In what is now confirmed to be one of his trademark schemes, Yaya Jammeh has according to a statement read on The Gambia Radio and Television Station (GRTS), “pardoned” 85 prisoners in what the statement calls the “Islamic spirit of mercy and forgiveness” in the Holy month of Ramadan, and in conformity with Yaya’s usual tirade, managed to throw in what the statement also refers to as the “spirit of liberty and freedom that underlines the 50^th anniversary of Gambia’s independence from colonial rule”. 

Upon further scrutiny, Faturadio is baffled by not only the sheer lies being peddled here as to the actual number of those “pardoned”, but also by the disingenuous nature of this whole exercise.  As to the numbers, Faturadio has confirmed that one of those claimed to be pardoned, Lama Jallow, in fact died in Mile 2, so his name is just being used to beef up the numbers.  Also, despite claims being made by the regime that the main prisons affected by these pardons are Janjanbureh, Jeshwang, and Mile 2, prison officials contacted at those prisons told us that they cannot remember having many of these names being mentioned in the statement on their roster, which raises questions as to where these “85” individuals are being released from.  An observer also wonders why making claims of releasing convicted criminals when innocent people like Meta Njie, Yusupha Lowe (a minor), and other relatives of the December 30 coup attempt, who committed no crimes whatsoever continue to languish in secret detentions with no access to lawyers and family members – talk about “Islamic spirit of mercy and forgiveness”.

One of those released under this new order Faturadio has learned is Ebrima Bun Sanneh, the former Drug Squad boss.  Bun was arrested in 2010 and charged with eleven (11) counts of criminal offences ranging from conspiracy to commit felony, to stealing, concealment and destroying of evidence, official corruption & economic crime out of the 30 total charges.  This was in connection to a drug trafficking case involving the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ensa Badjie, former Navy Chief, Sarjo Fofana (recently freed by the court of appeal), and General Yankuba Drammeh. 

According to reliable sources, Bun almost lost his eyes while in detention.  Those sources say he will most likely spend most of his time in hospital as his health is also failing.

Our sources close to the Ministry of Interior, have confirmed that about thirty prisoners out of the 85 announced were said to have been taken from Mile 2 Central Prison – mainly from the main yard, and only 5 from Confinement, which is the Maximum Security Wing. 

The five from Confinement are: 

Rudy Gazzi – from Holland, drug case

Gibril Bojang – a soldier

Kawsu Jarju – in collaboration with Dawda Bojang, who was executed in 2012 killed a white guy

Mamodou Njie – accused of stealing, he has been in and out of Mile 2 on numerous occasions

Alieu Gibba

The sources said that most of the prisoners pardoned were convicted of theft and minor offences, most of whom are serving sentences of between 3-6 months.

Mile 2 has almost 900 inmates right now.

The Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure has rubbished a report issued by the United States government claiming corruption and human rights violations occur in The Gambia with impunity. Reacting to a report carried by The Standard newspaper on Monday, Sheriff Bojang stated: “Every year they issue these reports condemning countries around the world for alleged human rights abuses. It is very rich for the United States to preach to The Gambia about human rights issues and violence against women.As a reply, there is nothing more apt than the biblical quotation: ‘You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Mathew 7.5’.

“It is true that every state has its incidental vulgarities and challenges and The Gambia is not an exception.But this blanket indictment by the self-appointed policeman of the world is inaccurate, grossly misleading and blatantly false.The United States is guilty by a hundred if not a thousand times of the litany of the very things they are accusing The Gambia of perpetrating. And not just in the United States but throughout the world wherever they have influence and sway.

“Apart from the historical genocidal crimes of slavery and colonialism, US agents and their proxies have violently overthrown democratically elected governments, stoked civil wars, waged wars of aggression against sovereign states resulting in the death of millions of innocent, men, women and children with impunity. Not to talk about the infliction of the most horrendous forms of torturein their prisons including Guantanamo Bay.The US has systemically been abusing its status as a hegemon to commit the worst crimes with utter impunity and it therefore has no moral right to preach to any country about human rights.

“The Gambia has achieved significant progress in legal due process, press freedom and trafficking in persons. The US report accuses The Gambia Government of interference in the practice of religion.Nothing is farther from the truth than that. The Gambia is universally hailed as a haven for religious tolerance and freedom.On the allegation of violence against women and children, we all know that The Gambia Government under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency, the President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, Babili Mansa, has empowered women and the girl-child more than any leader in the world.The president has used every opportunity to praise Gambian women and underscore the very high premium he puts on improving their welfare and their well-being.”

On The Gambia Government’s hard-line stance against homosexuality, Minister Bojang said: “Homosexuality like bestiality is against everything we the Gambian people stand for.It is against the nature and against our culture and religion. We are a God-believing people as Muslims and Christians and such acts of depravity are condemned in the strongest terms by our Creator. Therefore, no amount of coercion will change our stance with regard to this issue.”

The former veteran journalist said the US human rights report was meant to score political points and was wide off the mark with regard to the realities in The Gambia.

Sources within the Defense Headquarters in Banjul have confirmed the reinstatement into the Armed Forces of Mr. Yankuba Drammeh and his subsequent appointment to the position of Deputy Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Force. Drammeh who until recently was Deputy Head of Gambia’s Mission in New York was lastly discharged from the Armed Forces in February, 2010 by his Commander in Chief dictator Yaya Jammeh. He was first appointed Deputy Ambassador to Turkey before moving to New York in 2012.

Yankuba Drammeh has suffered in the hands of his delusional and distrustful Commander in Chief as he has been recycled several times. On 30^th November, 2009, Jammeh issued his press release “The office of the president hereby informs the general public that, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, president of the Republic of The Gambia and Commander In-Chief of the Gambia Armed Forces, has with immediate effect from today 30th November 2009 demoted Brigadier General Yankuba Drammeh, deputy chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia National Army to a private and dismissed him from the Gambia Armed Forces”. Drammeh was soon after arrested and kept in detention for few days while been investigated on links to Lang Tambong Tamba alleged planned coup, widely believe as a plot by Yaya Jammeh to get rid of Lang and his co-accused dismissed army generals. Luckily for him, he was cleared of any involvement and reinstated on 2^nd December, 2009, this time for only two months before Jammeh’s electric broom swept him out again leading to his career in the diplomatic missions.

Sources said in his last’s week’s appointment, he is promoted to the rank of Major General. However, our investigation reveals that Yankuba Drammeh was already a Major General as in his second come back on 2^nd December 2009, he was promoted from Brigadier to Major General.

Major General Yankuba Drammeh, a well-trained professional officer is credited for his honesty and ability to transform the army into a professional body if given the free space. He occupies a position left vacant since the removal of Major General Saikou Seckan in 2013.

The Gambian President Jammeh has Friday June 26, 2015 rescinded his decision to expel Hussein Tajudeen, a businessman from the country. This is the second time that the Hezbollah linked businessman is given a presidential pardon and permitted to return and operate his Multi Million-dollar business operations. This decision by Jammeh did not come to many as a surprise, as Jammeh is known for changing his mind just when it suits his needs and desires. Today’s decision was contained in a press statement issued by the Presidency and read on the national TV during the news at ten.

The Press statement added that Tajudeen has agreed to sign an undertaking with The Gambia Government to do business in a proper way.

 Last week, The Gambia Government, through the office of the president had written to Hussein Tajudeen’s lawyers allowing them until November to wrap up business. This development came few weeks after the same office wrote to the company’s lawyers reminding them that they have to wrap up their businesses before the thirty day ultimatum they were given elapses.

The letter according to sources also stated that Hussein’s children are allowed to stay in the country as they were all born there, but warned them against engaging in their dad’s businesses.

It would be recalled that The Office of The President had issued a press statement informing the general public that Mr. Tajudeen Hussein has been declared persona-non grata and was given 72 hours to leave The Gambia, failure of which he will be deported forthwith. According to the statement, Mr. Hussein, his family and all his business associates are banned from doing business in The Gambia due to what the statement referred to as “unacceptable business practices that are detrimental to the Gambian economy.”  Mr. Tajudeen Hussein was also given thirty days (30 days) to close all his businesses within the Gambia.

Hussein Tajudeen is the owner of TAJCO which is the biggest importer of rice and flour, and also has subsidiaries that include the Kairaba Supermarket chain.  Tajco is based in Banjul, the capital city.

Hussein Tajudeen is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the United States government and his business is alleged by the U.S to be part of a multinational network that has generated millions of dollars for Hezbollah, described by the White House as being “among the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world.”  Reports have indicated that The United States sanctions imposed in December, 2010 targeted a network of businesses owned or controlled by Tajudeen and his brothers in the Gambia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the British Virgin Islands.

The Central Bank of The Gambia has written to commercials banks in the country instructing them to transfer all unclaimed funds to it effective May 31.  According to sources at the bank, a new account was created there (Central Bank) in May for this purpose.  The account name and number those sources have confirmed are: Deposit Insurance Scheme-Unclaimed and 2101000475 respectively.

This account was opened following a directive from The Gambian Dictator Yahya Jammeh Faturadio has gathered.

A dormant or an unclaimed account is an account that has shown no activity for ten years.  According to sources, the current rules are that after this period, the commercial bank in which the account is held can recognize the funds as its own income after securing an approval from Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs through The Central bank.  This new directive therefore undoes the provision that makes the commercial banks the custodians of these accounts and instead transfers that ownership to the Central Bank.  Here is the kicker – because this is a huge income base for the commercial banks, observers have opined that it will have huge financial implications for them.  It will in essence represent a huge financial loss.  It is therefore no surprise that these commercial banks are quietly grumbling and crying foul.

What the Gambia Government is engaging in here is called “escheating” an account, which is the process in which banks are required to turn over funds of the inactive accounts to the state treasury.  Once the account is sent to the state, the funds are held as unclaimed property.  Observers have noted that this whole exercise will prove interesting and expose itself for what it is – yet another scheme by Yaya Jammeh to fleece and rob innocent Gambians of their hard earned moneys, when the actual owner of an account comes forward to claim his/her money.  That process it is observed has been purposely left unclear and the Central Bank would only say that it can be done by submitting a claim form along with the necessary identification from the account holder or their next of kin.  That is suspect because if that were the case, why make that process cumbersome by taking it through the Central Bank and not leave it to commercial banks as they have always done.  The goal it seems is to frustrate the process so as to give the government an excuse to keep the money for when Yaya Jammeh needs it for his personal use.  As broke as Yaya is these days, and as criminal as he is, this will come as no surprise to Gambians.   The broad day light robbery of The Gambians continues. Below we produce the letter sent to commercial banks.

Reliable Sources have confirmed that The Gambia Government through The Office of the President has written to Hussein Tajudeen’s lawyers allowing them until November to wrap up business. This development came few weeks after the same office wrote to the company’s lawyers reminding them that they have to wrap up their businesses before the thirty day ultimatum they were given elapses.

The same sources have also confirmed that the letter also stated that Hussein’s children are allowed to stay in the country as they were all born there, but warned them against engaging in their dad’s businesses. “This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, you think this President is mentally correct?” a source asked.

Sources close to the Tajudeen family have said that, Hussein has no plans to return to Banjul unless and until there is a regime change. “I know Jammeh is leaning towards negotiating with Hussein, but we have advised him not to fall for his bait” the sources added.

It would be recalled that The Office of The President had issued a press statement informing the general public that Mr. Tajudeen Hussein has been declared persona-non grata and was given 72 hours to leave The Gambia, failure of which he will be deported forthwith. According to the statement, Mr. Hussein, his family and all his business associates are banned from doing business in The Gambia due to what the statement referred to as “unacceptable business practices that are detrimental to the Gambian economy.”  Mr. Tajudeen Hussein was also given thirty days (30 days) to close all his businesses within the Gambia. Shortly after this statement came out, Tajudeen’s lawyers wrote to the Presidency for an extension as thirty days according to them was not enough to wrap up a multi Million Dollar business, but their request was not approved.  Hussein Tajudeen is the owner of TAJCO which is the biggest importer of rice and flour, and also has subsidiaries that include the Kairaba Supermarket chain.  Tajco is based in Banjul, the capital city.

Hussein Tajudeen is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the United States government and his business is alleged by the U.S to be part of a multinational network that has generated millions of dollars for Hezbollah, described by the White House as being “among the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world.”  Reports have indicated that The United States sanctions imposed in December, 2010 targeted a network of businesses owned or controlled by Tajudeen and his brothers in the Gambia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the British Virgin Islands.

It is important to note that The Gambia has expelled Hussein Tajudeen before, but he was later given a presidential pardon and permitted to return.  So who knows – Yaya may yet again change his mind just when it suits his needs and desires.

Information reaching Fatu Radio has it that the corpse of Bakary Bojang, alias Gosso, the mentally ill young man from Banjul who according to military sources was deliberately shot and killed by state guard soldiers around the Albert Market during the Dec 30 coup attempt has been handed over to his family today.

This came six months after family members, including the sick and bed-ridden mother of ‘Gosso’ have made repeated appeals to the authorities to release the corpse of their loved one in order to give him a fitting burial in keeping religious rites. Gosso is said to have been buried in Banjul this evening.

Meanwhile, the corpses of US Army Captain Njaga Jagne, Lt. Col. Lamin Sanneh and Alhagie Jaja Nyass are still kept at the Banjul mortuary, yet to be handed over to the respective concerned families.

Addressing a meeting in Sukuta Kombo North, during his recently concluded tour of Agricultural projects, The Gambian President, yahya Jammeh posted a question to the youths of Sukuta by asking how many of them wanted to travel to Europe through the back way. Almost all the boys raised their hands, then President Jammeh said “May your souls rest in peace in the Mediterranean Sea in advance”

Shocked and surprised  by The President’s remarks, many of the youths walked away from the meeting angrily murmuring. Addressing a similar meeting in Ebo Town the following day, Jammeh was quoted as saying to parents “ I heard that many of your sons died on the back way to Europe, I also know for a fact that many of them in this meeting are planning to embark on the journey, may they all die at sea”

These remarks according to sources, shocked and angered almost everyone at the meeting including his supporters. The video and audio tapes of both meetings are said to have been edited to delete the remarks, before the highlights were aired on The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS).

The Gambian dictator Yaya Jammeh is hatching a new plan to systematically bar political parties in the Gambia from participating in all the three elections that take place in the country through the amendment of the law governing elections and imposition of payments seen as undoable by all opposition political parties.

The Municipal and Area Councils in The Gambia on Tuesday June 9, 2015 celebrated the news that the erratic President has given directives for the immediate stop of collection and management of council’s revenue by the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) and the return of such to the council administrations. The decision to revise an earlier miscalculated action on the side of Jammeh’s government to take over the collection and management of council’s revenue was transmitted to them through the Ministry of Lands and Regional Administration.

The letter also warned the leadership at the councils to be more judicious in the spending of tax payer’s monies. The councils have been accused of mismanagement of funds, suppression of revenue and corrupt practices over the years, thus rendering them inefficient in delivering services to the local tax payers.

It could be recalled that last March, the fickle and self-centered President Jammeh ordered for the Municipal and Area Councils across the country to hand over its revenue collection and management of finances to the GRA without prior consultation. In that arrangement, GRA was tasked with the role of collecting all payments of rates and taxes such as trade license, market fees and compound rates among others. This ill-fated decision was against the dictates of the Local Government Act, which empowers local councils to be autonomous in their finances.

Since March, when GRA took over from the councils, the staffs in the revenue units were uselessly coming in and out of the councils as GRA brought in their own collectors and monies were deposited in a special account at the Central Bank. For several months, staff and Ward Councilors were not paid their salaries on time and work wasn’t effective due to lack of fuel, stationeries and other needs for the effective functioning of the administration. Sources in KMC confirmed that at a point senior staff of the most populated council were not regular in their offices because NAWEC disconnected the electricity supply due to lack of payment of bills. The Serrekunda market was without refuse collectors for weeks posing health risk to the vendors and visitors of the market. Mayors, Governors and Chairmen across the regions have made several attempts over the past two months through the Ministry of Lands and Regional Administrations and authorities at GRA to convince their boss to change the decision but Yaya Jammeh refused their request.

It is gathered that dictator Jammeh’s sudden change and directing the GRA to return the collection and management of revenue to the councils was due to complains by the political bigwigs of the APRC on how this decision has affected their politicking. His recently concluded tour was not well attended compared to past years and mobilizers didn’t attribute it to his dwindling popularity but to the fact that councils could not provide money for the hiring of vehicles to transport people from different villages to the meeting venues, a burden they shouldered over the years. A source informed us that some National Assembly Members and Chiefs have advised Jammeh while on tour to revised the decision as councils not having access to funds will pose a risk to their mobilization and build up to the 2016 election

Sources have confirmed that The Gambia Government has written to Hussein Tajudeen’s lawyers reminding them that they have to wrap up their businesses before the thirty day ultimatum they were given elapses. The same sources have also confirmed the arrival of a prominent American Lawyer in The Gambia to join Tajudeen’s legal team on the ground to preside over the closing of his businesses in the country.

It would be recalled that The Office of The President had issued a press statement informing the general public that Mr. Tajudeen Hussein has been declared persona-non grata and was given 72 hours to leave The Gambia, failure of which he will be deported forthwith. According to the statement, Mr. Hussein, his family and all his business associates are banned from doing business in The Gambia due to what the statement referred to as “unacceptable business practices that are detrimental to the Gambian economy.”  Mr. Tajudeen Hussein was also given thirty days (30 days) to close all his businesses within the Gambia. Shortly after this statement came out, Tajudeen’s lawyers wrote to the Presidency for an extension as thirty days according to them was not enough to wrap up a multi Million Dollar business, but their request was not approved.  Hussein Tajudeen is the owner of TAJCO which is the biggest importer of rice and flour, and also has subsidiaries that include the Kairaba Supermarket chain.  Tajco is based in Banjul, the capital city.

Adding to the confusion is the revelation made by sources close to the family that the Tajudeen family never received a letter from The Government regarding this drastic decision.  According to them, they only got the news through an announcement on The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) during a 10pm news broadcast.  Tajudeen, a Gambian resident for sixteen years, is also said to have gained his Gambian citizenship eight years ago when The President granted him honorary citizenship. This left many wondering why he was declared Persona non grata and asked to leave the country within 72 hours. He was not in The Country when his expulsion was announced.

As to the actual reason why this one time close ally, business partner, and confident of Jammeh is suddenly being treated in such a harsh fashion, an employee privy to inside information explained that Tajudeen’s fall from grace started when “he (Yaya Jammeh) asked for 4,000 cartons of chicken, 5000 cartons of tomatoes, 5000 twenty-liter drums of cooking oil and an additional eight million dalasis ($200,000) for his 50^th birthday anniversary celebration that we (Tajudeen co.) could not do at that time.  Tajudeen was not in town and his children could not approve the request, this was what angered the President and resulted in the expulsion and closure of Kairaba Shopping Centre and Tajco.”   The distressed employee continued “Tajudeen has over a thousand staff in The Gambia, what will be their fate?”  He asked angrily.

Meanwhile, 120 containers of Tajco shipments of foodstuffs for shoppers of the busy Holy month of Ramadan are currently sitting at the Gambia Ports Authority for two weeks now.  This will lead to shortages, which will evidently lead to higher prices that the poverty stricken population cannot afford.  Prices of basic commodities like rice, sugar, onions, flour, and cooking oil will be highly affected.  Tajudeen is also the biggest tax payer in The Gambia, and in fact is said to have on occasions paid tax obligations to The Gambia Revenue Authority in advance, especially in times when the GRA needed finances urgently.  The business community in The Gambia is also said to be troubled by this new development since most of their goods are supplied by Tajco.

Hussein Tajudeen is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the United States government and his business is alleged by the U.S to be part of a multinational network that has generated millions of dollars for Hezbollah, described by the White House as being “among the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world.”  Reports have indicated that The United States sanctions imposed in December, 2010 targeted a network of businesses owned or controlled by Tajudeen and his brothers in the Gambia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the British Virgin Islands.

Muhammed Bazzi, a close associate and business partner of The Gambian President is said to be excited about the expulsion of Tajudeen because it eliminates a competitor of the flour business that he jointly owns with President Jammeh.

It is important to note that The Gambia has expelled Hussein Tajudeen before, but he was later given a presidential pardon and permitted to return.  So who knows – Yaya may yet again change his mind just when it suits his needs and desires.

Momodou Sabally, former Minister for Presidential Affairs and Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service was earlier today, Monday 8^th June ordered to be remanded in prison by Banjul High Court. Sabally faces new charges of abuse of office. He pleaded not guilty and was sent to the badly maintained and congested remand wing of the Mile 2 Prison even though he is on bail for the past few months. The former Secretary General was reportedly arrested last Friday in his family compound in Lamin, Kombo North while he and family were observing the 40 days charity of his mother who passed away recently.

He has since been in detention at the Serious Crimes Unit in Banjul and was brought to court today, which was originally the adjourned date on his ongoing economic crimes trial, abuse of office and giving false information to a public officer. However, instead of the continuation of the testimony of Alasane Ndoye, a State witness in that case, Sabally was slapped with new charges.

Momodou Sabally, who rose to exceptional fame during his one year occupation of the top post at the presidency also served as Secretary General of the ruling APRC party. He was a trusted confidant of Gambian despotic President, Yaya Jammeh. His miseries started in June, 2014 when he was dismissed from his positions, detained for 5 months and later charged with several counts before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the special Criminal Court.

Analysts are of the view that the new charges brought against Sabally are meant to see him remain in detention and possible jailing because the prospects of his ongoing trial are not favorable to the state. “The testimonies so far from the Alkalo of Bijilo, protocol officer at President Office, Managing Director of Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation have not incriminated Sabally in anyway” said a renowned human rights activist who preferred not to be named. Another analyst cited Sabally’s activeness on facebook and engagement in social events including his newly release documentary-like video on the illegal migration commonly referred to in The Gambia as “Backway” as some of the reason that gave birth to this latest troubles with his former boss. Sabally remained placid and refused to break down like many officials who served and later shown the exit door from the mostly opportunist cabinet of Yaya Jammeh. This is contrary to the wishes of dictator Jammeh who always want to cow his dismissed employees into total submission and isolation.

The erstwhile Secretary General who is on record for having read a statement on national television insulting the mandinka tribe on the directive of the delusional President Jammeh is expected to return to court on Wednesday, June 10. Alasana Ndoye, the Senegalese – American who jetted into the country from Washington DC after weeks of waiting will continue his testimony in relation to one of the counts of ‘giving false information to a civil servant’. Ndoye, the owner of the two American made vehicles is helping the State convince the court that Momodou Sabally indeed lied to the President, when he, then as Secretary General informed him (president) that Ndoye wanted to donate to the President the two vehicles while they are meant for sale.

A government press release aired by state TV on Friday night has condemned USA’s comments on human rights in The Gambia as “a shameless attempt to divert attention from the abysmal human rights record in the US”. The release further stated that the Gambia Government would like to inform the general public that no amount of pressure could force it to reconsider its rejection of homosexuality. The release, which came from the Office of the President, according to state TV, “strongly rebuts a recent statement made by the National Security Advisor of the USA, Susan Rice, describing the rejection of gay and lesbian activities in The Gambia as a violation of human rights.”

The release said Susan Rice’s statement released on the International Day against homophobia by the White House Press Office, also made “unsubstantiated accusations of arbitrary arrests, detention and torture in The Gambia”.

“These accusations,” the release stated, “are the latest in a systematic campaign to dent the good image of the country and demonize its leadership because of its stance against homosexuality.

“The Government reminds all that homosexuality is totally against the religious, cultural and traditional values of The Gambia and would thus not be tolerated.”

The release added: “The US comments on human rights in The Gambia is a shameless attempt to divert attention from the abysmal human rights record in the US.

“The National Security Advisor should instead address racism, abuses and impunity in America where lately innocent and unarmed African- Americans, for example, are being regularly shot by white police officers with impunity rather than prescribe human rights to Gambians who have a long history of civilization,” the statement said.

“The Office of the President states that the Government of The Gambia will always adhere to our sacred religious values and will not be dictated by ungodly societies, nations or institutions.

“As Muslims and Christians, Gambians worship only Allah and we will preserve the human race by going by Allah’s dictate that only Male and Female can marry.”