea opposition denounces arrival of Gambia’s Jammeh

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Eq. Guinea opposition denounces arrival of Gambia’s Jammeh

The Associated Press:

Equatorial Guinea’s opposition has denounced the government’s decision to welcome exiled Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who flew to the Central African nation over the weekend after 22 years in power.

Andres Esono Ondo, secretary general of the Convergence for Social Democracy, said in an email Monday that President Teodoro Obiang would be responsible “for what might occur” as a result of Jammeh’s presence on the country’s soil.

In a statement over the weekend, opposition groups said welcoming Jammeh was like welcoming “the waste of Africa.”

Obiang’s government not yet commented on Jammeh’s presence in Equatorial Guinea.

Jammeh lost the December election to Adama Barrow but refused to step down, forcing Barrow to be inaugurated last week in Senegal. Barrow is now planning his return to Gambia.

CREDIT: The Morning Call

ECOWAS chief says ECOMIG to remain in Gambia, whisk away mercenaries, look for hidden weapons

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ECOWAS chief says ECOMIG to remain in Gambia, whisk away mercenaries, look for hidden weapons

Marcel Alain de Souza, the President of the ECOWAS Commission has issued a strong assurance message saying the troops that where deployed under the ECOWAS Military Intervention In Gambia (ECOMIG) to remove former dictator Yahya Jammeh from power, will remain and secure the Gambian territory for a given period.

He made the revelation on Saturday, January 21, 2017, during a visit to the headquarters of the High Command of the ECOMIG Forces in Senegal.

“We are certain that there are secret weapons depots and we have consequently included the search of such weapons to ECOMIG mission. That’s why ECOWAS forces will secure the Gambian capital and the Gambian territory for a given necessary time. We will look for hidden weapons and mercenaries will be whisked away to create a true situation of tranquility, to secure the return of populations who fear reprisals and to ensure that the country regain its national unity” he said.

The ECOWAS chief congratulated the West African Forces engaged in the restoration of democracy in The Gambia for the professionalism, sincerity and efficiency in the conduct of such operations. He reiterated the support and encouragement of all ECOWAS institutions and urged them to remain vigilant in securing their positions.

Souza used the opportunity to praise the extra-ordinary leadership of the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments, all presidential mediation missions as well as the leaders of the friendly countries of ECOWAS who contributed to the peaceful settlement of the post-election crisis in The Gambia.

He paid particular tribute to the Nigerian, Senegalese and Ghanaian Armed Forces for the provision of troops and logistics for the operations. He also thanked Senegalese President Macky Sall for the warm welcome given to the troops of the ECOWAS Mission to The Gambia and all the facilities for the smooth conduct of the operations.

Meanwhile, Halifa Sallah, the spokesperson of the Gambia’s new coalition government has also spoken at a press conference today to assure the people that the forces are not in the country for invasion but to work together with their Gambian counterparts to sanitize the country’s entire territory especially, the State House which is the seat of the presidency.

‘ECOWAS troops now enter Gambia not for invasion but…’ – Sallah

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‘ECOWAS troops now enter Gambia not for invasion but…’ – Sallah

Halifa Sallah, Spokesperson of the Gambia’s Coalition government has confirmed the arrival of the sub-regional troops in the country after been hanging around the borders as operations where halted.

The troops dubbed ECOMIG were surrounding the country ready to intervene and remove former President Jammeh if he had failed to agree with the last mediating team for him to hand over power peacefully to President Adama Barrow.

In his first press conference at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Sunday, day after former President Jammeh left into exile, Halifa Sallah who hinted of the possibility for President Adama Barrow to name his Cabinet tomorrow, Monday, January 23rd,  made it clear that the troops are in the country to collaborate and work with their Gambian counterparts in various security areas.

“The ECOWAS forces are in the country to collaborate with the Gambian forces. They are not here on invasion” Sallah said.

He mentioned the support of a senior Gambian security chief who he said knows the country, army and institutions and coming to help in stabilising the country.

“A Gambian senior security chief who knows the country, army and institutions will arrive tomorrow to help the troops to ensure stability in the country,” he pointed out, adding the respect for the sovereignty of the country is very important.

According to Sallah, the Gambian people have decided to carry out the most peaceful revolution in the history of the country and called for everyone to maintain peace and order.

“We have to nurture peace. The security have to respect our sovereignty,” he governments.

Sallah said he met the Gambian security chiefs and told them to release all political prisoners across the country which he said have been executed. He then announced to every Gambian that anyone who knows of a political prisoner not released yet should inform him or the Inspector General of Police.

Meanwhile, Sallah reacted to the purported joint declaration by ECOWAS, AU and UN saying the new government was not party or signatory to the document. He said he cannot confirm neither deny that the former president went with some properties. He said only the new president can decide on the properties of the former president.

Sallah touched the issue establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission saying it will inquire the properties and human rights issues and any person found wanting would face justice no matter where the person is living. “We are talking about lawfully acquired properties,” he said.

He quickly made it clear that one should not presume guilt without substantial evidence saying the aggrieved parties should bring their complaints for redress and compensated in the interest of justice.

Gambia’s ex-dictator Jammeh’s first night in exile under dictatorial regime in E/Guinea

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Gambia’s ex-dictator Jammeh’s first night in exile under dictatorial regime in E/Guinea

Gambia’s former dictator Yahya Jammeh who went into exile on Saturday, January 21st, 2017, arrived at his final destination of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to also start life in exile under a dictatorial regime after 22 years iron-fist rule of the tiny West African country.

Yahya Jammeh’s 22 years rule of The Gambia is exactly the same as his host colleague dictator President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

President Obiang is the longest-serving African dictator with 40 years in power amid persistent accusations of corruption, electoral fraud and even cannibalism.

He came to power in 1979 after ousting his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema in a military coup like Yahya Jammeh came to power in 1994 ousting former President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.

Like the government of former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, the nature of Obiang’s government is also non-democratic, since opposition is barely tolerated. The country is currently a one party state controlled by the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE).

This was the same scenario Yahya Jammeh was ruling The Gambia for the past 22 years. He always decreed and unilaterally makes laws that best suits him and his government, the recent of which was the declaration of The Gambia as an Islamic State, the removal of the country from the International Criminal Court and the so-called State of Emergency he declared after loosing the elections which ended his over two decade rule.

Like Jammeh manipulated with the Gambia constitution to favour him, the Equatorial Guinea Constitution also provides President Obiang with wide powers, including the right to rule by decree.

Abuses under Obiang includes unlawful killings by security forces; government-sanctioned kidnappings; systematic torture of prisoners and detainees by security forces; life-threatening conditions in prisons and detention facilities; impunity; arbitrary arrest, detention, and incommunicado detention.

These abuses are exactly as in Yahya Jammeh’s 22 years rule in Gambia. During Jammeh’s rule in The Gambia, the culture of persecution and injustice towards citizens remained pervasive, by reference to multiple examples of mistreatment of citizens and non-citizens, including credible allegations of State-directed arrests and torture. Jammeh’s government had no respect for the fundamental human rights of Gambian citizens. Arbitrary arrests and detentions increased on daily basis; security forces continued to harass and mistreat detainees, prisoners, opposition members, journalists, and civilians with impunity.  The government infringed on privacy rights and restricted freedom of speech and press. Disappearances and mysterious killings was the order of the day.

President Obiang is also accused of corruption and abuse of power throughout his four decade rule. In accordance with what he called the ‘Basic Law’ of Equatorial Guinea, he appointed his son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue as the country’s Vice President in 2016.

A son by his first wife, Constancia Okomo, the play boy Vice President Obiang Mangue is now going on trial for corruption in France. He is been charged with spending millions in state funds which prosecutors say do not tally with his monthly salary.

Though Yahya Jammeh did not have a grown up son like President Obiang’s son, but his wife Zineb referred to as the ‘Gold digger’ wasted lots of state resources on her personal use.

Zineb Zuma Jammeh was married to Yahya Jammeh in December 1998 and they now have two children. She was born in Rabat, Morocco to Ambassador Soumah, a well respected career diplomat from the distinguished Guinean Soumah family and Mrs. Soumah who hails from Morocco.

Zineb Zuma who holds a Diploma in International Systems and Management as First Lady, ran the Foundation for Women Socio-Economic Advancement (FOWSEA) – a subsidiary of The Jammeh Foundation for Peace. She was also the Chief Patron of several worthy charities which include the Gambian Chapter of the Forum for Women Educationists (FAWEGAM) and Operation Save-a-Baby, a charity devoted to providing assistance to needy new born infants.

While Gambians were dying of hunger and malnutrition, Zineb was in a flamboyant life, flying to France, Dubai, United States and other countries with huge amount of foreign cash. She was frequent of making springs of shoppings and spotted in expensive jewelry and perfume shops around the world and spending thousands of Euros on beauty creams, perfumes, jewelry among other beauty makeups.

In most of her shopping sprees, Zineb Jammeh was accompanied by her daughter Mariam Jammeh plus six or seven bodyguards including her Protocol Staff.  Both Zeinab and her daughter Mariam always purchased high price perfumes, makeups, beauty creams, colons and so forth.

Like her mum, Marima Jammeh too is into high spending. She grabbed so many expensive merchandises at the stops. It has always been nerve wrecking to Gambians seeing Zineb and her daughter Mariam making such expensive shopping. One even wonders whether these people are from an impoverished nation called The Gambia.

Gambia’s former strongman is no more in power

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Gambia’s former strongman is no more in power

Yahya Jammeh, former President of the Republic of The Gambia Saturday flew to Guinea Conakry into exile.

The former president who has been in power for the past 22 years, was defeated in the December 1 presidential polls. Mr. Jammeh was applaud for conceding defeat but later turned round to reject the results. The rejection of the results has created political standoff threatening to plunge the country into chaos.

The sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS has sent mediators headed by Nigeria’s President Buhari to resolve the crisis. The ECOWAS team of mediators came twice but failed in their efforts for peaceful transfer of power. The sub-regional bloc has taken measures to remove the loser through military intervention when he decided to change his mind after he called for the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania to negotiate for his exit.

When it was said the former president would leave the country today people came to witnessed his departure at Banjul International Airport. There was mixed feelings as the pro and anti supporters of the former leader met at the airport.

Meanwhile, white tainted vehicles were seen transporting luggage to the foot of the aircraft.

The reactions of the people were not happy. Some of them complained he should not be allowed to take out the wealth of the country.

Jammeh loyalists cry openly as strong man flies to exile

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Jammeh loyalists cry openly as strong man flies to exile

Dozens of loyalists of Gambia’s former President Yahya Jammeh and his APRC Party were openly crying at the Banjul International Airport as their strongman was flying into exile.

Many of his supporters including soldiers could not control their emotions as the former president entered the flight. They were crying openly and some of them fainted and rushed away in ambulances.

“He came to power without bloodshed and leaves power without bloodshed,” Mam Sai Njie, former Banjul Mayoress told the press while crying.

She said the former president does not deserve to be treated that way. She described the man as one of the greatest leaders of the land.

“Jammeh has made great developments in this country. He does not deserve to be treated like this way,” she said.

The security forces were harassing the press to move away while some military personnel were crying openly.

The Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces Ousman Badjie was seen counseling the crying soldiers. It was tense and emotional to see their longtime leader flown out of the country.

“We are proud of this man. We are going to missed him,” one Pa Sainey Badjie said.

Badjie said he came from Switzerland to witnessed the occasion. He said whoever the West called dictator is the best person for Africa. He was crying openly.

“I want to die for Oga,” a young lady exclaimed.

Meanwhile, the former president waved at the people as he entered the flight.

The Army Chief, Deputy IGP and Director of Prisons were at the airport to see him off.

Jammeh who wants to rule for a ‘Billion Years’ finally gone into exile

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Jammeh who wants to rule for a ‘Billion Years’ finally gone into exile

Gambia’s former President Yahya Jammeh who said was going to rule the tiny West African nation for a ‘billion years’ has finally flown out of the country and gone into exile after been defeated in recent elections that resulted to a heavy political impasse.

So far there has been no clear agreement on where he would go, with Morocco, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania all mentioned as possibilities by diplomats.

Mr Jammeh arrived at the Banjul International Airport at 20:35pm GMT dressed in his usual white glowing gown along with his wife, Zineb Jammeh and close aides travelling with him.

Mr Jammeh was on-board Mauritanian Presidential flight that came to pick him out along with his family and Guinean President Alpha Conde who spent the night in the country after convincing him to relinquish power after all failed attempts earlier.

Among the aides gone on exile with Jammeh includes General Saul Badjie, State Guards Commander, Oumpa Mendy, Personal Protection Officer, Amadou Joof, the ADC to the First Lady and even Jimbe Jammeh, a so-called protocol officer and relative of Mr Jammeh. They are all according to reports, allowed to go with their entire family members on exile.

Jammeh finally accepted to hand power peacefully to President Adama Barrow, who is waiting in neighbouring Senegal for the strongman of 22 years to leave.

Marathon talks on Friday with with Guinea’s Alpha Conde and Mauritania’s Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz yielded agreement that he would go, prompting President Conde to remained in Banjul until on Saturday to hammer out the finer details and fly out with Mr Jammeh.

The agreement “foresees the departure of Yahya Jammeh from The Gambia for an African country with guarantees for himself, his family and his relatives,” Mauritanian President Aziz said on return to Nouakchott in remarks quoted by the official AMI news agency.

Many Gambians are keen to see Jammeh who controlled and ruled the nation for 22 years with iron-fist be refused amnesty for crimes committed during his tenure, which was rife with rights abuses.

When Mr Jammeh arrives in Guinea today where he owns a house, he will have joined a long list of troubled former leaders the country has played host to such as Amilcal Cabral of Guinea Bissau to several Sierra Leonean leaders and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.

Gen. Saul Badjie, Jimbe Jammeh, Umpa Mendy, others to go on exile with Jammeh

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Gen. Saul Badjie, Jimbe Jammeh, Umpa Mendy, others to go on exile with Jammeh

Former President Yahya Jammeh who is leaving the country shortly is said to be travelling out on exile with most of his close aides, The Fatu Network can reveal.

Among the names mentioned are General Saul Badjie, State Guards Commander, Oumpa Mendy, Personal Protection Officer and even Jimbe Jammeh, a so-called protocol officer and relative of Mr Jammeh.

Its is also confirmed that Amadou Joof, the ADC to the First Lady is among those going on exile with Jammeh and his family. They are all according to reports, allowed to go with their entire family members on exile.

It is still not clear which country Mr Jammeh, family and close aides are going but all is set at the Banjul International Airport for them to travel out of the country today.

UPDATE: Guinean President running out of patience

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UPDATE: Guinean President running out of patience

The Guinean President, Alpha Conde who is currently in The Gambia as part of a mediation team dispatched to hold talks with Jammeh is said to be running out of patience with his host.

Conde who overnighted at the Coco Ocean resort and spa in Bijilo is getting tired of Jammeh’s waiting games sources told The Fatu Network.

‘Conde is in fact not feeling well, it is too bad that Jammeh kept him in the dark about their time of departure’ a source said.

The Muritanian President, Mohamed Ould Abel Aziz left Banjul last night after an agreement was reached for Jammeh to relinquish power.

His presidential aircraft is currently at the airport in Banjul waiting to takeoff for Guinea with both Jammeh and Alpha Conde.

UPDATE: Jammeh taking inventory of ‘belongings’

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UPDATE: Jammeh taking inventory of ‘belongings’

Former president Yahya Jammeh is said to have dispatched a team earlier Today to take inventory of his vehicles and animals before he leaves the shores of The Gambia, a security source informed the fatu Network.

“A team was at his garden gathering his animals to be sent to Kanilai and his cars.” The source disclosed.

The team’s first stop was in Farato from where they proceeded to his Siffoe Farms to take inventory of his cows.

The belongings which many say belongs to the state are to be kept in Kanilai, his home village until he is ready to move them again.

The former president himself later joined the team at early hours of the morning to make sure that everything was put in place.

Meanwhile, the expected departure time for Jammeh and a few security officers was scheduled at 4pm Gambian time which has elapsed. We continue monitoring.

EU confirms full support to President Barrow

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EU confirms full support to President Barrow

The European Union has renewed its fullest support to Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow two days after been sworn-in at the Gambian embassy in Senegal.

 

This was contained in a joint statement on Saturday by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and the Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica on the latest developments in The Gambia.

 

The statement reads: “Today the will of the Gambian people is being respected and the way for President Adama Barrow cleared. The positive and peaceful outcome of the post-electoral stalemate in The Gambia is the result of extraordinary regional and international coordinated efforts with ECOWAS in the lead. We confirm our full support to President Barrow and reaffirm the European Union’s readiness to assist The Gambia and its people”.

 

Meanwhile, the EU joint statement came just after long time President Yahya Jammeh in a late Friday night address announced he is relinquishing power after intense negotiation which if had failed would pave the way for the military force to invade and get him out.

Muritania 1 landed at The Banjul International Airport

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Muritania 1 landed at The Banjul International Airport

Muritania 1 landed at The Banjul International Airport in the early hours of Saturday morning after it dropped off President Abel Aziz to pick up Jammeh and Alpha Conde, The Guinean President. The aircraft is still in Banjul and there is no word as to when Conde and Jammeh will leave. We are still monitoring for you.

Yahya Jammeh finally relinquishes power

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Yahya Jammeh finally relinquishes power

Gambia’s defeated President Yahya Jammeh has finally announced that he has relinquished power.

In a late night speech on state television, GRTS, Mr Jammeh said his first preoccupation as president and commander-in-chief and as patriot is to preserve at any instance and circumstances, the life of Gambians. He said he has always tried to maintain peace and security of the nation.

This decision came following rigorous and intense negotiation over the past weeks by ECOWAS for him to hand over power peacefully after losing the December 1st elections to Adama Barrow who was sworn-in on Thursday at the Gambian embassy in Dakar.

Though attempts by ECOWAS failed but on Friday, January 20, 2017, the President of Guinea Alpha Conde and Mauritanian President Muhamad Abdul Ould Aziz were in the country to give peace a last chance which prompted ECOWAS to halt its military intervention.

According to Jammeh, for the past 22 years, Allah has permitted him to exercise power saying the people put power on him to protect the nation. He said the Gambia always stay exception from other nations especially the maintenance of peace and security.

“I think it is unnecessary for a single blood be drop. I promise that all the issue we currently facing will be resolve peacefully. Therefore, I thank Allah, not a single causality has been registered. I ever believe in dialogue. It is as a result of these I am relinquishing the mantle of leadership of this country” he said.

Jammeh thanked Gambians and all friends of the Gambia saying he puts above the independent and proud people of the Gambia at first and will defend the independent and peace of the country.

He then made it clear that his decision is not dictated by anyone or force but for the interest of the Gambian people.

“At a time when we witnessing trouble in other parts of the world, the peace of this country should be guarded. I am proud to serve my country” he said.

He thanked the Gambian people in particular the security forces, APRC Party militants and the National Assembly for the confidence bestowed upon him and the loyal support for the past 22 years. He also thanked his mother, wife and children for all the prayers over the years.

Military intervention

A regional military force dubbed ‘Operation Restore Democracy’, was launched shortly after the former opposition figure was sworn in. The operation was aimed at installing the country’s new president, Adama Barrow, who was sworn-in on Thursday at the Gambian Embassy in neighboring Dakar, Senegal and flush out longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh was defiant to hand over power peacefully after losing the December 1st elections.

Gambia’s Jammeh announced he is leaving, says decision not dictated to him

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Gambia’s Jammeh announced he is leaving, says decision not dictated to him

Guinean President Conde overnighting in Banjul, agreement reportedly reached

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Guinean President Conde overnighting in Banjul, agreement reportedly reached

Guinean President Alpha Condeh is spending the night in Banjul after a day-long negotiation with Gambia’s former President Yahya Jammeh. He will leave the country on Saturday.

President Conde was in the Gambia with Mauritanian President Muhamad Ould Abdel Aziz negotiating with Mr Jammeh to peacefully hand over power to President Adama Barrow who was sworn-in on Thursday in Senegal.

It is not clear if Mauritanian President Aziz will also spent the night in Banjul.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports have it that defeated President Yahya Jammeh has finally agreed to cede power to the newly sworn-in President Adama Barrow and fine details are being finalized for his departure on Saturday.

Earlier, the Red Carpet roll down to welcome and see off visiting dignitaries at the Banjul International Airport was folded off by soldiers and taken away, the Army Band disappeared from the airport, showing signs that the visiting leaders did not finish their mission and might not be flying out of the country anytime now.

Friday talks followed a halt on military intervention by the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS, to give peace a last chance and allow Presidents Conde and Aziz to convince Mr Jammeh.

A regional military force dubbed ‘Operation Restore Democracy’, was launched shortly after the former opposition figure was sworn in. The operation is aimed at installing the country’s new president, Adama Barrow, who was sworn-in on Thursday at the Gambian Embassy in neighboring Dakar, Senegal and flush out longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh who remains defiant to hand over power peacefully after losing the December 1st elections.

ECOWAS Commission President Marcel de Souza who ordered the halt on military intervention to give peace a chance earlier said “We think that up until the last minute there is still a solution through dialogue. It’s out of the question that he stays in place. … We propose that he leaves in an honorable manner and with respect,” said de Souza, explaining the decision to suspend the advance to reporters in Dakar late on Thursday.

De Souza said a total of 7,000 troops from Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Mali would be involved in the operation. Troops had already entered Gambia from the southeast, southwest and north before they were ordered to stop.

‘Today is D-Day’- Halifa Sallah

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‘Today is D-Day’- Halifa Sallah

Halifa Sallah, the spokesperson of President Adama Barrow government on Friday said today is the last day to end the negotiations or go to war to the country’s political impasse.

Speaking at a press conference at Kairaba Beach Hotel, Sallah said the Presidents of Guinea and Mauritania together with the UN representative came to the country to negotiate for the last time.

“If they succeed, Gambians will experience a peaceful transfer of executive power. If they fail to succeed, the contest of legitimacy will be decided through confrontation of military power” Coalition spokesperson said.

Halifa Sallah told journalist that this is a defining moment for the country’s security chiefs to take stance for their country or go against their people. He said if they fail to stand for their people the ECOWAS forces would fight them. He urged them to remain committed to the republic.

“The key to end the war and peaceful transfer of power is left to our security forces,” he interjected.

The Coalition Spokesperson said the ECOWAS troops are around the country’s borders, adding that the sub-regional bloc is fully supporting the presidency of Adama Barrow.

“The contest of legitimacy may either be resolved through negotiations or war. That is the current fate of the Gambia,” he pointed out.

At this juncture, someone said Mai Ahmed Fatty, a lead figure in the coalition has stated moments back on TFM Senegalese broadcaster that the former Gambian president has agreed to step down and leave the country. Sallah said it would be improper to make that announcement.

“It is more honourable for Jammeh and negotiators to make that announcement themselves and ECOWAS should make a communique,” he added.

Meanwhile, earlier today the negotiators have met Jammeh at State House in Banjul. They later went to their hotel at Coco Ocean but expected to make statement.

Red carpet folded at airport; Army Band disappeared; mediating presidents still in town

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Red carpet folded at airport; Army Band disappeared; mediating presidents still in town

The Red Carpet roll down to welcome and see off visiting dignitaries at the Banjul International Airport has just been folded off by soldiers and taken away, a sign that the visiting mediating President’s are not going out of the country anytime soon.

The Army Band has also reportedly disappeared from the airport since, showing signs that the visiting leaders did not finish their mission and might not be flying out of the country anytime now.

President of Guinea Alpha Conde and Mauritanian President Muhamad Ould Abdel Aziz are currently in the country negotiating with Mr Jammeh to peacefully hand over power to President Adama Barrow who was sworn-in on Thursday in Senegal.

There are reports that the convoy of the visiting Presidents has left the State House after a whole day long talks with former President Yahya Jammeh. Nothing was clear as to what has been agreed so far but the leaders are currently at the Coco Ocean Hotel.

What is clear is that Mr Jammeh’s mother Aja Asombi Bojang and former Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy are attending the talks, all geared towards convincing Mr Jameh to step aside.

CDS Ousman Badgie tells Gambians to stay calm their safety is guaranteed

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CDS Ousman Badgie tells Gambians to stay calm their safety is guaranteed
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