Stop-start for Gambia in AFCON Campaign

Moses warning could remain the status quo

The Scorpions has never been to AFCON

The Scorpions of the Gambia will continue bid to make a debut in Africa’s highest soccer competition, the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

The team will host the Desert Foxes of Algeria in Banjul in the 1^st leg of the preliminary rounds for AFCON 2013, which will be held in South Africa.

YJAG discuses proposed collaboration with GPU

PRESS STATEMENT:

The executive committee of the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) on February 18, 2012 paid a courtesy call on the leaders of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) to strengthen relations and discuss on intended areas of cooperation.

Both sides express commitment to complement each other’s efforts in the promotion and protection of the welfare of journalists in the country, a goal critical to a vibrant media and the professional development of journalists.

IAG defeat Access Bank in awareness match

Insurers hoist up trophy

An assorted football team of insurance practitioners from various insurance companies on Friday, February 24, defeated Access Bank by 4-3 in a friendly match that ended in penalty shootout. 

An amateur goalkeeper for the insurers saved two spot kicks to give his side a win over the much fancied Access Bank side.  The match, played at the Father Gough sports complex in Manjai, saw both sides fail to take the numerous goal-scoring opportunities created in regular time. 

PRESS STATEMENT:

  GYIN-Gambia Interim Executive Meets IFAD Country Programme Manager

PICTURE: GYIN-Gambia Executive with IFAD Moses Abukari

The Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN)-Gambia planned executive led by Mamadou Edrisa Njie, GYIN Gambia Ambassador had a meeting with the Country Programme Manager, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Moses Abukari on the operational of GYIN-Gambia as well as to introduce the planned executive.

 

The meeting was held at the Roc Height Lodge in Cape Point, Bakau on 22^nd February, 2012. The meeting aimed at briefing the IFAD Country Programme Manager about the activities and programmes GYIN-Gambia intended to carry out in the country.

Attacks on the Press in 2011: Gambia

Picture: CP

Key Developments

» Radio station forced to drop news; no independent broadcaster remains.

» Whereabouts of reporter detained by government remain a mystery.

Years of brutal repression by President Yahya Jammeh’s administration have gutted Gambia’s once-vibrant independent press and driven numerous journalists into exile.

Decisions by NGOs in Gambia: February 17

NGO WEEK 2012 DECLARATION 11 – 17 February 2012, TANGO

We the members of The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Gambia (TANGO), having conceived the idea of convening the NGO Week in which we brought together all of our members and non-members including other non-state actors to celebrate the successes and contributions of  NGOs to the socio-economic and political development of the Gambia from 11 – 17 February 2012;

Conscious of the role and function of NGOs in the development of the Gambia for which NGOs, as indispensable development institutions with immense technical capacity and resources, have provided much needed development goods and services to individuals, communities, public and private sector organizations and institutions over the past 40 years;

YJAG Trains College Press Corps on Basic Journalism

The Gambia College Press Club recently organised a day-long “Training on Basic Journalism” for its members at the College Campus in Brikama, the regional capital of the West Coast Region.

The training, facilitated by the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) was aimed at introducing the press club members to the fundamentals of journalism to enable them better understand the profession and as well become more vibrant information disseminators.

 The training was held (February 9, 2012) on the backdrop that there is a need “to recruit students into the press and build their capacity through training” in order to better enhance their day-to-day work as college press corps.

Gambia: Insurers start weeklong awareness creation campaign

[Gambia News Online] The Insurance Association of the Gambia (IAG) today, Monday, starts its annual weeklong sensitization campaign that seeks to further increase the general public’s understanding of insurance and insurance policies in order to lay foundation for building a trusting relationship between insurance providers and the public.

It’s the second edition of the Insurance Awareness Week which is part of IAG’s information, education and clarification programme that seeks to increase awareness of the public about the progress and benefits of The Gambia insurance industry.

Gambia to serve in AU's Security Council: Press Statement

A Press statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad announce yesterday, Gambia's inclusion to the African Union's Peace and Security Council (AU PSC). 

"The Republic of The Gambia has been elected from the West African Region as a member of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for the period 2012 to 2014," the ministry said.

 

African champions Zambia on the rise

Zambia's players celebrate together after a meaningful victory over the Ivory Coast  [Reuters]

African Press Organization (APO) — The Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, which drew to a close last Sunday, has clearly left its mark on the current edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, as Zambia, the newly crowned African champions, secured their first-ever title and have thus climbed to 43rd position. 

Daily News reporter's criminal defamation charges dropped

Daily News Reporter, Jallow has charges dropped

(Senegambianews) Criminal defamation charges against The Daily News reporter Mamadou S. Jallow have been dropped, sources familiar with the case have said.

Jallow was charged with criminal defamation for allegedly defaming Mamadou Lamin Baldeh, a local chief in the western part of The Gambia.

However, credible sources have said Jallow was called on 5 February by the Deputy Governor of CRR and informed him of the development. 

Lamin Kaba Bajo returns to foreign mission

Lamin Kaba Bajo

Yahya Jammeh’s former minister of fisheries, water resources and national assembly matters, Mr. Lamin Kaba Bajo is now Gambia’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco.

A position previously held by Mr. Ousman Badjie.

Bajo’s redeployment to the Foreign Service on Monday 13^th February, 2012, followed Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh’s appointment of a new cabinet. 

The 48 year old Gambian politician and diplomat, was born November 10, 1964, in Brikama.

State House ‘Unaware’ of Gambia’s Request for UN to Probe Journalist’s Disappearanc

The office of The Gambia’s president, Yahya Jammeh is ‘unaware’ of any request made by The Gambia for the United Nations to investigate the disappearance of a Gambian journalist, the director of press at State House told The Daily News on Friday 10 Feb.

 

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay is quoted by media reports on Friday as saying: “In response to civil society complaints about the disappearance of a journalist in The Gambia, the president of The Gambia asked for the U.N. to come in and investigate.” Read full story from source.

A fairytale ending for champions Zambia

Zambia upset favourites Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations final to secure a poignant win on a memorable night.

Zambia's players celebrate together after a meaningful victory over the Ivory Coast  [Reuters]

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations got a fairytale ending on Sunday as Zambia were crowned champions after defeating the Ivory Coast on penalties in a dramatic and thrilling contest.

Herve Renard's team were playing for more than just their first title but also in the memory of 18 players killed in a plane crash in 1993. The plane had been taking the national team to a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal.

Now interior minister will serve in foreign mission

Others fate hanging on a balance of probability

Relieved Interior Minister, Ousman Sonko to serve in Spain

As President Yahya Jammeh continues to appoint in dribs and drabs ministers for his new government, the reorganization process in its latest revolve show Mr. Ousman Sonko, Minister for the Interior relieved from his post.

No Dictator Can Cow Me, Says ‘Wanted’ ex-GPU president

Ndey Tapha Sosseh

(Daily News) - Ndey Tapha Sosseh, former president of The Gambia Press Union has condemned her detention by Zimbabwean authorities, vowing that no dictator can cow her to give up her work as a journalist and an activist.  

The Gambia’s privately-owned STANDARD newspaper on Tuesday reported that the exiled former Gambian journalists’ leader was briefly detained by Zimbabwean authorities on charges that she is wanted in The Gambia for alleged crimes. Read From Original Source.

Gambia asks U.N. to probe journalists' disappearance

Gambia's President Al Hadji Yahya Jammeh attends the plenary session of the Africa-South America Summit on Margarita Island September 27, 2009. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has asked the United Nations to investigate the disappearance of several journalists in the tiny West African country that rights groups accuse of persecuting media workers, the U.N. rights chief said.

"In response to civil society complaints about the disappearance of a journalist in the Gambia, the president of Gambia asked for the U.N. to come in and investigate," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said at a conference on Wednesday at Hunter College in New York City. Read More From Source.

REINSTATING THE OLD-GUARD!

Yahya Jammeh re-appoints ‘tentatively-jobless’ ministers 

Ministers: Touray & Badjie: Pix by The Point

The Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh continues his re-appointment of ministers some of whom have been left tentatively-jobless following the disbandment of the cabinet last week.

The latest appointments were made on Tuesday, February 07, 2012 with the re-appointment of Mrs. Fatim Badjie as Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Mr. Kebba S. Touray as Minister of Trade, Industry, Employment and Regional Integration.

Mr. Touray was Gambia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain.

RIGHTS!

Health official bemoan violation of disability rights in Gambia

Mamadou Edrisa Njie, Publisher of Mansa Banko was there

Given the provisions of the 1997 Constitution of The Republic of The Gambia, section 31 clearly states that persons living with disabilities (PLWD) “shall not be discriminated against”.

However, the Disability Desk Officer at the department of state for health and social welfare, on Tuesday laments the numerous violations of the rights of PLWD in the Gambia, at the opening of two-day “training for Gambian journalists on disability reporting”.

“Despite the constitutional provision of rights, it is disheartening to see that the rights of persons living with disabilities are violated every day, be it Gambians or non-Gambians,” Mr. Sainey Camara said on behalf of the Director of Social Welfare.

NIGERIA!

French Journalists Detained and Thrown Out of Nigerian City 

Source: IQ4News Media

African Press Organization (APO) - Two French journalists has been detained and thrown out of the Nigerian city of Jos. IPI calls on authorities to allow journalists free access

The two journalists working for a French television station were detained in the Nigerian city of Jos by members of the military, interrogated, and eventually ordered to leave Plateau State, the Associated Press reported today.

Local agency wants Gambia government to criminalise FGM

GAMCOTRAP Officials: Pix-Gamcotrap

A local human rights agency in Banjul, the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) has called on the government to enact a specific law to protect girls from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The call came on Tuesday February 6, 2012 during celebrations marking International Zero Tolerance to FGM, a day adopted in August 2003 by governments, and organisations, including the United Nations sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection Human Rights. 

On Monday, GAMCOTRAP said it wants a legislation banning FGM across the Gambia, a country notorious for its deep-rooted culture and harmful traditional practices. Hence the lack of it will apparently contribute to the perception of FGM as “acceptable” and it weakens the legitimacy and impact of advocacy against harmful tradition practices.

The Gambia UPDATE: ECOWAS Court orders Gambia to pay compensation to tortured newspaper editor’

Musa Saidykhan, erstwhile Editor of The Independent

(MFWA) - The  ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria, on February 6, 2012 ordered the  Gambian government to comply with its ruling on Musa Saidykahn, a former  editor-in-chief of the banned The Independent newspaper, by compensating  him for violating his human rights in 2006.

On December 16, 2010, the regional court confirmed that Saidykhan, was tortured by President Yahya Jammeh's security agents while in detention in 2006. 

Gambian Journalist Trial Resumes Monday

Dailynews: Gambian Journalist Momodou S. Jallow

The Daily News reporter Momodou S. Jallow is due to make his 2nd appearance in court on Monday February 6, 2012, following allegations of criminal defamation against a local chief, Mamadou Lamin Baldeh, in an article captioned: "Presidential Hajj Package Scandal Chief Baldeh Allegedly Bribes Lover”.

Jallow was arraigned on  January 24, 2012 before a provincial magistrate in the town of Bansang. "His case however, did not proceed as the court was busy with other matters," an unnamed source told the Daily News.  

Yahya Jammeh unhappy with AU’s failure to elect new Commissioner

Jammeh speaking to journalists: Pix - Statehouse

The Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh express dismay at the African Union’s failure to elect a new Commissioner of the African Union Commission (AUC) to serve a four-year term of office.

Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) met at the 18^th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit at the new Conference Center of the Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from January 29-30, 2012, on the theme “Boosting Intra-African Trade”.