ARE FACTS EMERGING ON GAMBIA’S DIPLOMATIC BREAK UP WITH TAIWAN? By Sidi Sanneh The revelation by the Taiwanese Foreign Minister that Yaya Jammeh demanded more than $10 million in cash from the Taiwanese government is only the tip of the revelation iceberg. When every thing is said and done, we will come to realize that the Taiwan – Gambia diplomatic relations was a marriage of convenience between a country that was and still is yearning for international recognition, and a military-cum-civilian regime that was desperately in search of legitimacy and financial aid to stay afloat, in the midst of…
Author: Gainako
REJOINDER ON THE FUTILE INVITATION FROM HALIFA SALLAH MAI AHMAD FATTY, GMC Leader As a political Party, the fundamental priority of GMC is to achieve a robust acceleration of the demise of the dictatorial regime of Yaya Jammeh, replacing it with the unfettered choice of Gambians. Ending this brutal regime is our principal focus and agenda. Everything GMC and I do politically for now, is aimed at effecting this outcome. Therefore, I have no time to waste in arguing philosophical fundamentals with Hon. Halifa Sallah at any fora. I need not tout my competence in effectively tackling the Hon. Halifa…
After a high level delegation of Taiwanese officials visited Banjul over the weekend to ascertain President Jammeh’s abrupt decision to sever ties with Taiwan little over three days ago, the Taiwanese delegation has returned home effectively ending decades of pocket book diplomacy with the Gambia government. A meeting was convened between the delegates and President Jammeh to find out the reason behind the diplomatic breakup. However, President Jammeh reportedly did not give any further details except he is ending his ties with Taiwan. This was not received well by the Taiwanese officials who suddenly left Banjul and reported…
CLEARING DISTORTIONS EMANATING FROM GMC LEADER’S INTERVIEW 10 November, 2013 Issued On Behalf of the Central Committee of PDOIS Halifa Sallah Secretary General The attention of the PDOIS Central Committee was drawn to comments of the GMC leader, Mr Mai Fatty, regarding unity among the opposition, singling out PDOIS as a party that is respectable while implying that it has chosen not to unite with other parties . The relevant text reads:9656+512 Mai Fatty issued the following statement on Friday November 1, 2013: “Having read and listened to most of the comments about the failure of PDOIS to embrace…
By Baba G. Jallow Since African countries gained independence from colonial rule in the late fifties and early sixties, the continent remains mired in seemingly intractable problems of underdevelopment, unethical leadership and bad governance. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and other investments from both within and without the continent have failed to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Respect for human rights and the rule of law are disregarded with impunity by irresponsible, unethical and selfish rulers and the great majority of Africa’s people remain subject to the whims and caprices of unconscionable dictators whose favorite pastimes…
By Papa Kumba Loum Gambia’s Insane President is further bent on destablising the small and improvish West African nation The Gambia. I told you in an earlier article that the noose is tightening on Yahya Jammeh’s neck and that his days are numbered. These are the last kicks of a dying horse. His alleged drug trafficking deals have been further exposed by the indicted Guinea Bissau Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto who was detained by USA anti-narcotics officers and currently being tried in the USA, his staunch allies have either fled the country or are being prosecuted by…
Banjul – Taipei diplomatic rupture By Sidi Sanneh In characteristic Yaya Jammeh style, Gambians were informed of the government’s decision to severe diplomatic relations with the Republic of China in Taiwan (ROC), the official name of Taiwan, in a brief statement from the Office of the President. Until today, Taiwan has been, undoubtedly, the most important diplomatic partner of Yaya Jammeh, not necessarily of The Gambia, and necessarily so because it was a dollar diplomatic relationship.
The Gambia government has abruptly announced that the Jammeh government is breaking diplomatic ties with the Taiwanese government with immediate effect. The news was broadcast on the pro government Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) during its evening news broadcast. No immediate reason was advanced for the diplomatic breakup.. The news of the breakup is as usual very surprising as Gambia and Taiwan has enjoyed long diplomatic relations dating back to the first republic. Gambia has been one of Taiwan’s biggest advocate at the United States and the Jammeh administration has enjoyed unprecedented funding from the Taiwanese government. As…
By D. A. Jawo The recent interview granted to New African magazine by President Yahya Jammeh shows that he is one of those African leaders who continue to blame colonialism for the ineptitude of their governments, more than half a century since the attainment of independence. “Colonialism has brought us nothing but poverty, backwardness, exploitation and slavery….,” he told New African.
The United States has designated Nigerian group Boko Haram as a Global Terrorists group which has been engaged in deadly attacks against Nigerian citizens. At a State Department briefing on Wednesday the United States said Boko Haram has links to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and was responsible for “thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria over the last several years, including targeted killings of civilians”. This is a significant development as the Nigerian government can now go after the Group from all fronts including law enforcement and other counter terrorism tactics. Boko Haram which translates into “Western…