Two United Nations special rapporteurs will visit The Gambia next week to investigate human rights issues and examine whether the country’s laws are in conformity with international standards. The initial visit of the special rapporteurs on extrajudicial, arbitrary executions; and on torture and other cruel, inhuman treatment, scheduled for August 2014, was annulled one week before the visit by the government, which proposed that the visit be delayed until next year. However, according to a press release received Thursday from the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva, Switzerland, the Gambia government has now accepted the visit of the UN…
Author: Gainako
Gainako has been closely monitoring the report of Gambian diplomats alleged involvement in a £5 million scandal selling tobacco products using their diplomatic credentials. We closely studied the case in other to understand the negative impact on the Gambia’s diplomatic relationship and how wide spread such schemes are within Gambian diplomatic circles around the world. Our investigation and conversation with former diplomats quickly revealed that the case is not an isolated incident. In fact, one former diplomat drew our attention to look at the general situation of governing in the Gambia and how people might be tempted…
‘Let All Midget Dictators be warned of the impending Revolution’ By: Kaba Sallah This Revolution will not be televised on GRTS, nor will it be announced on the Daily Observer, or celebrated at Kanilai, but the good people of Gambia will expel wannabe King, Dictator Yaya Jammeh and his minions sooner than they would like to believe. When the people storm Kanilai and Banjul, our own Queen, Marie Antoinette, a.k.a Zainab Suma Jammeh, will be offering Tapa Lapa bread to the hungry natives, to pacify them– us Gambians – since she has never shared our suffering, or shared our values.…
UAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — An army general took power in Burkina Faso Friday after President Blaise Compaore stepped down, ending his 27 year rule of the West African country. Army Gen. Honore Traore, the joint chief of staff, has assumed power, state radio announced. Compaore was forced out of office by a burst of violent protests in which parliament was set ablaze. The protesters refused to accept anything short of Compaore’s immediate resignation. Opposition protesters gathered in a square in the capital burst into cheers when they heard the announcement of Compaore’s resignation on hand-held radios. They had…
‘Successful political transition must be led by Civilians and Not Military’ The people of the West African State of Burkina Faso one of Africa’s smallest countries have risen to topple their totalitarian government led by Blaise Compaore for 27 years. Mr. Compaore took over power in 1987 after a bloody take over which killed one of Africa’s youngest and most promising leaders Captain Thomas Sankara. Compaore has since ruled his country with iron fist controlling every aspect of government. He won every election with almost over 80% of the votes which…
The African Union has issued a statement supporting the people of Burkina Faso on their quest for Democracy. AU Chief Dlamini-Zuma called on both parties in Burkina Faso to exercise restrain and avoid violence. In a statement below the AU chief said they are sending a special delegation to the volatile political unrest that sends its President Compaore packing. He is reportedly in hiding and has issued a statement calling to for negotiations with the demonstrators. Compaore has ruled the country for 27 years and wants to extend his term limit…
‘Who are the agencies and persons that are involved in that clash’? Lampedusa – the name of an island between Tunisia and Sicily, Italy, – has become the symbol for a human tragedy. One year ago, on 3 October 2013, 366 refugees from Africa and the Middle East drowned there in the Mediterranean seeking a life without war, persecution, torture, or poverty. ‘Lampedusa’ and the high number of dead on that specific day stand for many more victims and, above all, for an occurrence with global dimensions ,namely for the clash between people in need and rich Europeans. Who are…
Protesters angry at plans to allow Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year-rule have set fire to parliament. Correspondents say the city hall and ruling party headquarters are also in flames. A huge crowd is surging towards the presidential palace and the main airport has been shut. MPs have suspended a vote on changing the constitution to allow Mr Compaore to stand for re-election next year. Five people have been killed in the protests, among the most serious against Mr Compaore’s rule, reports BBC Afrique’s Yacouba Ouedraogo from the capital. The military fired live bullets as protesters…
Zambia’s New Interim President Guy Scott The Zambian president, Michael Sata, has died in London where he was being treated in a private hospital for an undisclosed illness, the Zambian government has confirmed. Sata died shortly after 11pm on Tuesday at London’s King Edward VII hospital, the cabinet secretary Roland Msiska said in a statement. Sata’s wife, Christine Kaseba, and his son, Mulenga Sata, were at the 77-year-old president’s side when he died, Msiska said. The statement said: “It is with a very heavy heart that I address you today, to inform the nation that our beloved president…
The Gambian authorities must heed a warning from the international community about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, Amnesty International said today. This morning, 62 countries took the floor at the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva to urge Gambia to promote and protect human rights. Concerns voiced by UN member states included Gambia’s unjustified restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and its renewed use of the death penalty. “UN member states have sent a clear message to Gambia that the government must end its rule of fear and repression,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty…