‘Regret Resignation of two Senior Officers’ The recent resignations of Ms. Sigga Jagne (Vice chairperson) and Mr. Banka Manneh (Director, Communications Officer) is a big loss to CORDEG. Both Sigga and Banka are outstanding personalities who are well known in their own rights as activists in the cause of transforming The Gambia into a thriving democracy. Their record of service in organisations they belong to, those they are associated with and their individual acts and sacrifice are a records that are widely known and appreciated. Therefore, CORDEG accepts both resignations with much regret and sadness. As an organisation, CORDEG was…
Author: Gainako
By Ebrima Ceesay Following the attempted coup of 30th December 2014 in The Gambia by Gambian dissidents based abroad, now that things have calmed down and a sense of normalcy has returned, it is important to take time for sober reflection and to learn some fundamental lessons. Over time, what actually took place has become more evident. As far as I am concerned, this was entrapment – a plot devised in the diaspora but manipulated by President Jammeh in The Gambia. It is as clear as noon day that any plot involving civilians or military personnel based in The…
Sarjo Bayang reveals serious imbalances and risks of a leader in crisis There exists large body of tangibly compelling evidence suggesting how dangerous and unsuitable it is for Yaya Jammeh staying as president of Gambia. Such evidence is derived from no remote sources but by critical examination of the man who forced his way to become Gambian Head of State since 22 July 1998 through what was deemed bloodless coup. From that day on, Jammeh turned into blood thirsty dictator whose killings include collaborators and perceived enemies alike without any boundary. That is not all. Look at Jammeh through…
Embattled Gambian President Seasoned political observers familiar with diplomacy and political maneuvers with dictators recognize that leaders who rule with iron fist do not exit the political scene without a price. They either hold on to power and commit as much atrocities as possible until death do them apart or have to have a reason to give up power. Their mentality is that everyone hates them and therefore is damn if they do damn if they don’t. Many African leaders caught in such traps are in denial and just stays in power to their last…
Dr. Kalilou Bayo Secretary General and Minister for Presidential affairs and Justice Minister Mahoney has been fired with immediate effect. An announcement on GRTS this evening stated that Mr. Bayo and Minister Mahoney has been relieved of their duties. As usual no reasons were given for their firing. In consequence Dr. Bayo’s firing came less than 24 hours after he made a statement during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Jammeh to welcome new members of his cabinet. In the statement Dr. Bayo said “if you are looking for a strong leader look for someone with military background” insinuating…
Gambia’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Neneh McDouall-Gaye, claimed on state-controlled national television GRTS that the code name given to the Gambian dictator by those accused of attacking State House was the same code name given to him during his last August visit to Washington DC to attend the U.S – Africa Summit. American Secret Service code names given to visiting Heads of State and other visiting dignitaries as guests of the United States government are supposed to be known only to the “principal” i.e. the dignitary, in this case, Yaya Jammeh, and to him alone. The code name is not…
CORDEG CALLS FOR PRESIDENT JAMMEH’S RESIGNATION AND FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION FAO: President Yahya Jammeh The State House Banjul, Gambia The Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in the Gambia (CORDEG) write to express our grave concern over the foiled coup of December 30, 2014, the ensuing reprisals being meted out on innocent citizens, including the indiscriminate arrests and detention of innocent family members of known and suspected insurgents, and the worrisome developments in The Gambia, generally, since you seized power in 1994. After you assumed power, you promised Gambians to end corruption and government ineptitude. You justified the…
PDOIS STATEMENT ON THE 30TH DECEMBER 2014 ARMED INSURRECTION ISSUED BY HALIFA SALLAH ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE 4TH January 2015 NEITHER THE BALLOT NOR THE BULLET CHANGED THE FIRST REPUBLIC FOR 30 YEARS NEITHER THE BALLOT NOR THE BULLET HAS CHANGED THE SECOND REPUBLIC FOR 20 YEARS HOW TO PREVENT HISTORY FROM REPEATING ITSELF? On 30th December 2014 the people within the vicinity of Banjul woke up to the sound of firing of weapons during the early hours of the morning. The PDOIS leadership, through information passed on to Foroyaa while the firing was taking place, was…
The United States of America the most powerful military force in the world prides itself in protecting members of its service men and women in Uniform. It is known worldwide that if you want the attention of the United States and experience the full force of its economic and military might then dare go after his uniform men, women or citizens. The exceptional service and sacrifice of men and women and their families is one thing that unites this great democratic nation. Even the little kids in Kindergarten know about American uniform men and women. They are celebrated at…
At least two American citizens were involved in a conspiracy to oust long-ruling Gambian President Yahya Jammeh last week, according to U.S. federal prosecutors. As my colleague Adam Goldman reports, the two men belonged to a ring of a dozen or so Gambian expatriates and dissidents who plotted the botched coup. One of them was allegedly financing the operation from the U.S. Their assault on the Gambian president’s house Dec. 30 proved ill-fated, and didn’t receive the support from military defectors that had been hoped. Jammeh, who was out of the country at the time, deemed the incident a…