NRP to hold national convention in May

NRP leader Hamat Bah speaking to journalists on election nomination day in 2011 (Photo Credit: SoutAfrica) - Now, Bah said he believes 2013 was a disappointing year for the opposition in the country, not because they are oppressed, but because “there is no unity”.

The Gambia: The Year 2013 Ends With Crackdown on Opposition

Convictions and sentencing of top government officials, and a divided opposition ‘united for change’

The West African country also made high profile decisions by exiting the Commonwealth of Nations over "neo-colonialism" and cut off diplomatic ties with Taiwan for “strategic national interest.”

Gambia Prayers For Dead Venezuela President

"Hundreds of thousands of red-shirted Chavistas filled the streets of Caracas today (Tuesday) to honour Venezuela’s dead President, Hugo Chavez." - The Independent (Getty Images).

Gambia: Commission wants all election held at once

Gambia: Disaster agency wrestles with inadequate capacity, working against the norms of disaster operation

The Bakoteh dumpsite situated opposite the SOS children's village poses a great health risk and also has the potential to cause a health disaster (Photo credit: Panoramio)

Ghana: ICJ Suit Over Gambia Killings

Flag of Ghana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gambia’s National Assembly Minority Favours EU Reform Plans

Gambia-EU Political Dialogue In Disarray

President Jammeh seems less likely to rescind his decision to withdraw from the Gambia-EU dialogue despite warnings from the EU (Photo Credit: AFP/Nov/2011)

Gambia’s National Assembly To Debate On Petition Against EU Jan. 21

Gambia-EU Dialogue Is Off Says President Jammeh

In 2010, the EU cut 22 million euros of aid to The Gambia citing concerns over human rights and governance

President Jammeh says dialogue with European Union is "dead and buried"

IEC announces ‘final elections’ in The Gambia

IEC Chairperson Mustapha L. Carayol presided over a widely criticised presidential election in 2011 (Photo Credit: SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images)

Even when Jammeh’s era is not ending yet, Halifa Sallah envisages a third republic in 2016

PDOIS Secretary-General, Halifa Sallah

The Secretary General of opposition, the Peoples Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) foresees the end of Gambia’s second republic and president Yahya Jammeh’s era in 2016.

A third republic will be born in 2016, Mr. Halifa Sallah said. However, for this to be, it means the opposition must win the next presidential election scheduled for that year, even though international observers have said the president is sure to win every election in the country whatever the case.

“Gambia is in a state of flux,” Halifa said in a November 9 PDOIS statement he issued “On the political situation of the Gambia and the threat of an impending armed insurrection.”

President Yahya Jammeh/AFP

 “PDIOS is willing to give guidance at each turn of the country so that our ship of state will anchor on safe shores. Those who want human rights protection today and change by 2016 should mobilize the people to give the opposition the power of numbers over the incumbent. No leader on earth has ever been able to defy the power of numbers,” he stated. 

As combatants sit down to negotiate a peaceful settlement of disputes, Mr. Sallah said PDOIS supports the meeting of opposition parties to select a liaison to prepare the ground to draw Jesse Jackson to promote negotiation for electoral reform. 

GMC supports calls for Jammeh’s resignation

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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.

Imam Bakawsu Fofana reportedly flee Gambia

Gambian Muslim cleric, Imam Bakawsu Fofana was detained in June 2012

A popular Gambian Muslim cleric, Imam Bakawsu Fofana is reported to have fled the country.

A neighbor who wished not to be named told The Voice on Monday August 27 “the Imam crossed the Gambian border on Sunday into the Southern Senegal region of Casamance to seek for refuge.” 

While on a routine reporting to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) almost on a weekly basis since June 2012, followinghis release from detention, Bakawsu managed to escape reported attempts by theagency to re-arrest him on August 14.

Embattled State Agents Given Bail

Principal Magistrate Alagbe Taiwo Ade of the lower court in Banjul on Monday, August 27 granted bail to two embattled officers of Gambia’s National Drug Enforcement Agency (the NDEA).

Former Director of Intelligence and Investigations Mr. Foday Barry and Crime Management Coordinator Mr. Pa Habib Mbye who are accused of “theft, conspiracy and negligence of official duties” were granted a bail bond of D300, 000 ($1000) each guaranteed by two Gambians. 

Gambia confirm first executions in 27 years

President Jammeh pledged to have all death row inmates executed by mid-September. Photo | BBC |

The Government of The Gambia Monday confirmed it killed nine death row prisoners. It said they were killed by firing squad on Sunday August 26.

The government had earlier denied reports that the prisoners were executed on the night of August 23, four days after President Yahya Jammeh vowed “his government will execute all death sentences in the country by September.”

Gambia: Family establishes contact with ‘disappeared’ Imam

Bakawsu

Mr. Omar Fofana, a younger brother to disappeared Gambian Imam, Bakawsu Fofana has told The Voice that he spoke to the imam on phone two days after his disappearance on August 14.

Omar said: “I only communicated with him once on the phone on Thursday. He promised to come out when he finish his special prayers (after the Eidul Fitr – Muslim feast).”

“He told me that he has entrusted me with the responsibility of the family until he comes back,” Omar added.

The renowned Imam, Bakawsu Fofana was reported to have disappeared during attempts by the state’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) operatives to arrest him at his home on Tuesday.  

GMC to rally against ‘killings’

GMC leader Mai Fatty

The opposition party, the Gambia Moral Congress has announced plans to hold political rallies across the Gambia to denounce what it called the “killings of death row inmates.”  

The statement followed widespread speculations that some nine death row prisoners were killed by the government on the night of Thursday August 23. 

“Despite diplomatic intervention from the EU, AU and ECOWAS, and outcry from the opposition and Gambians and friends around the world, President Jammeh reportedly executed nine death-row inmates and the remaining 34 prisoners are scheduled to be killed soon,” says a GMC statement.

9 death row inmates ‘killed’ in Gambia: Reports

President Jammeh pledged to have all death row inmates executed by mid-September. Photo | BBC |

Widespread media reports said nine death row inmates were “executed” in Gambia on Thursday night.

The reports came four days after Gambia President Yahya Jammeh announced in an Eid (Muslim feast) statement “his government will execute all death sentences in the country by September.”