From Zimbabwe to Sudan, Equatorial Guinea to Gambia, there are still far too many strongmen and despots in power in Africa. The continent’s crisis in leadership gets highlighted each year nobody is awarded the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, aimed at celebrating responsible, democratic African statesmen, as my colleague Adam Taylornoted earlier. Some African leaders use the trappings of democracy to cloak their decades-long rule. Last year, we saw a military coup remove a sitting president in Burkina Faso who sought to extend his mandate through a constitutional amendment; this year, undeterred, rulers in four other African countries are considering similar constitutional…
Author: Gainako
Banka Manneh Freed on Bail By Yero Jallow In a dramatic twist on Thursday March 19th 2015, Minnesota Federal Magistrate, Becky R. Thorson of St. Paul, granted Banka Manneh conditional bail. Mr. Manneh, a household name in both the U.S and the Gambia, has been on the FBI investigation list since after the December 30th alleged coup in the tiny West African impoverished country, the Gambia. The event followed loss of lives and trial of alleged conspirators both in the U.S and the Gambia. Those charged in the U.S are charged for violating the U.S Neutrality Act, a law…
JAMMEH MUST GO FOR GAMBIA TO TRIUMPH By: Ousainou Mbenga In nature; when the conditions for coexistence between species and the environment remain unbalanced, disturbed and abused, two things happen. The environment in defense of itself becomes unsupportive of the species and ultimately the species die off or become extinct. From a social point of view, our beloved Gambia is being subjected to the same conditions of abuse, disturbance and imbalance by the monstrous Jammeh regime. This creature name Yaya Jammeh, the deranged specie, is an environmental hazard that no environment can coexist with. All evidence, natural and social…
PDOIS STATEMENT ON EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVES PDOIS STATEMENT ON THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO COLLECT ALL REVENUES FOR COUNCILS 16TH MARCH 2016 HALIFA SALLAH FOR THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE GOVERNING BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE OUTSIDE THE AMBIT OF THE LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND CONSTITUTE THE LEGITIMISATION OF IMPUNITY In many parts of the world where the sovereign people are aware of their rights and powers, the policies of government and the laws parliaments enact are examined periodically to determine whether they are serving or negating the public interest. If they fail to serve the public interest, Presidents and Ministers who…
By Ebrima Manneh The number of innocent citizens killed by law enforcement agents that took an oath to defend them is on the rise, and has become a great concern for community leaders and law enforcement officials. This has signaled a breach of trust and strained relationships between the communities they serve and the law enforcement officials. The recent incident in the Gambia resulting in the killing of an innocent young lady, Ya Binta Jarju at a military checkpoint adds to the reckless trend in the killing of innocent citizens in the country without due process. The killing of…
Dr. Simone Gbagbo Ivorian former first lady, Dr. Simone Gbagbo, is now a prisoner. Mr Gbagbo was recently found guilty of subverting authorities, among others, and was awarded 20 years in jail. Mrs Gbagbo’s conviction has been received with mixed views and reaction. The beneficiaries from her stint in power were perturbed and wounded while the victims of her husband’s resistance that resulted in over 3000 innocent people dying were elated. For them – at least – justice was done and be seen done. Mrs Gbagbo – during her husband’s stint in power – was much more feared than…
‘Diaspora Gambians braces for more arrest by the FBI’ By Demba Baldeh Driven away in thousands from their home country of the Gambia for their political views and for speaking out openly against political oppression, Gambians have found themselves in cross roads between fighting against oppression or ignore the plight of their people and quietly enjoy their new liberty in the United States. For simply exercising their democratic civic rights and the desire to participate in their nation’s political discourse; a right guaranteed by their constitution, Gambians ran away in large numbers and seek refuse in the United States…
A Poem: Heroic Cries My eyes reddened. The ship swayed on ocean waves. It was the news. The wind carried the burden on its wings. My heartfelt sorrow. My mind moved on Earth length horizons. The king’s house in total disarray. I heard the citizens’ cry. Heroes put on chains. It is a recounting terror tale. The nightmare lengthened. The twinkling stars dimmed. My sword blunted. I stood there helpless. Face-to-face with the relentless enemy. My heroes fell. Another hero lay wounded. Some other heroes put on chains. I stumbled and held back on…
A Poem: My un-sweet songs I often hear the little birds sing sweet in chorus And I wanted the same melody songs Because my voice wasn’t sweet enough Though it came from the center of my heart So I still sat there singing aloud from my lungs I sang for the sincere heroes and heroines And I sang against injustices I lightened the lamps for the heroes and heroines And dimmed it for the enemy and enablers But I will keep singing During wee hours of the night And when the sun lightened up the…
By Mathew K Jallow The outcry was swift. The reaction was scathing. And the condemnations; relentless and laced with pejorative verbiage. A nation perpetually mired in severe social and economic disaffection, was once again challenged by an arrogant showcase of imperial unilateralism. Notwithstanding the influences of our colonial culture, the ancestors who found an unpopulated landscape and created a panorama of small, isolated village settlements, occupy positions of divine reverence in our culture. From Sutukoba to Barra; and from Kartong to Koina, the founding of every settlement has its own story; stories often depicted in…