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More than 4 Gambians deported from USA arrive home

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More than four Gambian deportees from the United States of America arrived back home in The Gambia late Wednesday, The Fatu Network can revealed.

 

According to our sources, the deportees where jetted into the Banjul International Airport in a special aircraft and disclosed that over 700 Gambian would-be-deportees are also on their way coming in the next few days.

 

As many as 1,800 Gambian citizens are said to be illegal immigrants in the US and awaiting deportation.

 

It is reported that there is a special delegation from the US in Banjul to Gambia authorities.

 

Earlier this year, The Gambia refused to accept all the deportees from the US insisting that not everyone is a Gambian as there where no proof of citizenship.

 

This move by the Gambia government prompted the US in October 2015, to pull the trigger in denying visa to employees of the Gambia government, employees of certain entities associated with the government, and their spouses and children, with limited exceptions.

 

This was said to be a punishment following the government’s refusal to accept people the U.S. was trying to deport.

 

US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson took the decisive move after years of prodding by lawmakers on Capitol Hill, signing a letter triggering the law that requires a halt in visas to countries that are refusing to accept their own citizens.

 

Under the law, the State Department had no choice but to comply and informed the Gambian government of the move on Saturday, October 1st, 2016.

 

“As of October 1, 2016, the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia has discontinued visa issuance to employees of the Gambian government, employees of certain entities associated with the government, and their spouses and children, with limited exceptions,” a State Department said.

 

The Obama administration’s move marks the first time it has used Section 243(d) of the immigration code, and it comes as both Democrats and Republicans have called for the U.S. to get tough on foreign countries that don’t take back their citizens.

 

The only time this law has been used before was against Guyana in 2001 and it produced full cooperation in less than two months. The Bush administration pulled the trigger on denying visas to Guyana. Of a backlog of 113 immigrants, 112 of them were processed and deported within two months, and the U.S. quickly lifted its punishment.

 

Meanwhile, statistics revealed that as many as 1,800 Gambian citizens are in the backlog and The Gambia is ranked 11th on list of countries that don’t want to take back their citizens.

Yahya Jammeh fires NBR Governor, Ballanghar chief for poor turnout in region’s meetings

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By Alhagie Jobe

Gambia’s dictator Yahya Jammeh has sacked the Governor of North Bank Region Lamin Queen Jammeh and the chief of Ballanghar, Ali Gaye, after a total failure of his campaign in the area, sources have confirmed to The Fatu Network.

 

According to our sources, President Jammeh fired the governor and chief, blaming them entirely for the failure of the region and district to show up massively to welcome him and attend his meetings in North Bank Region particularly in Farrafenni where he held a meeting on Tuesday during his ongoing campaign.

 

Lamin Queen Jammeh was appointed on February 10 2012 as governor of the provincial-North Bank Region of The Gambia. He was the chief of the Upper Nuimi District prior to his promotion as governor, replacing Edward Seckan who was governor for six years.

 

Chief Ali Gaye of Ballanghar is among the longest serving chiefs in Central River Region North.

 

Meanwhile, there are no immediate replacements confirmed but it is no wonder that Mr Jammeh and his delegation are encountering the worst ever political campaign and poorest turnout in the country since 1996.

 

Gambians go to the polls on 1st December 2016 in which Mr Jammeh is seeking a fifth term. He is been challenged by a very strong opposition and committed coalition ready to unseat him.

Political intimidation in Jalambang; Alkalo threatens villagers who won’t vote for Jammeh

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There are reports of political intimidation at Jalambang Village in Kombo Central, West Coast Region, involving the Alkalo against the villagers, The Fatu Network can report.

 

According to information received by this medium, the Alkalo, Lamin Mondo Jatta, called the villagers to a meeting in his home to brief them about President Jammeh’s campaign, welcoming preparation and the new NAWEC poles brought in the village. The Alkalo according to sources used the opportunity to inform the gathering not to vote for the opposition saying whoever votes for them would not enjoy electricity and water supply.

 

“He told us not to attend the meeting of the opposition in the village” one of the distraught villagers told this medium.

 

Sources revealed that Alkalo Jatta who is also the chief driver at the Central Bank told villagers that a total of 250 electricity poless were brought to the village and whoever vote for the opposition will not enjoy from the electricity and water supply project.

Efforts to reach the alkalo for comments proof futile.

Gambia Transport Union President decries frustrating working conditions of truck drivers

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Ousman Drammeh, the President of the Gambia National Transport Agriculture Food and Industrial Workers Union has decried the frustrating working conditions of commercial truck drivers in The Gambia over the months saying over one hundred drivers are now sitting down without working.

 

At a press conference in his office on Tuesday, Mr Drammeh highlighted the ‘tormenting condition’ of commercial truck drivers in the country.

 

He said Gambian truck drivers are marginalized in favour of foreign operators in the transportation of merchandise and the union is denied its responsibility of issuing manifesto to cargo brokers.

 

“Could you imagine, Senegalese authorities are the ones issuing manifests to drivers in our own port” he said.

 

He noted the frustration on the lack of cooperation by the Ministry of Trade saying the Union has not been able to carry out its functions regarding the operation of commercial trucks.

 

Drammeh added that the Union is also faced with vehicle loading cargo in transit through Senegal which he said is been loaded by Senegalese cargo brokers.

 

“This has resulted to a great lost in revenue to The Gambian truck drivers who have been continuously marginalized in favor of foreign operators” he said.

 

He then confirmed that this is the biggest threat on the union since its existence in 1986.

Nollywood celebrities in Gambia with Yahya Jammeh on campaign trail

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By Alhagie Jobe

 

Prominent Nollywood celebrities have been flown into The Gambia by incumbent President Yahya Jammeh to support his campaign for re-election.

 

Among the group of celebrities is Angela Okorie, a model, producer, singer and actor who posted a video on her Facebook Fan Page saying she is in The Gambia with colleagues on the president’s tour.

 

She said “On the Gambia presidential tour with my colleaques, for His Excellency Sheikh Prof.Dr.Alhaji.Yaya AJJ Jammeh Babilimansa” he is the man of the people trust me”.

 

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Nollywood actors have ever been accused of scavenging on Gambia’s meagre resources by frequently visiting Gambia and meeting Mr Jammeh privately and publicly.

 

In October 2015, President Jammeh presented plots of land to some top Nollywood stars and Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah. The beneficiaries of the land gifts included Francis Duru, Segun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda, Patience Ozokwor, Eucharia Anunobi, Ejike Asiegbu,Tony Umez, Ngozi Ezeonu, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya), Harry B. Anyanwu, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, Rukiat Masud and Ghanaian sultry actress, Jackie Appiah.

 

Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy represented the lands to the actors at a presentation ceremony held at the presidential palace in Banjul.

The land gifts later generated a lot of reactions in Nigeria and The Gambia.

 

Credible sources close to The Presidency say each time Nollywood actors travel to The Gambia, dictator Jammeh pays for the entire trip at the expense of Gambian tax payers. Before the Nigerians, celebrities from Senegal, Mali and other parts of the world were frequent in The Gambia over the past years.

“The Last Time I saw This Kind Of Crowd Was During The 2001 Elections” A Fruit Sellers Tells The Fatu Network

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Thousands of people were out in the streets of Banjul wednesday afternoon, November 16, 2016 to join the coalition flag-bearer Adama Barrow as he embarks on day one of his presidential campaign.’Gele geles’ and passenger vehicles carrying supporters were seen heading to The Banjul Ferry Terminal where Barrow and his delegation gathered shortly before boarding the ferry to The North Bank Region.

 

Speaking to our reporters on the ground, Isatou Bah, a fruit seller at Westfield said the entourage she saw passing around Westfield was a big one. She said she has not seen this kind of crowd since 2001 election. “I have seen more than sixty gele geles at westfield plus about 30 more at Tallinding.

 

I’ve seen others coming from Brikama,” said one Principal Education Officer who preferred to remain anonymous. He said he was not sure whether all the vehicles in the entourage would be able to cross at the terminal on the same day. However, Fanta Janneh, a young woman residing at Latri Kunda said she only wished that Mamma Kandeh and his supporters were part of the coalition. She said they should continue talking to him so he can join them. Fanta added that with what she saw today, she may support the coalition before the elections.

 

Buba Saidy, a timber dealer said the crowd is important but what matters most is the casting votes. “There are six votes in my compound. We will all vote for the coalition,” he said. Meanwhile, he called on the opposition supporters to come out and vote massively.

Detained photographer Alhagie Manka released

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By Alhagie Jobe

 

Alhagie Manka, a freelance journalist, documentary producer and CEO of State of Mic Multimedia has been released from state custody on Wednesday after a week’s incommunicado detention.

 

Mr Manka was arrested on Thursday November 10, and detained at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters in Banjul for taking photos of the crowd that accompanied the President during his nomination process.

 

In a short chat after been released, Manka said “Yes it is confirmed. It’s crazy but all is well”. This was followed by another phone call to further confirm whether it was him using his Facebook account and it was indeed him and has reunited with his family.

 

On his twitter page, Manka tweeted“#alhamdulillah thank you all for your prayers” with a photo of him and his brother Babucarr Manka all smiling widely.

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Manka was not the only journalist arrested for taking photographs of the presidential activities. Another journalist Yunus Salieu, of the pro-government newspaper was also arrested same day for using his phone to photograph sympathizers of the ruling APRC Party who were celebrating at President Jammeh’s nomination. He was released later on Friday, while Manka was still detained at the NIA headquarters.

 

Meanwhile, the director of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) Momodou Sabally who was relieved of his duties on 8th November is still held at the NIA.

 

Another journalist Bakary Fatty of the same state owned GRTS is also detained at the NIA since Tuesday 8th November. There has been no news about the reasons behind their arrests and detention.

 

On Tuesday, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed concern about the threats, arrests and detention faced by journalists in The Gambia ahead of the general elections scheduled to take place on 1st December.

 

IFJ said the detention of these journalists is in violation of the Gambia Constitution which states that “anyone arrested on suspicion of committing an offence must be brought before a competent court of law within 72 hours or released on bail”.

 

It called on the government of The Gambia to uphold press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists while covering the election campaign as well as the entire election process.

Gambia’s opposition coalition hits the campaign trail

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By Alhagie Jobe

 

The coalition of opposition parties in The Gambia on Wednesday began its two weeks nationwide campaign ahead of Presidential elections slated for 1st December.

 

The coalition comprising of six opposition parties and an Independent Candidate elected Adama Barrow as its standard bearer to face incumbent President Yahya Jammeh who has rule the tiny West African nation for the past 22 years.

 

With an amazing and extra-ordinary crowd, the entourage departed from the Buffer Zone in Tallinding, headed to Banjul Ferry terminal and crossed over to rural Gambia. Thousands of Gambians from all walks of life escorted the delegation from Tallinding with drums, banners, blowing whistles up to the Banjul Ferry Terminal.

 

Despite the late crossing to Barra due to the massive number of people, vehicles and limited ferries, the coalition delegation received a tumultuous welcome in Barra and surrounding villages. Thousands of people came out in support of the coalition and chanting ‘we need change’.

 

The coalition in its first day is to hold meetings in Essau, Lamin (Nuimi), Pakau Njogou, Ndungu Kebbeh, Kerr Omar Saine, Darsilameh and a night stop in Kerewan, North Bank Region

 

During the two-week campaigning, politicians will be criss-crossing the length and breadth of the country to sell their agendas, programs of development etc.

 

Campaigning ends on 29th, November 2016.

IFJ raises concern about safety of journalist in Gambia ahead of election

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By Alhagie Jobe

 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have expressed concerns about the threats, arrests and detention faced by journalists in The Gambia ahead of the general elections scheduled to take place on 1st December.

 

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the global voice of journalists which represents more than 600,000 journalists with over 179 affiliated organizations in 140 countries called on the government of The Gambia to uphold press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists throughout the election period.

 

“We call on the government of The Gambia to uphold press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists while covering the election campaign as well as the entire election process,” said IFJ President, Philippe Leruth.

 

The call by IFJ came a week after freelance journalist and documentary producer, Alagi Manka and journalist Yunus Salieu of the Daily Observer were arrested on Thursday 10 November and detained overnight at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters in Banjul.

 

Yunus was arrested by the soldiers for using his phone to photograph sympathizers of the ruling APRC Party who were celebrating at President Jammeh’s nomination while Alagi Manka was arrested for snapping the crowd of the President Jammeh’s sympathizers. Yunus was released later on Friday, while Manka was still detained at the NIA headquarters.

 

Meanwhile, the director of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) Mr Momodou Sabally was relieved of his duties on 8 November and has since been held at the NIA. The journalist Bakary Fatty of the same state owned GRTS has also been in NIA custody since Tuesday 8 November.

 

“There has been no news about the reasons and causes of their arrest and detention. The detention of these journalists is in violation of the Gambia Constitution which states that “anyone arrested on suspicion of committing an offence must be brought before a competent court of law within 72 hours or released on bail” the IFJ concluded.

Gambia’s presidential election campaign kicks-off

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By Alhagie Jobe

Campaign for the forthcoming presidential election in The Gambia officially begins today, Wednesday, November 16th, 2016.

 

The Gambia goes to the polls on December 1st, 2016 in which incumbent President Yahya Jammeh is seeking for a fifth term.

 

Two other presidential aspirants are facing Mr Jammeh who has ruled the small West African nation for 22 years in which Gambians suffer arbitrary arrests, tortures, detentions, disappearances etc.

 

A coalition led by Adama Barrow that is comprising six political parties and an Independent Candidate and another lone candidate Mama Kandeh of the Gambia Democratic Congress are challenging Mr Jammeh who is the standard bearer of his ruling APRC party which has been in power since 1994.

 

Meanwhile, Incumbent and APRC’s candidate Yahya Jammeh has since Monday began his campaign, defying the electoral commission’s set date to start.

 

During the ten days campaigning, politicians will be criss-crossing the length and breadth of the country to sell their agendas, programs of development etc. Campaigning ends on 29th, November 2016.

 

It is widely believed that incumbent President Jammeh will lose this year’s elections as Gambians all over are calling for change to end the dictatorship in the country.

 

Gambia has been described by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International as a country with one of the worst human rights records African continent. The government continues to infringed on privacy rights, restricted freedom of speech and shown little or no respect for the fundamental human rights of Gambian citizens. Arbitrary arrests and detentions have increased; security forces continue to harass and mistreat detainees, prisoners, opposition members, journalists, and civilians with impunity.

Gambia: Three Journalists Arrested as Campaign Begins

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By Human Rights Watch

 

(Nairobi) – Gambian authorities arbitrarily detained three journalists just days before the November 16 start of the two-week presidential election campaign, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should appropriately charge or release the journalists and ensure that Gambian and international media can operate without fear of harassment or arbitrary arrest.

On November 8, officials from Gambia’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) arrested the director-general of Gambia’s state television and radio broadcaster, Momodou Sabally, along with his colleague Bakary Fatty. NIA officers arrested Alhagie Manka, an independent photojournalist, on November 10. All three have yet to appear in court, in violation of Gambian law.

“The Gambian government’s arrest of three journalists before the start of the presidential election campaign could have a chilling effect on the media’s ability to fairly cover the election,” said Babatunde Olugboji, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch. “Intimidation and threats against the media need to stop for voters to be able to make informed decisions.”

The December 1 presidential election will mark the fifth time that incumbent President Yayha Jammeh has sought a new five-year term since coming to power in a 1994 coup. Human Rights Watch raised concerns about the fairness of the election in a November 2 report.

Local activists told Human Rights Watch that Gambia Radio and Television Services employees believe that Sabally was arrested because the station broadcast video footage of an opposition candidate’s nomination at the time when the station was scheduled to cover an agricultural initiative led by the first lady, Zineb Jammeh. Fatty, a reporter at the station, was arrested at the station’s headquarters on the same day as Sabally.

Gambian journalists reported that NIA officers arrested Manka on November 10, in a suburb of Banjul, the capital. None of the three detained journalists have appeared before a judge, despite a provision in the Gambian constitution requiring that anyone arrested or detained be brought to court within 72 hours.

During the two-week election campaign, Gambia’s Independent Election Commission grants all parties the right to equal airtime on state television and radio. Several Gambian journalists told Human Rights Watch that they were concerned that the arrests would discourage the state broadcaster from ensuring fair and impartial coverage of opposition parties during the election campaign.

Gambia’s election campaign began with 30 opposition supporters, including the leader of the United Democratic Party, the largest opposition party, serving three-year prison terms for their role in peaceful protests in April. Another 14 opposition activists are on trial in relation to a May 9 protest. Omar Malleh Jabang, a businessman and opposition supporter, was arrested and detained on November 10, and has since been held incommunicado without charge. An opposition leader told Human Rights Watch that Jabang had been providing financial and material support to opposition parties.

“Fair elections are only possible if all candidates and parties can freely campaign and journalists can report freely,” Olugboji said. “The Gambian government and security forces need to allow everyone to make their voices heard during the election campaign.”

A regime that acrimoniously hunted all Gambians nightmare dreams into reality does not deserve another chance

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Yaya Jammeh’s regime for twenty-two years, refused to set the table for situations of caring and placing the mechanisms of trust that galvanizes Gambia to prosper and its citizens to thrive. Instead, the regime continues to put up a model of combativeness, isolation and promotes distrust among Gambians — so that we do not move beyond the depression of dictatorship. Dictatorship in Gambia continues to be a disastrous toxic flash flood that— sweeps away the all our opportunities, widens our worries, cracks all the pillars of our nationhood, reveals all the nations incomprehensible weakness and separated us from the rest of the world. Our Nation have been marginalized. Our people feel commonly invisible among other things because— the regime decided to endeavor into adventures that largely abandons the ordinary Gambian. It’s quite an issue that— now our communities are laced with enormous problems which reduced us to begin our prayers with complains, instead of thankfulness. In a strange surprise that the regime brought along a host of consequences including — embarrassing Scandals filled to the brim, bloated policies that tears our fabrics of societies and growing a laundry list of humiliations that continues to fall on us like dominoes stacked together.

 

 

To this day, Gambians cannot find a passion because we have a leader who is always actively looking for an isolation exit on anything that unites us. Our codes of etiquette, our shared morals among ourselves are replaced by penchant for cruelty— and a kind of selfishness that encourages preying on the weak. More than anything, they have successfully inculcated a culture of partisanship above our virtues— that made us once an exceptional nation in the past. Yaya Jammeh continues to twist the minds of Gambians— for him to continue to serve the bad system that is— destructive to our values of neighborliness, tolerance, care for each other and sweep along truncated watered down versions. The elation that so many Gambians hope for in a leader — even showing basic values that he cared for all Gambians, is missing in his personality. The regime’s use of power to settle political scores is now obviously not to the taste of many Gambians but— that is what pleases Yaya Jammeh. He makes sure he dresses in different layers of clothes, drive the widest hummer truck in the country and enjoy the best dishes of healthy food. Yet, he ensures political detainees in mile-2 are deprived of sleep in squalid cells, denied clean clothes and given barely edible food.

 

 

Meanwhile, we aren’t allowed to be openhearted and open-minded because dictatorship see us as objects to be used, but not as unique citizens. Our feelings are all self-enclosed because everywhere you turn — there is an NIA or a soldier with a gun listening to our conversations. We have to constantly nurture our hopes, swallow our pains and must guard-down our posture because we always have to overcome moments of betrayal. Today, Gambians have seen fresh hand, how the APRC regime reacts to political stampede by its leader resorting to extremely radical statements— promoting disunity and his utter contempt for disregard of Gambian lives. Our country is certainly awash in distrust with stories of betrayal and broken promises. Ironically, they only use compassionate words when they have to deliver bad news— to buffet all the trends that will lead to Gambians turn our backs on them. The sad thing is— some Gambians seem to have settled into comfortable denial about these painful reminders, despite all evidence and caution notwithstanding.

 

 

Gambians cannot reconnect with the living center of the national story nor the struggles of our founders because dictatorship erases our memory with fear and shredded all the standards of intellectual virtue and replaced it with incompetent. The Regime have long thrived on devaluing their contributions to our nation, menacingly transformed our neighborhoods by —renaming our streets among themselves and delegitimized our concerns by— refusing to look down on their noses to see our problems. Yahya Jammeh made it clear that— he is determine to erased our dignity such a way that we question the basic decency of others. The story of one Mr. Marong —whom was arrested during the April 16 th demonstrations, lost his eye sight because he is constantly kept in dark cell and denied proper medical operations —by armed guards working under the directives of the regime. As Gambians, we can’t even imagine that —minds within our midst could conceive such barbarism towards our fellow citizens.

 

 

The concern most Gambian have about this regime is — it has not only hoard everything that belongs to the nation away from us, nor willing to lightening up on their destructive policies, but they always want to convinced a whole swath of the country that they are morally superior. The need for a course correction remains to be seen with this regime after 22 years in power. Gambia is thanklessly seeking for a change. Yaya Jammeh’s unfinished wishes or his goals aren’t exactly worth us lapsing back into dictatorship into 2017 upcoming year. Gambia have been chocking with pain of dictatorship and it time to cough it all up December 1st inside the polling station. Let’s all encourage our families to vote for the coalition candidate— Adama Barrow.

 

By Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

UN says Gambia’s withdrawal from ICC will take effect November 10, 2017

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By Alhagie Jobe

The United Nations has confirmed it has received the official notification from The Gambia of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

 

UN spokesman Farhan Haq said on Monday that the withdrawal will take effect on November 10th, 2017, making it the third to quit the Hague-based court.

 

In late October, Gambia’s Information Minister Sheriff Bojang announced the withdrawal on state TV, GRTS, and described the ICC as “an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans.”

 

This receipt of notification came a day after a nine-month old TV interview by court’s current chief prosecutor and Gambian-born Fatou Bensouda with the German international broadcaster DW TV Journalist Tim Sebastian went viral after she was sculled for giving a deaf ear to the crimes been committed by President Jammeh and his administration.

 

Bensouda who was onetime adviser to Mr Jammeh in the early years of his rule after he seized power in a coup in 1994 served as Solicitor General and later Justice Minister before obtaining international appointment.

 

The Gambia’s withdrawal from the ICC followed the same move by Burundi and South Africa who both notified the United Nations in October of their withdrawal from the court, which will take effect in one year as well.

 

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed regret that South Africa, Burundi and Gambia are leaving the ICC and said it could “send a wrong message on these countries’ commitment to justice.”

 

Several African countries have since threatened a withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, accusing the court of disproportionately targeting the continent.

 

The ICC which opened in July 2002 and has 124 member states is the first legal body with permanent international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is been accused of biased towards Africans.

Yahya Jammeh begins re-election campaign defying IEC starting date

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By Alhagie Jobe

 

Gambia’s incumbent President Yahya Jammeh and presidential candidate of the APRC party on Monday kicked-off his nationwide campaign for re-election, two days ahead of official starting date as declared by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

 

Campaigning for the upcoming presidential election as officially declared by the electoral body should start on Wednesday, November 16th, 2016 and according to the electoral laws, no party or candidate has the right to go in for campaign ahead of the official starting date.

 

Many political analysts say this clearly shows that Mr Jammeh has no regards for the electoral laws and the electoral body by starting his campaign ahead of official starting date.

 

Mr Jammeh who is seeking for a fifth term in office has rule the small West African nation for the past 22 years with fear. He is been challenged by a very popular and strong opposition coalition comprising of seven political parties and an Independent Candidate and another lone party, the Gambia Democratic Congress Party of Mama Kandeh.

 

Last Thursday, Jammeh submitted his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) like Mama Kandeh of GDC and Adama Barrow of the coalition who also submitted their nomination papers earlier in the same week.

 

Meanwhile, the IEC has announced the approval of the nominations of the three aspiring candidates in the upcoming election.

 

During the campaign period, the three aspiring presidential candidates will criss-cross the entire nation to sell out their development plans to the people for either change or maintaining the same regime.

 

Mr Jammeh is widely believed to lose this year’s elections as the opposition coalition is looking stronger than the ruling party.

 

Gambia under the presidency of Mr Jammeh has the worst human rights violation records in the continent. The government has infringed on privacy rights, restricted freedom of speech and shown little or no respect for the fundamental human rights of Gambian citizens. Arbitrary arrests and detentions have increased; security forces continue to harass and mistreat detainees, prisoners, opposition members, journalists, and civilians with impunity.

The Gambia’s Constitution Disqualifies Mama Kandeh

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First of all, I believe that the Gambia’s constitution disqualifies Mr Mama Kandeh to be president . This is based on the simple reason that Mr Kandeh failed to fulfill the requirements of a being high school or senior secondary school graduate. According to 1997 constitution part 1:

 

(1c) A person shall be qualified for election as president if: he or she has completed a senior secondary school education; and

 

(1d) He or she is qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly.

 

Part (3) went further to state disqualifying factors: A person, while holding public office in The Gambia has been;

 

(3a). Compulsorily retired , terminated or dismissed from such office or

 

(3b). Has been found guilty of any criminal offense by any court or tribunal established by law; or

 

(3c). Has been found liable for misconduct, negligence, corruption or improper behavior by any commission or committee of inquiry established by law shall not be qualified for election as president.

 

As far as education requirement is concerned, Mama Kandeh has never attended high school or senior secondary in The Gambia, therefore he is not qualified to run for office of presidency. When Mama Kandeh was in the National Assembly, he was dismissed and expelled by president Jammeh from the APRC which resulted to his lost of public office. The question which is very essential to ask ” why Mama Kandeh was dismissed and expelled from his former party , APRC?”. Was it because of improper behavior, corruption or misconduct as it has been rumored in many places? These are the most important questions which must be answered by president Jammeh and APRC . If Mama Kandeh was dismissed from public office because of corruption, improper behavior or misconduct from the investigative result of established APRC committee then it is violation of our constitution to let Mr Kandeh contest for election for the office of presidency.
I believe that Mama Kandeh is not qualified to contest presidential election if our constitutional provisions are strictly and truly adhered to for the common interest of Gambian people.

 

The office of presidency is the highest political office in The Gambia. The office of presidency should be occupied by someone with exceptional moral leadership values, skills and responsibility. He or She must be someone with highest Moral standing with strong sense of conviction to pursue the common interest of Gambian people. Mama Kandeh has failed to show moral leadership when he was in the National Assembly. He has given blind eye to atrocities committed by Jammeh’s regime.Mr Kandeh has supported and advocated for all the repressive laws which oppresses and violates the constitutional rights of Gambian people. Therefore , he is not different from Dictator Jammeh as far as his political belief and leadership values are concerned.

 

In open and democratic society, Mama Kandeh is not even qualified to be elected in local city council because he lacks basic leadership qualities such as empathy, humility, reliability, visionary and problem solving skills. Mr Kandeh spend ten years in the National Assembly without advocating and supporting any laws which advance our democracy or economic well being. Why would Gambians even listen to Mama Kandeh as he never truly care about their economic development and constitutional rights. Mama Kandeh is simply a political opportunist and an agent of dictatorship. He and Dictator Jammeh continue to be in bed for the exploitation of Gambian resources so that the oppression of ordinary citizens can continue. Both Jammeh and Kandeh do not care about rampant corruption and lawlessness in The Gambia.

 

Mama Kandeh has questionable qualifications and leadership skills which truly disqualified him as a leader of a political party much more to be president of The Gambia. In essence,Mama Kandeh is the most disqualified presidential candidate in the history of The Gambia.

 

Please publish. Gambians need to know why he was dismissed and expelled from APRC.
Thank you .

Maxs

Mama Kandeh can Upset the Presidential Election

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By Sait Matty Jaw

 

On 1st December Gambians will head to the polls to elect a president. Most if not everyone agrees that this election will either shape or break Gambia. It is no longer doing business as usual. Gambians both at home and abroad have grown bolder and stronger over the course of Jammeh and APRC‘s 22 years rule. If the APRC was successful in any way, it was putting fear into Gambians for so long that Gambians are now resilient to fear. The evidence is in the number of people that have piled the roads since April 2016 to demand the state to arrest them or even use violence against them. It is also the number of people that rally and openly defect to the opposition political parties. Indeed the Gambia is changing and changing fast.

 

So, this election we have three presidential candidates: the incumbent dictator president Jammeh, Adama Barrow for the opposition coalition and Mama Kandeh of the GDC or aka the “new boy”. I have nothing to say about Jammeh. Everything I say will be repetition and I have neither the time nor the patience to indulge in such. I am happy that after 20 years, the traditional political parties are finally involved in politics and not radical activism. Politics is about compromise. It requires vision and foresight. To give away some and receive some at another time. Our parties have never been able to do this whilst knowing that the electoral system is not in their favor. So, we are grateful that they are finally able to put aside their so called differences and have decided to come together for Gambia and her people. The third candidate Mama Kandeh has received wide criticism mostly from diaspora Gambians. He has been seen as a spoiler. In fact, he seems to be the Donald Trump of Gambian politics at this stage. Only that he is way more sensible and better looking. He also has a great posture and proper message that he is able to sell to the real people that matter for his campaign – the voters. We’ve seen the crowd he is pulling and yet we are in denial, we continue to reject him, calling him names and accusing him of been funded by Jammeh. For me all these things are not new in Gambian politics. It has been the epicenter of our politics. I am not sure if it will ever change. However, I think when we engage in such deliberations we always miss the bigger picture.

 

 

Let me be clear. This is not an endorsement of Kandeh or his GDC party. I am all for coalition. I have voted coalition in 2011 and will vote it again and again. However, we must understand what is happening and accept the fact that GDC can upset the elections.

 

Mama Kandeh is real. We must wake up to that fact. He is here to stay and he has his own strategy and his ways of politicking should not be brushed aside. It is real and it is making head ways for him and the thousands of Gambians that rally around him. Kandeh understand the psyche of the ordinary Gambian and that’s the reason he continue to emphasize his peaceful message. He has painted his party as the non-violent peace loving party that only engages in politics. This is the message that every ordinary Gambian wants to hear even if they living in abject poverty. Is it true that his party is the only peaceful one? No. But is it selling? Yes.

 

See, there is a huge disparity between the Gambians at home and those abroad. For most of us outside, we either do not see the real picture or we have decided to ignore it. Most of the time we engage people that we share the same ideas with to feed us information from the ground and we sometimes take this to be the gospel truth. I am in denial at times even though I talk to people in every corner of Gambia to measure up what is happening. That is not sufficient, but has always given a different picture. How do we relate these two pictures in order to get one real picture that tells us what the reality is? I have no idea how to do that.

 

I will just say again that Kandeh’s crowd is real and it will undoubtedly upset both the APRC and the coalition. However, the APRC will suffer more as most of their sympathizers have crossed the carpet to join the GDC. Many accuse the GDC of APRC style politics, but they are totally different.

 

GDC’s approach is personal, home-to-home and grassroots. They seem to be culturally sensitive. For instance taking kola nuts to mosques, meeting elders to pray for them, Kandeh joining prayers with elders…etc. Honestly, GDC knows the terrain and at this point, it is working for them.

 

On the side of the coalition, they can lose votes to the GDC if they spread vulgar messages. Just on nomination day, I was talking to some people and they told me that the coalition militants were using foul messages. I remember during the convention all the opposition leaders emphasize how important language is, if one wants to win the support of others. Many or majority of Gambians will vote for a candidate they consider respectful and sensitive and not one that perceive otherwise. Adama Barrow should be the inspiration for the coalition militants. The minute we go out using unwarranted language, we are distancing him from the electorates and rendering the coalition vulnerable. A lot of work needs to be done on that side. I sometimes argue that the reason why UDP could not win many sympathizers before was the language that comes from some of the militants. I have seen the same trajectory since the 1996 elections. If we are to succeed in this process, language should be nice and welcoming. I know for a fact that we are angry and we want to see change, but the change we are seeking can only come about if we are able to mobilize others to join us. Let us use our heads and not hearts. If we fail to do so, let us be rest assured Kandeh is standing

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UN West Africa Envoy calls for inclusive, credible and peaceful elections in Gambia

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By Alhagie Jobe

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel has called for an inclusive, credible and peaceful election in the Gambia as the country heads to the polls on December 1st.

 

Mohamed Ibn Chambas made the call on Thursday at a Press Conference at the UN Library in Banjul as he concludes his two day consultative visit in the context of the ongoing electoral process in the country.

 

During the visit, the UN diplomat held meetings with UN development partners, NGOs representatives and leaders of political parties.

 

Earlier this year, in May, Mr Chambas was in Banjul as a member of the ECOWAS-AU-UN Joint High Level Mission. During that mission, they reiterated the international community’s support to the people of The Gambia for the electoral process and encouraged the political parties and all electoral stakeholders to work together and to address all disagreements through peaceful means and dialogue with a view to ensuring the conduct of inclusive, credible and peaceful election.

 

On his second visit this year, Mr Chambas said he met with the members of the Inter-Party Committee, civil society representatives as well as members of the diplomatic community, including Ambassadors of ECOWAS countries, as well as the Ambassadors of the EU, UK, and US, the charge d’Affairs of Spain and other government partners.

 

He expressed happiness with the outcome of his various interactions, which provided an opportunity to discuss issues as well as possible concrete steps to contribute to creating the conditions for the successful conduct of a participative, credible and peaceful presidential election. He revealed that he has observed a pre-election atmosphere conducive to the functioning of the political parties than during our previous visit and commended the Gambian people for their strong attachment to democracy manifested by the animated campaigns of the various political parties.

 

The top UN diplomat used the opportunity to reiterate the call by the UN and other partners on the government to conduct an independent investigation into the death in custody of Ebrima Solo Krummah and Sandeng and release political prisoners.

 

“I entreat the government to release the thirty protesters involved in the April demonstrations, as well as the fourteen others who are in pre-trial detention following the May demonstration. It is also my expectation that in the post-election period the government would conduct a review of existing legislation pertaining to the exercise of the right to assembly and peaceful demonstration” he urged.

 

To the security forces, Mr Chambas reminded them of their duty to provide security for the electoral process, including the protection of all candidates and voters. He urged the police and other security services to discharge their noble responsibilities in a diligent, impartial, professional and strictly apolitical manner. “Security services must at all times avoid public display of loyalty to any political party” he said.

 

Mr Chambas emphasized that healthy and strong civil society organizations have a very important oversight role to play in each society, and especially so, during the electoral period, in particular through voter education and electoral observation. He called on the Gambian Civil Society Organisations, religious and traditional leaders, women and youth organizations, as well as all stakeholders to stay actively involved and to contribute to safeguarding the principles of an open, transparent and peaceful electoral process.

 

On behalf of the UN, he appealed for the holding of a transparent presidential election, and stressed the importance of a level playing field as a key pre-condition. He reminded the government of its obligations stemming from the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as well as the AU African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

 

The former ECOWAS diplomat stressed the primordial role of a strong, independent and professional electoral commission and welcomed the IEC chairman’s commitment to ‘uphold electoral integrity’ and the principles of ‘electoral democracy, ethical conduct, accuracy and transparency’.

 

“Political parties and the Presidential candidates have a responsibility to defend not only the interest of their own party and supporters, but also to safeguard the unity of the whole nation. In this regard, I urge all political parties to make use of the existing mechanism, like the Inter-Party Committee, to engage in meaningful dialogue as a means to resolve dispute peacefully and in the spirit of cooperation. It is regrettable that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, defining best practices and guidelines for a peaceful and fair campaign period scheduled for 8th November was called off. I therefore call for a rescheduling of the signing ceremony without further delay” he urged.

 

While he renewed the commitment of the United Nations to accompany the people of The Gambia throughout the elections of 2016 and beyond, the UN Special Representative also called on all Gambians to commit individually and collectively, to working towards a successful 2016 presidential elections.

IEC chief raises ‘election rigging’ concerns before Jammeh during nomination

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By Alhagie Jobe

 

The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has in a surprised move before incumbent President Yahya Jammeh, raised the general concerns by Gambians and the international community about election rigging in The Gambia saying many believe that there will not be free and fair elections in December.

 

In an eye-to-eye contact with Yahya Jammeh during the submission of his nomination papers, Alieu Momar Njai also talked about the registration of foreigners which he said even though is baseless but is a rumor circulating which can taint dark and puts the credibility of the polls in question.

 

He implored on the ruling party and opposition to ensure that there is a level playing ground to ensure that the elections are peaceful, free and fair.

 

The IEC chief assured that they [IEC] will make sure that nobody complains about election rigging, adding that they will show to the whole world that IEC is independent and fair. He also rubbished the claim that IEC are registering foreigners.

 

Chairman Njai commended Jammeh for all the facilities, transportation and funding that the country’s electoral body is receiving.

 

In reply, incumbent President Yahya Jammeh who is standing for the APRC Party told the IEC chief to do what is right and fear no one.

 

He told the IEC chairman that the only way to shut the mouths of the people talking and complaining is to let them come over and observe every stage of the elections – starting from day one up to the counting and for them to see how the counting system is conducted.

 

““Invite them (International Community) to come and observe the elections. You cannot listen to everyone and satisfy everyone. Do what is right and fear no one” Jammeh told IEC chief.

 

According to Jammeh, the IEC should know that whatever he [Jammeh] does, even if he dances in the waters, the opponents will say he is raising dust. He urged the electoral body not to waste their time and simply invite those claiming that Gambian elections are not free and fair, to come and observe the process.

 

Regarding the issue of foreigners been registered, Jammeh said if foreigners are being registered with the IEC, why didn’t the people or his opponents go to the IEC Registrar to ask why they registering those foreigners.

 

“If someone has a national passport or Identity card, how can you say that person is not a Gambian? Look, just ignore them and do what is right and fear nobody because everyone’s destiny is with the Almighty Allah” Jammeh told IEC boss.

 

He then made it clear that he will win the coming elections because he is the choice of the people. “They already know who is going to win and no matter what, I am going to win. Again, this is the second election that nobody is financing except the government entirely and 100 percent” he said.

Runaway journalist Alhagie Ceesay sentenced in absentia

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By Alhagie Jobe

 

Runaway Gambian journalist and Managing Director of the private and Independent radio station Teranga FM was Wednesday sentenced in absentia to a mandatory jail term of 4 years with a fine of D200, 000 in default to serve 2 years imprisonment.

 

This came after the court found him guilty of six counts of sedition and a count of publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public. He was also found guilty of acting on the same seditious intention by publishing and distributing a seditious phrase.

 

Alhagie Abdoulie Ceesay was charged with intent to excite disaffection against His Excellency the President, Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh and the Government of the Republic of The Gambia when he acted with the same seditious intention by Publishing and Distributing pictures of a gun and five bullets, pointing towards the image of the President of the Republic of The Gambia on or about 17th July, 2015, at Sinchu Alagie Village and other diverse places.

 

Wednesday’s sentencing in absentia came after he escaped whiles receiving medical treatment at Edward Francise Small Teaching Hospital after spending more than 200 days in prison.

 

Justice Simeon Abi who delivered the verdict recalled that the prosecution called four witnesses to lead evidence in the case and that at the end of the prosecution’s case, the defence maintained that the second prosecution witness Fatou Drammeh was not completely cross-examined so her evidence should be expunged.

 

“This was objected to by the Director of Public Prosecution who stated that such circumstance should not warrant expunction of the evidence, as PW2 was partly cross-examined. Ceesay’s defence lawyer made a no-case submission, which was overruled and he (Ceesay) was called to open his defense but he opted to remain silent” she said.

 

According to her, while the case was ongoing for him to open his defence, Ceesay absconded from prison custody while under medication at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital but he was continued to be tried in absentia.

 

She then gave a rundown of the entire proceedings saying she had received evidences and submissions from both parties but the seditious message sent by Ceesay is capable of inciting fear and lawlessness in the country, considering the fact that there was an attack on the State House just six months before. “Therefore, anyone who received such message will be in a state of fear” she said, saying the accused is found guilty of the offences charged.

 

Defense Lawyer C. Gaye who stood in for Journalist Ceesay in her plea of mitigation, urged for mercy saying her client is a first time offender and a young man of only 26 years and at the time of his arrest he was gainfully employed as the managing director of Teranga FM radio. She urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence but a fine.

 

The judge in her sentenced convicted Ceesay on count 1 and 2 to a mandatory jail term of 1 year and a fine of D100, 000, while on count 3, 4, 5 and 6 he was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment and a fine of D100, 000 and in default of paying the fines he shall serve an additional 2 years imprisonment. On count 7 Ceesay was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. The court also ordered that this sentence shall take effect any date the convict is apprehended and further ordered the police to effect arrest on the convict on sight as he is a fugitive.

 

Meanwhile, this week alone, two journalists from the state broadcaster and the Director General are all detained that the National Intelligent Agency for reasons still unknown.

 

Gambia is a country with absolutely no press freedom. The country’s parliament passed laws that severely hamper press freedom.

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