Former Gambian Prisoner's Fast Track to Success, Imprisonment and Freedom

Jesse Jackson with former Gambian dissidents Amadou Scattred Janneh (left), a graduate of Knoxville College and the University of Tennessee, and Tamsir Jasseb (right), a Navy veteran of Desert Storm./ Photo by Roy Lewis

What is wrong with the right to assemble and demonstrate in The Gambia?

Baboucarr Ceesay: “One would wonder what are the sources of all these charges and what are they meant for people who only apply for permit to hold a demonstration against the execution of the nine death row inmates.”

Gambia: Parliament gives nod to $12M electricity loan

The House of Parliament in Banjul, the Gambian capital on Tuesday ratified an electricity expansion project loan agreement of $12 million meant to expand electricity coverage in the Gambia.

On June 18, 2012, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development (OFID) revealed it had reached an agreement of US$12M loan with the Government of The Gambia. 

PIWAMP scores forth in IFAD fiduciary rating

By Mamadou Edrisa Njie

 Participatory Integrated Watershed Management Project (PIWAMP), a demand-driven project co-funded by the Government of The Gambia (GOTG), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), has been ranked fourth in IFAD’s fiduciary rating 2011.

The design of PIWAMP was built on the successful experience of the concluded Lowland Agricultural Development Project (LADEP), its achievements, effects, impacts, as well as the strengths and shortcomings. 

Singer Freaky Joe rocks Europe

Freaky Jow, a leading Gambian dance-hall star grab headlines across Europe for the right reasons/PHOTO:Blogger News Newtwork.

Gambian singer Freaky Joe, recently concluded a European tour that took him to Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Finland. 

The tour followed the release of his latest album: “Mansay Kay” meaning (the President). 

News round-up on deteriorating press freedom in Gambia

IN THIS ROUNDUP....

• Drop charges against journalists: GPU 
• IPI concern at efforts to censor Gambian media  
• GPU raise concerns at failing press freedom in Gambia 
• Gambia: Public reacts to closure of media  
• Reopen Taranga FM: Hon. Magassy 
• British parliament sit on Gambia
• MFWA Protests the inexplicable charges preferred against two journalists in The Gambia

LATEST: Twist in charges against Gambian journalists

Mr. Baboucarr Ceesay (L) and Abubacarr Saidykhan are charged for wanting to demonstrate peacefully: PHOTO/Daily News

The Voice understand the case of two Gambian journalist detained and charge following a request for a permit to hold a peaceful demonstration against the August execution of nine death row inmates has taken another twist.

Gambia News Online publisher attends media freedom and responsibility training in Ghana

Lamin Jahateh is also an editor at the MarketPlace Business newspaper

(GambiaNewsOnline) - Lamin Jahateh, editor and publisher of the blog, Gambia News Online, on Sunday left Banjul for Accra, Ghana, to attend a two-week intensive course on “Freedom and Responsibility in the Media”.

The course, which is for journalists from member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is organised by the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ), a Germany-based organization that seeks to enhance the professional performance of journalists across the world.

Gambia: GDP fall amid weak economic activity

IMF Gambia Mission Chief, Mr. David Dunn

An IMF economic think-tank on Tuesday revealed Gambia’s real gross domestic product (GDP), the total value of goods and services that the country produced in 2011, fell by about 5 percent.

Mr. David Dunn who led an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission to Banjul September 5-18, 2012, said economic activity remained “weak” for much of 2012, but is expected to pick up substantially in the final quarter, as the upcoming harvest points to a strong rebound in crops and growth in the tourism sector continues. 

Police add “sedition” to journalist charge

Mr. Baboucarr Ceesay (L) and Abubacarr Saidykhan are accused of conspiring to commit felony: PHOTO/Daily News

Gambia police have added “seditious intention” to a charge of “conspiracy to commit felony” against Gambian journalist Baboucarr Ceesay on Wednesday.

 

Ceesay, a 1^st vice president of the Gambia Press Union, and Abubacarr Saidykhan, a freelancer, were charged last week with conspiracy to commit felony after they applied for a permit to peacefully protest against the execution of death row inmates by the Jammeh government.

Voice reporter wins YJAG founder president’s award

L-R Jawneh, Saluyman and YJAG President Modou S. Joof

(The Point) - Sulayman Ceesay, a reporter with the Voice Newspaper, has won the 2012 YJAG Founder President’s Annual Award.

Ceesay, who also doubles as the treasurer of YJAG, was presented with his prize on Sunday 16 September 2012 at the Gambia Press Union secretariat in Fajara during activities marking the 5th anniversary of the association.

Gambian Newspaper Ordered To Cease Publication

Madi MK Ceesay, Publisher of The Daily News

Authorities in the Gambia have today ordered the closure of an independent newspaper, the Daily News.

According to reports reaching JollofNews, three plainclothes officers walked into the newspaper’s offices on 65 Kombo Sillah Drive, Churchills Town, Serrekunda, before noon and ordered journalists working on their next Monday’s edition to down their pens.

The men said they were instructed by the Office of the President to shutdown the paper.

Africa will 'soon' be short of dictators

Photo: Ethiovision

Maybe not so soon, but if the dreams of the Lagos and Banjul-based Institute for National Transformation (INT) are realised, regardless of when, Africans will found it incredible that they are short of corrupt autocratic leaders at all levels.

Gambia negates the very essence of right to free-expression: ARTICLE19

ARTICLE 19 Regional Representative for West Africa Fatou Jagne Senghore

The multinational free expression advocacy agency, ARTICLE19 on Tuesday called on the Gambian police to immediately drop all charges brought against two journalists that were detained while trying to apply for necessary permission to protest against recent executions.

MFWA dismayed by felony charge against Gambian journalists

Photo: MFWA Facebook Page

The Media Foundation for West Africa, MFWA, says it is “very upset” about a charge of “conspiracy to commit felony” brought against two Gambian journalists by the police in the capital, Banjul.

Western Union Unveils New Education Initiative around UEFA Europa League to Deliver One Million School Days

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) (http://www.westernunion.com), a leader in global payment services and new Global Partner of the UEFA Europa League, and the Western Union Foundation, today announced they will turn every successful pass in this season’s competition into funding to support one day’s education for young people around the world.

STATEMENT BY IMAM LEIGH: EXECUTIONS UNISLAMIC'

Activist Imam Baba Leigh

The Imam of Kanifing East Mosque, Baba Leigh, has denounced the recent executions carried out by The Gambia Government characterizing them as "Un Islamic".

 Reacting to the declaration of support by the supreme Islamic council for the executions, the strident imam contended: “The supreme Islamic Council should have gone further than just declaring their support for the executions.  Islam does not want to take the lives of believers just like that.

They should not say that if you kill you should be killed because it goes beyond that. Suratul Baqara verses 177-178 lay dawn options that could be explored to settle the matter in the form of a fine, compensation or forgiveness by the family of the deceased. 

UN says military force not key to DRC crisis

UN officials in the DRC have said the M23 rebels are well-armed and are growing in number [Reuters

Military force not key to crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who urges strengthened dialogue.

CPJ welcomes Ethiopian pardon of Swedish journalists

• Ghana ALERT:Members of a Muslim sect storm North Star FM

Swedish journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye appear on state television. (ETV/YouTube)

The Gambia: Charges against journalists over executions demo must be dropped

Gambia executions protest in Senegal

© SEYLLOU/AFP/GettyImages

(AMNESTY) - Charges against two journalists detained after they applied for permission to hold a peaceful protest over the executions of nine death row inmates must be dropped by the Gambian authorities, Amnesty International said.

Baboucarr Ceesay, the First Vice President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) and Abubacarr Saidykhan, an independent freelance journalist, were charged on 10 September with conspiracy to commit a felony.

RELEASED!

Detained journalists released, charged with felony

Mr. Baboucarr Ceesay (L) and Abubacarr Saidykhan are accused of conspiring to commit felony: PHOTO/Daily News

Gambian journalists, Mr. Baboucarr Ceesay and Mr. Abubacarr Saidykhan who were arrested and detained last Thursday have been freed on Monday afternoon but charged.

The two are reported to have requested for a permit from the police to hold a peaceful demonstration (a constitutional right) over the recent execution of nine death row inmates by the Jammeh administration.

YJAG TO MARK 5TH ANNIVERSARY: SEPTEMBER 16

PRESS RELEASE:

On 16^th September this year, the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia will be five years old and as such the association is to hold a day-long symposium on the day at the new secretariat of the Gambia Press Union, in Fajara, to mark the anniversary.

A news release from the association has it that the theme of this year’s anniversary is: “Promoting Professionalism Through Capacity Building”, and a number of lectures in line with theme are to be delivered on the day by veteran journalists in the country.

Gambian Journalist Baboucarr Ceesay Arrested

Babucarr Ceesay, has been picked up by NIA this morning. He's crime is believe to be his request for a demonstration: Facebook/Gambia Free Expression.

MC Baatiz: ‘Hecha bu dagul fog mu yegsi’ “

“Dema geum neh hecha bu dagul fog mu yegsi” said the upcoming Rapper, MC Baatiz in the Wolof local language, meaning “I believe when pulling (for instance a rope), if it does not cut then it must arrive.” 

The singer whose real name is Samba Ceesay (MC Baatiz) was speaking to The Voice newspaper entertainment column about the strides he took and the long wait before his music hit the airwaves of FM stations in Gambia.

Born on August 18, 1978 at No. 3 Ndongo Lo Lane Street, Latrikunda German, MC Baatiz attained basic education at Latrikunda Yiringana Primary school, and Latrikunda German Junior Secondary school.

GMC supports calls for Jammeh’s resignation

Add caption

A Gambian opposition party has called on President Yahya Jammeh to resign and allow a transitional authority to organise free and fair elections to restore what it called “the sanctity of derivative authority.”

The Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) said in an August 5 statement: “The mood of the nation and the ‘tumultuous silence’ of the majority are consistent with such a call.” “The unprecedented traffic on electronic social media by hundreds of thousands of Gambian youth reflects the general conviction of Gambian youth offline, also consistent with this call,” it added.

GMC says not party to G6 stance on inmates’ killings

Mai Fatty, GMC leader/Photo: Facebook

“GMC dissociates itself from G6 letter to the authorities,” the headline said.

 

In a brief statement this week, the Gambia Moral Congress, an opposition party led by lawyer Mai Ahmad Fatty said it does not subscribe to the contents of a letter written to the National Assembly by the Group of Six (G6) opposition parties in connection with the recent killing of nine death row inmates by the Gambia Government.

The party’s leader said there is no sense in writing to the authorities on the executions.

Daily Trust reporter bags US journalism fellowship

Nuruddeen M. Abdallah, Daily Trust

The head of Investigations Unit of Daily Trust, Nuruddeen M. Abdallah, has been selected by the Department of State to participate in the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP), a professional exchange program of the United States Government. 

The programme, entitled “Investigative Journalism & New Electronic Media” is commenced on August 27 and will end on September 15, 2012. Sixteen participants were selected from 15 African countries.

The invitation, signed by Bill Strassberger, Cultural Affairs Officer in the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, said the programme is a special initiative for young, up-and-coming media professionals that will examine the rights and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy.

Each year, leading journalists are nominated for participation by the American embassies in their home countries. The programme is sponsored by the US Embassy in Nigeria and organised by the US Department of State in Washington DC.