By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Currently held hostage by his Presidential Guards, Niger President Mohamed Bazoum has issued a publication in the Washington Post calling for help to “restore constitutional order” and defended his track record against “an autocratic junta with no vision or reliable allies”. Meanwhile, Niger coup leaders have been travelling to other military-led regimes in West Africa to win over support to push back the imminent threat of an invasion from the West African Regional Block. Days after the two West African military regimes of Burkina Faso and Mali pledged to support Niger’s coup plotters resist military action…
Author: Yusef Taylor
Yusef Taylor
Yusef Taylor, commonly known as Flex Dan is an editor and practising journalist based in the Gambia with a keen interest in human rights, the economy and good governance among many others. He continues to break news on the economy, human rights violations and is highly engaged in security sector reforms, constitutional reform and the transition of the Gambia from dictatorship to a democracy, the NewGambia. Yusef has been working with Gainako as a media practitioner from 2015 to date. He has a degree in Civil Engineering with 5 years of Design Consultancy experience.
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT After the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum for Niger’s Coup Plotters to release President Mohamed Bazoum and relinquish power, two other military lead regimes pledged support to defend Niger and sustain the latest military takeover in West Africa. Last week Wednesday 26th July 2023, Niger’s Presidential Guard detained the current democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and his family members at his residence. Since then, the leader of the Presidential Guard, Abdourahmane Tchiani has declared himself the new leader of Niger. In reaction to this ECOWAS issued a statement on Saturday 30th…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Senegal’s embattled opposition leader, Ousman Sonko who spearheads PASTEF has been detained and his party dissolved after he was arrested for allegedly grabbing the phone of a Gendarmerie on Friday 28th July 2023. The PASTEF Leader posted a photo of Security Officers within his compound with a statement highlighting that “the general intelligence agents stationed outside my home 24 hours a day started filming me”. Sonko added that he “personally snatched the phone and asked the person to unlock it and delete the images they took, which they refused”. https://twitter.com/SonkoOfficiel/status/1684967046705029131 A few days later Senegal’s Ministry…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Chad’s President has met Niger’s coup leaders after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) released a statement giving Niger’s coup leaders a one-week ultimatum. Meanwhile, protesters in Niger have stormed the French Embassy to demonstrate against French interference in their internal Politics. Days after the coup, the head of Niger’s Presidential guard since 2015, Abdourahmane Tchiani, has declared himself the new leader of Niger after his forces barricaded democratically elected President Bazoum and his family members inside his residence. Coup plotters have been demanding President Bazoum’s immediate resignation which has not materialised. Niger’s ousted…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT A press release from The Gambia’s biggest opposition, the United Democratic Party (UDP) revealed that they have lodged a lawsuit against the appointment of six Presidential Advisors and four Foreign Affairs Diplomats at the Supreme Courts on 26th July 2023. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of a former UDP National President and nine of President Adama Barrow’s appointees which they claim contravenes section 170(1) of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution. The lawsuits are signed by UDP Party Leader, Lawyer Ousainu Darboe’s Law firm, Basangsang Chambers, with UDP stalwart Ebrima Dibba and Hon Madi Ceesay as Plaintiffs in…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The issue of conflict of interest has been a recurring theme in The Gambia in various sectors of the country. Last week the Ministry of Health (MoH) Published the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Taskforce Report which shed light on the environment of conflict of interest in the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) which allowed contaminated drugs to be imported into the country from Indian company Maiden Pharmaceuticals and distributed by Atlantic Pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the death of at least 73 children with 70 dying in 2022 while a further 3 died in 2023. The…
By Yusef Taylor and Edward Francis Dalliah After the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued statements condemning a Niger “coup attempt” on 26th July 2023, the Spokesperson of the military group announced that “they have decided to put an end to the regime”. In a statement aired in a news report by German public media, Deutsche Welle (DW), the military group identified itself as “the Defence and Security Forces under the National Committee for the Salvation of the People”. DW notes that this is the fifth coup attempt in Niger since its independence…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Majority Leader of the Sixth Legislature informed fellow Parliamentarians that the Anti-Corruption Bill would bring sanity to our public sector and government institutions at the opening session of a closed-door retreat with Parliamentarians organised by pro-fiscal transparency civil society organisation, Gambia Participates. The session focused on “fostering understanding” on the “most important Bill” is currently underway at Bakadaji Hotel, today 24th July 2023. Gambia Participates, Executive Director Marr Nyang, welcomed the presence of “the Ministry of Justice — to support the process. So, if there’s anything that any” Hon member needs clarification on, the forum can…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT After months of sitting on the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Investigation Report, the Ministry of Health finally published the report which culminated in the firing of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director on Friday 21st July 2023. However, they are not the only MCA Staff exposed in the report for serious conflict of interest. The recent firings have followed calls for the sacking of the Minister of Health (MoH), Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh. One heavily conflicted person is MCA’s Regulatory Officer Mr Tijan Jallow who caused an uproar on 31st October…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Minister of Finance and the Minister of Works held a press conference on Saturday 15th July 2023 to respond to public concerns over the “monetization” of the SeneGambia Bridge after signing a memorandum of understanding to receive $100 Million USD from Africa50. After the news made the local news cycle, citizens petitioned the National Assembly raising concerns that the bridge which is also known as the TransGambia Bridge was being mortgaged and compared the agreement to a loan agreement prompting calls for Parliamentary approval. The Minister of Finance Hon Seedy Keita was eager to dispel…