I encourage the Victims Centre that was invoked by the Attorney General in order to take cover for this unpopular and wrongheaded decision to seek legal advice to get a court injunction against the Attorney General and Army, preventing them from releasing these killers to the society. The Attorney General needs to do the job only he’s mandated to do under the Constitution, i.e. prosecute criminals, rather than outsource the job to the TRRC.

It is a false premise to say that these killers should be released, because similarly situated killers like Sana Sabally and Alaji Kanji are freely walking in the society. These people are different than Kanji and Sabally, who were free before they testified before the TRRC. Besides, there is nothing in our laws stopping the Attorney General from charging all these people, including Sabally and Kanji. It is not true that the truth can only be established through the TRRC or truth-telling should be compensated with impunity.

It is insulting to the victims of Jammeh atrocities to pretend that the TRRC is even the best means of getting to the truth, and once the truth is established we should all forget about the heinous acts of these perpetrators. It’s a big fallacy. The TRRC is a one-sided tribunal where witnesses are not subjected to forensic examinations. This is the easiest job a prosecutor’s office can ask for: to have witnesses appear without lawyers and at times are not subjected to rigorous cross examination. Any lawyer should know that that is not how to get to the truth. You get to the truth by subjecting witnesses to lead examinations, cross examinations, and re-examinations, after you’ve conducted a thorough investigation. Needless to say, if we have a prosecutor’s office that is lazy or incompetent to do the hard work, it will pass it to a toothless commission of inquiry.

It is not true that without the recommendations of the TRRC the Attorney General cannot prosecute known killers, irrespective of whether they testify at the commission. The Attorney General cannot hide behind the TRRC Act to abdicate his duties under the constitution to try criminals. Yes, it will be easier to prosecute criminals after you have received confessions from them through a commission of inquiry. But that is not the only means of holding criminals accountable. It’s sad that throughout a 45-minute press conference I heard the word accountability (or a derivative thereof) mentioned only once. As I argued more than two years ago, commissions of inquiries like the TRRC are a perversion of the rule of law. The rule of law dictates that if criminals commit crimes, they are investigated, tried and punished. Not taken to a commission to confess to crimes that suit them and then be unleashed onto society to undergo some bogus counseling.

The Attorney General claimed to have taken his decision to set the killers free in the interest of the country, especially the victims. I submit that this decision was not taken in the interest of the victims. Rather, it was taken in the interest of the killers, the Attorney General and the cheerleaders of the TRRC. This government is not committed to the victims. Otherwise it would have put a mechanism in place to begin paying reparations to the victims. All the government is interested in is parading criminals before national television to confess to heinous crimes and the government taking credit for leading us to the ‘truth.’ Give me a break. These revelations are not new. Starting with Nov. 11, 1994, the killing of Koro Ceesay, the murder of Deyda Hydara, and other killings by the ‘Junglers’ revealed to the world by Bai Lowe, we have heard it all before. Any prosecutor’s office worth its salt would have leveraged those revelations and at a minimum bargain with these killers to plead to lesser offenses and be sentenced to shorter terms in exchange for their confessions. That’s what you do, rather than letting someone scot-free because they confessed to their crimes. It’s absurd to administer a criminal justice system like that. The Attorney General in another context lamented the lack of resources at the AG’s Chambers. That might explain why they want to take the easier route and unleash these killers to the society. But let’s not pretend here that we are releasing these people in the interest of the society at large.

Civil Society should challenge this in the courts. Before the TRRC Act, we have the Constitution that places an obligation on the Attorney General to bring killers to justice. It is false to claim that the Attorney General’s hands are tied until the commission finishes it’s work and make recommendations to prosecute.

Muhamad Sosseh, Esq
Washington, DC
06 August 2019.

Former Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service Momodou Sabally, has called on young people to become the agents of peace, stability and harmony in our communities. 

Sabally was speaking at the official closing of the summer youth camp Al-Furqaan University organised by the Assembly of Gambia Muslim Youth (AGAMY) in collaboration with its affiliate body the Federation of Gambia Muslim Students Organisation (FEGAMSO), on Sunday August, 4, 2019 in Kotu.

In his keynote speech he asserted the need for the youths to avoid any unhealthy agitations or violent protests. He advised them to also relate with members of the nation’s security services as brothers and sisters. “Those who have decided to put on the uniform in service to our nation to maintain peace and human security, are human beings like us and we should always honour them and treat them with respect.”

Sabally went on to emphasise the need to solidify our existence religious tolerance. “We must continue to nurture our cordial relationship with members of other faiths. Let us continue to treat our Christian brothers and sisters with respect just like they treat us with respect.”

Speaking earlier during the summer camp on the theme “Unlocking the potential of Youths for National Development”, he emphasised the need for young people to invest their time and energy in acquiring sound and relevant education that can be useful in their quest for self-actualisation. He however called on government to play its role in the area of policy formulation:

 “I am asking you to ask your country to give you the KEYS to unlocking your potential. And those keys are first, EDUCATION; Good quality education. And the second one is the necessary incentive mechanisms for human productivity, innovation and creativity. We must create the space and the energy; the ecosystem for talent and skills to thrive. The market should be able to reward and motivate our youths to express themselves and exercise their potential. And where the market fails, government must step in to correct what we call “market failure” in economics.”

Speaking to the youths of Foni Kansala in Bwiam the previous day, Saturday, August 3, Sabally reiterated the message of peace and respect for members of our security services. Sabally, who was the Guest of Honour for the final of the Foni Kansala Football Tournament, commended the young people of the area for their sense of discipline and peaceful approach to their sporting and other youth engagements.

Earlier, on the same day, Saturday, August 3, Sabally appealed to Gambians to maintain peace and tolerance by embracing dialogue and eschewing intolerance and violence. Addressing hundreds of delegates gathered at the Semega Janneh Hall in Latrikunda, as guest speaker at a media forum organised by the group “Gambians for 5 Years and Peace Building”, he asserted the need to abide by the laws of the country as promulgated in the nation’s constitution. 

He commended the organisers of the forum and shared his thoughts on the theme of the forum:

“The contentions that may bug us right now, can, and should be resolved through dialogue. There is no room for conflict in this family house called Gambia. The constitution of the republic is unequivocal regarding the mandate of our elected President. It is 5 years and that is what I support!

“But do I have the right to shut down the voices of those who clamour for 3 years? No! Should I threaten those who make reference to the coalition agreement, No!

“But we can sit down and talk. And the coalition leadership should lead this dialogue. In the absence of that entente, it is only fitting and commendable that patriotic citizens like this group come together to call for dialogue and consultation with the ultimate aim of peace.”

Why do you think there is so much poverty in the Gambia? Why do you think there was a group called Junglers under Yaya Jammeh? Why do you think there is so much freedom and prosperity in Sweden? Why do you think Khashoggi was killed and cut into pieces in the Saudi embassy in Turkey? Why do you think there was a president called Hitler or Saddam Hussain? Why do you think US Pres. Trump sacked the FBI director in America? Why do you think there is ‘backway’ journey in the Gambia? Do you ever sit to ponder over these questions and many more in order to understand how and why that is the case?

But for a start, consider this? When a man and woman marry in any normal country the State is aware because they register the marriage with the State. Few months down the line when the woman gets pregnant the State knows because she goes to clinic; be it public or private clinic, the State knows since the State collects all such records. When that woman delivers a bounding baby girl the State knows because the baby will have a birth certificate provided by the State. If that child goes to kindergarten and then to primary, secondary and high school and even proceed to UTG the State knows because the State knows the school enrolment in the Gambia.

Now when that young girl graduates and gets a new job or opens her own business the State knows because she will pay income tax, social security or register her business. When she buys a new car or a new home the State knows because she will get car license and number plate or obtain a title deed, pay compound rates and apply for electricity and water supply from the State. When the time has come for that young woman to also marry the State knows even the name of her husband because they will register their marriage. Even when she dies the State knows because there is a death certificate. Above all the State conducts census and they know each and every family, home, village, town and citizen in this country and what we do.

So, what is in your life that the State does not know? Whenever you travel out or return to this country by land, sea or airport the State knows since there are immigration, police and intelligence officers at the border posts. Even as you read this piece the State knows who is reading it because the State has all of the institutions, tools, personnel and resources to monitor each and every individual and activity in this country at any time.

Therefore, if the State is that powerful do you think as a citizen you should just ignore that institution or take it for granted or just believe anything they say? Remember, all of the power and resources of the State are derived from the citizen. If that State is in the hands of honest men and women of integrity it means the State will become a great tool to secure the freedom, prosperity and security of citizens. This is why some society progress. But when that State is occupied by unscrupulous men and women without conscience then the State becomes a weapon of untold suffering as we saw in many societies including the Gambia under Yaya Jammeh.

As a Republic our Constitution says that the sovereignty of the Gambia resides in the citizens and we give legitimacy and authority to the State. State institutions perform their functions in our name and for our welfare. This is why State officials are called Public Servants. The State comprises three main organs – National Assembly, Government and Courts. Together they are expected to put in place laws, institutions and processes through which they protect our rights and fulfil our needs. How the State utilises those resources and enforces the laws in exercise of its power and obligations must be checked lest we allow abuse to take place.

For example, the Executive has the institutions to deliver our social and economic needs and protect our civil and political rights. The Parliament is mandated to check the Executive to ensure that they perform those functions according to the law. The Courts make sure none of them violate the law in the performance of their duty. Hence if all of them act according to the rule of law and the standard set out in our Constitution there cannot be poverty and injustice in the Gambia. But then why is there so much poverty and injustice in the Gambia?

When the Americans were creating the laws and structures of their union, i.e. the United States, one of the founding fathers noted that if men and women were angels there would be no need to make laws because those men and women would do the right thing for the public good. But unfortunately, men and women are not angels therefore we need laws and rules to guide their decisions and actions. One founding father also suggested that there can only be a good Republic if the people could keep it, i.e. take care of it by fulfilling their duties to check elected and appointed public servants. Thus, if the Republic fails it is because the people have failed to take care of it.

What I am trying to draw from the beginning is to say that the State is a powerful tool – that can be used for great good or harm citizens. This is because the State is the only institution that has all of the information because everyone reports to the State. The State is the only institution to which everyone contributes money as taxes. The State is the only institution that has the guns, prisons, courts, police, intelligence and the military. The State is backed by law which they make in Parliament and interpret in the Courts and enforce by the Executive. So how can you escape that State?

Therefore, if we go back to the original questions that I raised at the top one will realise that the only reason we have poverty, violations, corruption and injustice in society is because the State has failed to perform as required by law to protect and deliver. But why does the State fail to protect and deliver? The State fails simply because citizens usually fail to monitor the State. In fact, in many instances citizens would support, condone and defend the State even when the State is failing and abusing its powers. In that case everyone becomes a victim.

Elected and appointed public servants in charge of the institutions of the State are not angels. They are mere mortal men and women like you and me. Some are indeed decent, honest and hard working. But there are also some who are the incarnation of Satan Itself – Thugs and Gangsters! Remember Yaya Jammeh and his Junglers and civilian officials who abused their powers, plundered public resources and failed to deliver but inflicted sheer violence on the people.

Therefore Gambians, the choice is in our hands. This Republic will make or break depending on where we stand as citizens. If we go to sleep or fail to critically think and fail to take the necessary position to check the State, rest assured our lives are in danger. The only relationship we have with the State is not to praise the President or Minister or National Assembly Member of Governor for the good job they do. That is what we elected and appointed them to do in the first place. Our only job is to check every step of the President and all other elected and appointed public servants. This is the only path that will secure our liberty, prosperity and happiness in our lifetime, i.e. taking care of the State. #Accountability.

For The Gambia Our Homeland

……………………………………………..

Madi Jobarteh

Skype: madi.jobarteh

Twitter: @jobartehmadi

LinkedIn: Madi Jobarteh

Phone: +220 9995093

The Gambia Constitution was approved in a referendum in 1996 and came into force in 1997. In that Constitution it is categorically stated that each and every Gambian has a right to freedom of assembly which can only be limited but not denied. The Constitution did not say in any place that the right to protest can be denied or taken away. Therefore no one has the authority to deny Gambians to protest. Not the President nor the Speaker or the Chief Justice and certainly not the Minister or the Governor or the IGP has that authority and power. Never.

Limiting or restricting a right is not the same as denying a right. Limiting a right is to postpone its enjoyment now till later or reduce the extent to which it can be enjoyed or change the format, venue, date or time of the exercise of that right. For example, limitation could mean not allowing the use of certain words or pictures or sounds in a protest because such would damage public morality or peace. In such a case, protesters could be asked to get alternative sounds, pictures or materials just so they enjoy their right. This is what the Constitution suggests when it said that certain rights can be limited because those rights are not absolute.

This is why the current Public Order Act is unconstitutional because that act has given power to the IPG or the Governor to totally deny the right to protest as he likes. It was shameful that the Supreme Court went ahead to certify that this obnoxious Public Order Act is in line with our Constitution. It is not. The Public Order Act is a violation of our Constitution and the Supreme Court Justices know that very well because they are all well educated in law and human rights.

Therefore Gambians, do not listen to any State official such as ministers, judges, security officers, governors, chairpersons and mayors or any other person who tells you that the right to protest can be denied. No way. Freedom of assembly otherwise known as protest or demonstration is an indispensable tool in the hands of citizens to promote and protect democracy and ensure good governance. It is through protests that citizens discipline public institutions and officials as well as the private companies to make them transparent, efficient and accountable. It is through protests that we ensure that quality public goods and services are efficiently delivered to the people.

Secondly do not let anyone confuse you that just because violence erupted during a protest therefore protests are bad. The Gambia Constitution recognises only protest without the use of arms or violence. This is the language of the Constitution. Hence anyone who engages in protest and you commit any violence then the law should consume you.

The Gambia Constitution has no room for vandalism, looting, burning and throwing stones. These actions are not part of protest and anyone who engages in such violent behaviour then you are not a protester rather you are a looter, vandal, rioter, stone thrower and destroyer. Such a person must be apprehended by the police and dealt with according to law. Period. We must not let them use bad elements as an excuse to steal away our rights. Rather we ask the police to monitor protest events and if they see any bad element burning or throwing a stone let them arrest him or her. That’s all.

International law to which the Gambia is a signatory imposes an obligation on the States to create the enabling environment for citizens to be able to protest and ensure that the police protect that protest. In fact, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has stated that African Governments should allow citizens to only notify the authorities when they wish to protest so that the police can be informed in good time to prepare in order to provide security. But the Africa Commission, just like international law, rejects any law or regulation that requires citizens to seek permission before they protest. They further state that failure to notify the police is not even a reason to deny a protest.

The African Commission went further to state in its guidelines for freedom of assembly in Africa that the Government must also accept that there can be spontaneous protests which are neither planned nor organized by any group. Such spontaneous protests must be also allowed and protected by the police. The African Commission still went further to state that during protests the Government must not close down the internet. In fact, international law states that where protests will not disrupt traffic or cause major public inconvenience there is no need to even notify the police.

So, my fellow citizens do not allow anyone to confuse you with their false narratives about protest with the intention to scare and suppress us. We have freedom today thanks to protests by Gambians at home and abroad at various times. No modern democratic society functions well without citizens taking to protests. The Gambia cannot be different.

It was that 2016 protest by Solo Sandeng which was reinforced by the protest led by Ousainou Darboe and his UDP colleagues the day after to be further reinforced by the protests led by Fatoumatta Tambajang and the thousands of women and youth that led us to this freedom. Hence, we will not come this far only for some minister or IGP or spokesperson to tell us that protest is destroying our country. No Way!

The vast majority of Gambians are law-abiding and peaceful citizens who will not vandalise, loot or burn down their country. Our people just want to express their grievances peacefully and go home. This is why anytime citizens have a permit to protest it goes off peacefully without any violence. Violence only takes place when the Government uses the police to deny permit and clampdown on protesters. So, who causes violence in the Gambia?

Gambians love and respect their police officers. Only criminals do not like the police. Gambians value their police because we know that the police are here for our security and safety. But while we appreciate our police, Gambians will not also condone the use of force and violence by the police. We will not condone torture and extrajudicial killings and abuse of power by the police. Standing against police brutality is not the same as disrespecting the police. So, let no one confuse you!

for the Gambia Our Homeland

……………………………………………..

Madi Jobarteh

Skype: madi.jobarteh

Twitter: @jobartehmadi

LinkedIn: Madi Jobarteh

Phone: +220 9995093

Let me repeat, the vast majority of the citizens of the Gambia appreciate and respect the men and women of the Gambia Police Force. I am sure this is a fact that many police officers would attest in their daily interactions with citizens. The police are an indispensable necessity and the majority of police officers are hardworking men and women who are committed to their work as they should, professionally and efficiently.

In their line of duty police officers face clear and direct danger yet they execute their functions to the best of their ability without favour or ill will, for or against any individual. They simply want to enforce the law and then go back home to their families. Hence it is also in the interest of each ad every citizen to respect and cooperate with the police. In fact, a citizen who abides by the law is a police officer of his or her own since by abiding by the law that citizen is in fact enforcing the law.

The law that the Gambia Police enforce are the laws that protect our rights. The Police Act states that the general duty of the police is to preserve law and order, to protect property, to prevent and detect crime and to apprehend and prosecute offenders. When there is law and order it means there is safety for all such that citizens’ rights, life and properties are safe and secure.

Anytime crime occurs it means an injury to our life, property and safety. Hence anyone protecting our lives, properties and safety means that person or entity is indeed protecting our human rights. This is why to me the police are the foremost and immediate human rights protector in society! As citizens this is how we should perceive the police,

At the same time the police must also perceive themselves as human rights defenders at all times. This means the police themselves must not break the law. For example, if the police arrest a suspect, not matter the gravity of the crime committed by that suspect, the police must not torture that person in anyway. This is because torture constitutes a damage to life and liberty hence a violation of human rights. The police must not do that!

For that matter our men and women in law enforcement must educate themselves adequately about their role and function and create the necessary structures, tools and processes to ensure that they combat crime without having to cause harm to both the victims and the perpetrators of crime. This is the only way the police can guarantee the trust and confidence of the public hence enhance the cooperation of citizens in the fight against crime.

Yes, no one likes criminals especially if one is a victim. We are always happy when we hear the police have apprehended criminals. But we will all harm ourselves if we allow the police to manhandle suspects just because we think they are criminals. The laws of the Gambia are such that they favour the police more than the criminal. Hence the police have no need to fuss since the law is always on their side. Therefore, let the police uphold the law and enjoy the continued appreciation of citizens.

To enable the police to uphold the law effectively and enjoy public trust and cooperation, it is necessary that the police review themselves. This means the police need to re-organize, renew and rebrand itself in all ways. For example, it is necessary that police officers act professional and disciplined at all times when they deal with citizens no matter how rudely an individual acted towards them or what crime was committed. The police officer is expected to be a well-trained professional to contain difficult persons or challenging situations.

Secondly it is pertinent that the police appear professional in their comportment, i.e.  to be neat and tidy in uniform and attitude. They should put on proper uniforms with visible identification tags for all to see. Our police officers in uniform should not be smoking in public. Our traffic officers should not be texting or speaking on phone while in the middle of the traffic. Police officers must not be seen cursing or quarrelling with citizens. Above all our police officers must not be begging or extorting money from people.

Furthermore, it is necessary that the police adopt smart strategies and tactics in combating crime. To use the same old crude and blunt methods will only undermine the trust and image of the police in the eyes of citizens. For that matter it is necessary that there is lot more investment into law enforcement with modern gadgets for detection and investigation of crime. Our police officers need constant refresher training.

To enhance better police and civilian relations the police must do away with old and crude forms of policing such as mounting checkpoints indiscriminately all over the country. Criminals know where checkpoints are hence it is every easy for them to avoid the checkpoints. This is why hardly would the police intercept illicit materials at checkpoints. Foe example I always see trucks and certain vehicles avoid the checkpoint in front of Bottrop school in Kembujeh by branching off into the community to circumvent the checkpoint only to enter the highway again after the checkpoint!

In the absence of checkpoints what the police therefore need to do is to enhance their intelligence capabilities. Without effective and innovative intelligence tools and skills no security institution will be able to do its work well. Hence the intelligence facilities and capabilities of the police must be developed so as to detect crimes. Criminals use intelligence hence the police must also use intelligence.

Talking about modern gadgets and methods of policing, it is necessary that the Police create and popularise a hotline such as 911 as in other countries. But it is not also enough to create such a hotline when there are no proper vehicles that can respond immediately to the call. This is why if the Government is interested in ensuring a safe and secure society it must indeed invest heavily into the Gambia Police Force. Such investment must not only be about working conditions and tools but also about the welfare of police officers such as their salaries, living quarters and transportation among others must be enhanced.

Community policing has been a longstanding program of the Gambia Police Force however this program remains weak and not effectively implemented. It is necessary that community policing is well funded and supported. Ultimately the fight against crime cannot be done by the police all alone. Community police is the idea that by working with the members of the community the police will be able to contain crime more effectively. In fact, community policing concept holds that sometimes crime is caused by the social and economic conditions of an individual and not necessary because individuals are violent or vicious. This means some crimes are best solved through mediation within the community and not by going to court.

Above all our police must uphold the standards of the law. For example, there are standard procedures to arrest and detain. These standards need to be enforced at all times so as to ensure that there is no abuse. Secondly our Constitution stipulates that no one should be detained by the police beyond 72 hours. This must be respected too at all times. In respecting this constitutional requirement, it is also necessary that the police avoid subjecting people to unnecessary bail or reporting routinely to the station. Through bail and reporting we have realised that a lot of abuse also takes place hence further undermining the public trust and appreciation of the police.

Finally, it is urgently necessary that the Ministry of Interior and the Gambia Police Force review the Police Act. For example, when you look at the name ‘Gambia Police Force’ in itself you will realise that this is not supposed to be a friendly entity because of the word, ‘Force’. The police are not a ‘force’ rather they are a service. Force is about power and violence. Our police are providing a service to citizens by protecting our rights and saving our lives and property. Therefore, the need to change the name itself is urgent because sometimes names can influence people to act accordingly.

A well-disciplined and effective police service is in the national interest. It is what each and every citizen need. While we appreciate the police, we must at the same time hold them accountable to ensure that they do not exceed their powers to the point of damaging our rights. Let’s recognise, appreciate and respect our police. The vast majority of these officers are indeed among the best sons and daughters of the Gambia. But let the police also abide by the law at all times. #RespectandAppreciateThePolice

For the Gambia Our Homeland

……………………………………………..

Madi Jobarteh

Skype: madi.jobarteh

Twitter: @jobartehmadi

LinkedIn: Madi Jobarteh

Phone: +220 9995093

The SaGG Foundation (Sponsor a Gambian Girl) is a girls’ education movement, with the aim of championing the cause for the education of girls in The Gambia. Education is a basic human right and our vision is to advocate this and pair up girls with sponsors to help with their education.

Founded in November 2018, The Foundation has so far paired up 50 girls with sponsors helping to shape their lives through education. Those currently sponsoring girls are from a wide range of countries including The Gambia, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, USA, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Taiwan.

Our slogan “education changes everything for a girl” symbolises our strong belief that education is the only tool for total girl empowerment, helping to ensure they live independent and successful lives.  Formal education enables them to develop skills that can help them earn a living and support themselves in the future, reducing child marriage, harmful cultural practices and gender-based violence.

The primary aim of the SaGG Foundation is to advocate education and pair up girls with sponsors to support them financially (paying of school fees).  These sponsorships give the girls access to education and ensure they stay in school.  The Foundation also raises funds to equip girls with essential educational resources to improve their learning experience. In the long term, the foundation aims to:

1. Support mentoring and career advisory schemes for girls and women;
2. Support or establish skills training centres for girls and young adults

1. Increase the amount of girls and women in education, encourage skills development and entrepreneurship;
2. Collaborate with other stakeholders, agencies and associations involved in similar activities or activities consistent with the objectives and goals of the Foundation.

In order to achieve the aims of the Foundation, various initiatives are employed, our Sponsor a Gambian Girl Champions in their respective countries and cities, use their voices and passion to advocate for girls’ education, connect girls with sponsors and contribute in lots of ways.

The Foundation attends awareness days at various locations and will be present at theGambian Cultural Week in Oslo. Our Norway Champion Betty Marong will be at the Seminar on Friday August 2^nd2019.   Betty will explain more about the organisations sponsorship opportunities, which start at a minimum monthly payment of 100 NOK.

Sulayman Suwareh, Eku Grant and Annetta Paps-King will be at the Gambian Cultural Event in East London on 25^thAugust 2019 to create more awareness of the Foundation and its activities.

From 1^stAugust, The SaGG Foundation will be launching The D1, £1, $1, €1 fundraising campaign drive to equip girls with educational resources for the upcoming academic year in September. You can be part of the campaign by sponsoring a girl, becoming a Champion to help spread the word, by donating educational materials or a donation help with our administrative work.

To make a donation now for D1, £1, $1, €1 or any other amount click here

Those in Gambia can donate D1 or any other amount by paying it into the Foundation’s account:

The SaGG Foundation, Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Ltd.

Account Number: 207-408491-110

To learn more about the SaGG Foundation, visit our website https://www.saggfoundation.org/

For any further questions, see our frequently asked questions page

https://www.saggfoundation.org/frequently-asked-questions.html

For daily updates, follow the SaGG Foundation on Facebookand Twitter

Meet the Volunteers behind Sponsor a Gambian Girl

Rev. Charles King – Secretary

Eku P.L Grant – Deputy Public Relations Officer

Betty Marong – Vice President

Tala Jobe – Public Relations Officer

Sulayman Ben Suwareh – Treasurer

John Paul Gomez – Deputy Treasurer

Annetta Paps-King – President

Thank you.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia on Monday July 29, 2019 said Ecomig forces are serving as a stabilising force in The Gambia. 

Dr. Tangara made the remark in a meeting with delegates of African Union Peace and Security Council as show of appreciation for the role played by Ecomig forces in the maintenance of peace and security in the country.

The 26-member AU Security Council Field Mission to the country met Dr Tangara at his office on Monday to acquaint themselves with the security situation in the country. 

In welcoming the delegation, Dr. Tangara commended their respective countries for standing by the people of the Gambia in ensuring that the will of Gambians prevailed during the political impasse the country experienced in December 2016. He paid special homage to Nigeria, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea for the role they played during the political impasse. 

He further urged the Council Members to extend the mandate of Ecomig forces adding that the Security Sector Reform is ongoing. 

He emphasise the need to build the capacity of security forces, notably the military. He applauded the AU Security Council Team for their hard work and called on them to redouble their efforts towards bringing greater development on the continent through ensuring peace. The Government, he said is working on attracting foreign direct investment and tourism among others in the country. 

The Ambassador of Togo to the African Union, H.E. Sebade Toba, expressed delight at progress registered and expressed optimism that the trend would be maintain. He said this the courtesy call is a learning experience for them and thanked Foreign Minister for the warm welcome accorded. 

Issued by: Communication Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad

And so my first encounter with the man Peter Bonu Johnson, was through the enchanting commentaries of Radio Gambia legends like Bora Mbodge and Malick Jones. On those intense match days, the voices of the commentators would boom over the airwaves on medium wave (MW): “meanwhile Bonu Johnson; takes possession of the ball and clears it away. But blocked to touch; and ball since taken, the Gambians…”

I was to meet Bonu in person when I was hired as youth assistant at the Department  of Youth and Sports headquartered at the independence stadium. Bonu was to be one of my supervisors there alongside other cool kotos like Pa Suwareh Faye, Abdoulie Kah, Mr. Demba and others.

Bonu always stood out for his businesslike attitude, devotion to duty and the occasional telling of the hard, unpleasant truth that can make others uncomfortable; but those of us who knew him well enough knew he always meant well.

His exploits in national service are quite legendary – from national team player to national team coach, Bonu has truly served his nation with distinction.

Has the nation rewarded him in turn? That is the question worth answering; not just for his sake but in the long term interesting of the nation. Or, Alas, are we going to continue to plead guilty to the timeless charge preferred against us by the Kora maestro Jaliba Kuyateh who sang in Mandinka “fatafing laa jamani bay kang; moe nyimmaa e mang wo keh feng ti. Naa faa ta, e kaa yeh tooraa yeh e laa!” (In Africa we don’t honour our great people but once they are dead we all proclaim : Indeed a great hero has passed away!”

I was to have further contacts with Bonu many years after I left the Department of Youth and Sports in my neighborhood at Kerr Sering and Sanchaba. That was when I found out the other side of Bonu, as a cultural connoisseur and a man devoted to religious service and communal activities.

He came to my mother-in-law’s house on festive occasions of the Christian tradition singing Christmas carols with children and youths. Those occasions just heightened my admiration and respect for Bonu. Here I saw a man who had “been there, done it,“ but remained well-grounded and in tune with his higher self.

I am no Saul Njie or Bora Mboge; neither am I Malick Jones. But I have breathed a bit of their legendary commentary spirits . And so I dare draw inspiration from them to bid the legend, Peter Bonu Johnson, Farewell:

Meanwhile, in the greater game of life, our man, the legendary Peter Bonu Johnson, did collect the pass, skillfully disciplined the ball on the ground; laid his own pass to the next generation, and bowed out gracefully.

Farewell Bonu, servant of the people 

Never condoned hate or evil

On the pitch you proved your mettle

On the bench you raised the mantle 

Thrust the nation to global level

Served Gambia without forgetting Jehova

To country and church you gave your all

Rest well commander of the ball

We shall remember your service to all. 

RIP, Coach. Till we meet again.

#GambiaMourns

Momodou Sabally

Former Secretary General and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Economist, Author, and International Speaker.  

The presence of men armed with AK47 rifles with no uniforms on our streets is indeed a new threat to national security in case the Director General of NIA has not noticed. The Gambia is not a narco-state or engulfed in a civil war neither fighting an insurgency or terrorism. Hence it is utterly unjustified that law enforcement officers of the Gambia could carry assault rifles openly without uniforms while facing ordinary citizens protesting the death of another citizen.

In the first-place assault rifles must not be in the hands of law enforcement agents when they are engaging the civilian population. AK47 is a combat rifle that must not be used ever again by our police as a first instance weapon in controlling crowds. There was no evidence that angry demonstrators in Serre Kunda on July 24 were armed especially with assault rifles so as to warrant a similar response from the police.

Secondly even if the police were to use these weapons in a faceoff with an armed civilian population those officers must be inside their police uniforms. One of the purposes of police putting on uniforms is to ensure identification, legitimacy and accountability. Every Gambian is required to recognise the uniform of the Gambia Police Force. Hence to deploy men without uniforms is to undermine the identification, legitimacy and accountability of those officers in the eyes of the people and therefore undermine the cooperation of the public towards those armed men.

Thirdly the presence of men without uniforms and bearing arms in such situations as a demonstration threatens peace. This is because where such men were to unlawfully use their weapons it will be difficult to identify the shooters. Even where the use of that gun was lawful it has the potential to generate a negative and violent reaction from the demonstrators as they might mistaken the officer to be a criminal. Therefore, this would have endangered the life of that officer just because he was not in a uniform.

Therefore, it is pertinent that we ask why the Anti-Crime Unit command decided to hand weapons to its men knowing fully well that they were not in uniform? What is their objective? If indeed those officers were CID officers as claimed by the Police PRO, I wish to put it to the PRO that CID officers expected to be undercover agents or operate in counter-insurgency scenarios. For that matter it is unjustified to arm CID officers in such public situations.

What we know is that the practice of law enforcement agents bearing such arms openly and in public and without uniforms happens mainly under authoritarian and criminal regimes. They do so because they wish to generate chaos with an objective to shoot to kill identified persons or implicate certain people. Such regimes also employ these tactics in order to create an unpleasant situation that they will now use to justify the creation of more draconian laws or adoption of more oppressive measures against the people. Is this the objective of the Barrow Government?

We all recall how in April 2000 after killing 14 schoolchildren the Jammeh Regime came to say that shooting came out from the protesting students. It appears by then the regime had not fully mastered the gimmicks of notorious regimes in full otherwise they would have planted gunmen inside the students and take their pictures so they can show that as evidence. This is why it is so dangerous to see today, in 2019 after defeating that Dictatorship that this Government would put armed men without uniforms on the streets!

When all is considered it will be clear that this country urgently needs a security sector reform otherwise the peace and security of this country is fast eroding. Since the launch of the security sector program several weeks ago, may we ask the Minister of Justice what is happening so far? The events of July 24 in Brikama and Serre Kunda clearly point to the urgent need for these reforms.

One will find more justification for these reforms when you read the Faraba Commission Report. In that report it was categorically recommended that the IGP should vet all PIU officers and those found to have been involved in torture to be removed. Has the IGP done that? We know that some of the PIU officers deployed in Brikama and Serre Kunda on that fateful day are notorious torturers and killers since 2000! Why are they still in our uniforms?

The Anti-Crime Unit is notorious for torture. The evidence is overwhelming, yet the Gambia Government continues to close its eyes to malpractices that characterised the country under Yaya Jammeh. Those of us monitoring this Unit have reports that the detention conditions at the ACU headquarters are subhuman while various other abuses continue to take place there. The death of Ousman Darboe is a case in point which must be thoroughly investigated.

After 22 years of indiscriminate killing of Gambians by the Gambia Government under Yaya Jammeh, we must not ever again allow a single Gambian to die at the hands of Gambian armed and security forces. So far, we have registered the death of several Gambians at the hands of security forces in Kanilai, Faraba and now Serre Kunda. This is unacceptable and there must be accountability.

Meantime the practice of Gambian law enforcement officers appearing with guns and without uniforms in public must also be investigated and those responsible held accountable.

For The Gambia Our Homeland

……………………………………………..

Madi Jobarteh

Skype: madi.jobarteh

Twitter: @jobartehmadi

LinkedIn: Madi Jobarteh

Phone: +220 9995093

It is important that Gambians remind ourselves that after all this country is 49 years old today since we gained Independent in 1970. In 2016 the Gambia Bureau of Statistics released figures to indicate that poverty increased in the country from 48.1% in 2010 to 48.6% in 2015. The United Nations Development Programme in its human development index 2018 report ranked the Gambia as the 174^th poorest country in the world with more than 60% of the population living below the poverty line.

One does not need to refer to any study to realise that more than half of the Gambian population cannot read or write with widespread unemployment. The fact that thousands of Gambians have to find their way out of the country and the money they send back amount to more than 20% of our GDP manifest that indeed this country has very little opportunity and capacity to grow. I need not tell anyone that not only taxes are high in this country but cost of living is equally so high while the country’s debt takes much of the taxes we generate. Paradoxically the more loans the Government takes the more impoverished the country becomes such that we cannot even pay back our loans!

It is obvious that the vast majority of the homes, villages and towns in the Gambia do not enjoy basic social amenities such as water and electricity supply which remain largely erratic and expensive. One can count on your fingers the number of tarred roads in Banjul or Kanifing Municipality or Brikama or Farafeni or Basse which are among the biggest towns in the Gambia! Even those tarred roads are poor quality without drainage and streetlights or even adequate road signs!

In 1920 Edward Francis Small fought the colonialists that Gambians must have a say in how our tax money was spent and by who when he cried, ‘No Taxation Without Representation’. In those days Gambians do not elect individuals to serve as representatives of the country. Rather a foreign power constituted a government by itself and without our consent and then imposed taxes on the people without giving back to the people any social services or economic opportunities.

Exactly one hundred years later in 2019, Gambians now have the independence to elect their own representatives as President, National Assembly Members, Mayors, Area councillors and Chairpersons. We pay taxes to them and in our name, they take loans and receive grants from around the world. Despite paying taxes to these representatives who are in charge of our institutions of governance and development our people receive only very limited and usually very poor, expensive and erratic social services. Where is our tax money then? Where are the loans? Where are the grants?  In 2019 the Gambia’s national budget is 25 billion dalasi and we are only 2 million people. Where is this money?

According to the Local Government Act and the Finance and Audit Act the area councils are expected to share their budget estimates with residents by pasting them in each and every ward for public scrutiny. The law said 60% of all the revenue of the local government area must be spent on development projects and only 40% should be spent on operational costs. Furthermore, the law said the Central Government should give 25% of the development budget (i.e. 60%) to the local government areas to add to their development budget. Is this been done? Never!

Who has ever seen the published budget estimates of BCC or KMC or BAC or Basse or Janjanbureh or Kerewan or Kuntaur or Mansa Konko area council? I have never seen them publish their budget estimates in each and every ward for public scrutiny as required by law? Did anyone of us ever hear a mayor or chairperson or governor publicly announce how much money his or her local government area or city or municipality collected in a month or in a year? Yet one will always hear these area council officials complain that lot of residents don’t pay compound rates or that the rates are not enough. But they never tell us how much they collected from compound rates?

Therefore, the path that #OccupyBAC is pursuing is the path each and every Gambian must pursue if we wish to see real change and development in our lives in our lifetime. Our local government areas are our primary agencies of development. We cannot take the majority of our people our of poverty and create high standard of living so long as our area councils are not transparent, efficient and accountable.

There is so much money in the Gambia being generated by our central and local governments, yet our people live in subhuman conditions. Go to any community in the Gambia – from Banjul to Fatoto – to realise the immense poverty, underdevelopment and disorganization in which we live. For how long?

Those of us insulting protesters are not helping ourselves and our country. Let us rise above tribal, party and other sectarian biases to realise the high stakes. The state of affairs in this country after almost five decades of independence is disgraceful. This is not what we deserve, and we must rise up to ensure that our lives change for the better during our lifetime.

In a democracy one of the most effective weapons for change and progress in the hands of citizens are demonstrations. This is what we see in every democratic society of the world where there is progress. For example, in these recent weeks we saw citizens of Hong Kong protest until their government backed down from making a law that will allow them to extradite anyone to China. These past 10 days we also saw how people in Puerto Rico force their governor to resign just for saying some unpleasant words. We also saw how Pres. Macron of France was forced to abandon some economic measures because of the protests by citizens in yellow shirts. The examples are many around the world. Why therefore should the Gambia be different?

I don’t know about you, but I am fed up! We cannot continue to have central and local governments to whom we pay tax and they take expensive loans and fat grants in our name only for the majority of our people to continue to live in poverty and still paying back that loan. Why? There are numerous communities in this country which live in such appalling conditions that you would think that they do not belong to the Gambia.

We must all occupy our area councils to demand meaningful development. We must demand transparency and accountability. We must demand efficient delivery of quality, affordable and consistent social services that must be accessible and available to all. In 2019 no Gambian community or home should exist without 24 hours uninterrupted water and electricity supply and high-quality roads. If so, either our central and local governments are corrupt, inefficient and lacking vision or that our citizens are dormant, uninformed and equally corrupt or that both our governments and citizens are all corrupt and lazy without vision.

For the Gambia Our Homeland

This week, testimony in The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) provided details surrounding the direct involvement of former President Jammeh in the disappearance of American Citizens Alhaji M. Ceesay and Ebrima Jobe in 2013.  The United States welcomes the additional information that has come to light as this provides an opportunity to renew our investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

We will pursue a close partnership with Gambian authorities based on these new revelations to continue to investigate the disappearance of these American citizens.

The United States Government expresses our heartfelt condolences to the families of Alhaji M. Ceesay, Ebrima Jobe, and of all other victims of crimes that are being revealed by the continued work of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission.  We express our gratitude to the TRRC for undertaking this important work for accountability, justice, and national reconciliation.