By Arret Jatta The Gambia has faced significant security incursions in Foni which is next to the conflict-ridden Casamance which lies in Senegal. Following a series of deaths in which people were killed with drones and the MFDC Rebels clashed with Senegalese Security Forces, Gambians have urged their Parliamentarians to demand the withdrawal of ECOMIG Troops in the Foni Area. This has seen Gambian Parliamentarians in the Foni Regions organise press conferences and bombard the Defence Minister with questions on the security situation facing The Gambia. ECOMIG Troops came into the Gambia back in January 2017 forcing former Head of…
Author: Gainako
Fajara, 1st June 2023 – The Gambia Press Union has received reports of assaults on two journalists, Malick B. Cham of the online platform, Jamano, and Pa Ousman Joof of Gambian Talents TV (GTTV) while they were covering the swearing-in ceremony of the Mayor and councillors of the Banjul City Council on 31st May, 2023. Both Joof, who said he was slapped, and Cham, who was beaten and injured on his nose and lips, alleged that the perpetrators of the assault are suspected to be supporters of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP). In interviews with Voice Out Digital, another…
By State House, Banjul, 25th May 2023: On Wednesday, 24th May 2023, His Excellency President Adama Barrow presided over the Monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the State House in Banjul. The Council is an advisory body comprised of ministers and senior officials managing the economy and public financial institutions that have met to update on the state of the economy since its April 2023 meeting. According to officials of the Central Bank of The Gambia, applying the reference rate with minor tweaks on all Forex transactions was effective. It has already picked up and stabilised, except for an…
By ADF International “No one should be sentenced to death for peaceful expression”—Human rights advocates call on Nigeria to release prisoner of conscience Yahaya Sharif-Aminu 209 international and Nigerian human rights advocates call for the immediate release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu Sentenced to death for alleged “blasphemy” for a WhatsApp message, Sharif-Aminu’s appeal, supported by ADF International, is currently before the Nigerian Supreme Court WASHINGTON, DC (18 May 2023) – 209 human rights and religious freedom organizations, together with leading international and Nigerian advocates, have joined together to call for the immediate release of prisoner of conscience Yahaya-Sharif Aminu. A young Nigerian Sufi musician,…
By Edward Francis Dalliah The Gambia’s Under 20 National Football team under the leadership of coach Abdoulie Bojang booked their place in the round of sixteen of the FIFA Under 20’s World Cup competition taking place in Argentina after defeating France 2 – 1 in their second game. Playing on Tursday 25th May 2023, the first goal was confirmed after French centre-back, Tanguy Zoukrou deflected a shot from Adama Bojang inside the penalty box resulting in an own goal in the thirteenth minute of the game, giving the Young Scorpions the lead. As the game continued another opportunity for the…
By Arret Jatta Gambian Mbalax and Afro-fusion artist Barhama Cham popularly known by his stage name BARHAMA released an apology statement after his outburst on stage using the F word, demanding “respect” before refusing to perform after dropping his mic and marching off stage. The incident took place at the Best of the Best Concert at Qcity on Saturday the 13th of May 2023. Female Artist Awa Gambia also decided not to perform at the event which also raised eyebrows as to the management of the show. Link to video of Barhama walking off stage. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=YCRy0i&v=915216986398114 On May 10th Barhama…
By Arret Jatta The Young Men Christian Association The Gambia (YMCA The Gambia) concluded a two-day training of some 30 advocates and advocacy groups last Wednesday 17th May 2023 focusing on peace and security building. The training featured popular female Rapper Awa Bling and young peace advocates who all spoke about its impact. YMCA Program Officer, Elsie Makoli highlighted that the training is part of their advocacy project called “The Work for Peace” to empower young people. “In the project, we deal with vulnerable young people like the backway returnees to empower and help them reintegrate.” “We decided to involve young…
Patience Loum In its planned activities outlined in the implementation plan on the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), the government of the Gambia has unveiled a time line for the prosecution of former president Yahya Jammeh and ex Junta members. The following Junta members Yahya Jammeh, Edward Singhateh, Sana Sabally, and Yankuba Touray are scheduled to be prosecuted by 2025 under the Ministry of Justice’s Special Prosecutor’s Office for ordering unlawful arrests, detention and torture of Omar A Jallow, M.C. Cham and others held at Fajara Barracks, all which happened during the 1994 coup d’état. In…
By Toney F Mendy Our political scene is pregnant with iniquities, arrogance with its evils, where many souls constantly seduce political power and wealth for no creative use. Today, I am paying tribute to an uncle and a friend who is an illustrious participant in that scene, but I dare say without hesitation that even with the fallible characteristics of all humans, Omar Amadou Jallow was a different player in the political history of The Gambia. Happily, today… tons of eulogies are in sight all over social media, as could be heard on radio and tv stations each competingly speaking…
By Alhagie M Dumbuya Abstract This paper generally gives an insight into the concept of Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) using a comparative approach. The findings reveal that PLS is a tool that has allowed parliaments to get directly involved in monitoring the implementation of the laws it enacted by way of soliciting feedback from the citizens whom the laws are meant to benefit. There are parliamentary jurisdictions that make it the mandate of all its committees to conduct PLS vis-à-vis their oversight functions whilst others have specific committees set up for this purpose. There are, however, some jurisdictions that only conduct…