By Janko Camara The continued border impasse between The Gambia and Senegal, the latest in a series of such impasses, continues to cause much hardship to the populations of both countries. I would attempt to dispassionately discuss the matter focusing mainly on the impact of the border closure on […]
Author: Musa Saidykhan
The APRC Is Dead; Yaya Jammeh Killed It
When Yaya Jammeh stood in Farafeny town “probably under drug influence” and insulted Senegal’s three successive presidents – Abdou Diouf, Abdoulaye Wade and Macky Sall – he did not realize that he made himself the national common enemy of 100% of the Senegalese people. That day Jammeh lost the last […]
Gambia: Free Ailing Journalist
For Immediate Release Alhagie Ceesay Arbitrarily Detained for 8 Months (Dakar, March 9, 2016) – Gambia should free an ailing journalist who has been arbitrarily detained since July 2015, and drop all charges against him, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said today. Alagie […]
Faal Remains In State Custody
Detention without trial and unconstitutional arrests of people have become a common practice in the Gambia under the dictatorial regime of President Yahya Jammeh. Many a times people are arrested and held incommunicado for weeks, months and even years. Some even disappeared without trace. This dictatorial practice, a direct assault […]
UN Chief Thumbs Up Hassan Jallow
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is grateful to Hassan Bubacar Jallow for his excellent service. Mr. Jallow, a former Gambian Justice Minister and Judge, serves as the first Prosecutor of the UN Mechanism from 1 March 2012 until 29 February 2016. Mr. Jallow was also the Prosecutor of the International […]
Gambia-Senegal Border Closure Hurting
By Abdoulie John A fortnight has passed since the closure of the Gambia-Senegal border and people hoping to travel between the two countries are faced with huge challenges, prompting mixed reactions from activists and politicians. “I think it’s a drama for people from both countries,” Amnesty International’s Senegal Director, Seydi […]
2016 Election: Make Or Break Moment
The road to December 2016 general election has opened long since but it is a road that is already bumpy, to call spade a spade and not a rake. The field is not levelled, and the Electoral Amendment Act did not help matters either. It is a make or break […]
Kano: Tata Pours Out His Heart
The return of Tata dindin Jobarteh to music has energised his fans across the country. The two-year mysterious sickness had left the Kora maestro and stage master a changed man. But Tata’s spirits remain high, and thinks it wise to use music to create something positive out of his sickness. […]
Sudanese Opposition Leader Is Dead
Hassan al-Turabi, the Sudanese opposition leader who helped bring President Omar al-Bashir to power, has died at 84 in the capital Khartoum. Hassan al-Turabi, the Sudanese opposition leader who helped bring President Omar al-Bashir to power, has died at 84 in the capital Khartoum. A hospital source told AFP news […]
37 Media Watchdogs Protest Journalist’s Indefinite Detention
By Abdoulie John At least 37 leading media rights watchdog organisations around the world have petitioned the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) over the prolonged detention of Gambian radio journalist, Alagie Abdoulie Ceesay, whose health condition has deteriorated. The groups, led by the Media Foundation for West Africa, […]
Who Determines Gambia’s Votes?
THOSE WHO CAST VOTES DETERMINE NOTHING; THOSE WHO COUNT VOTES DETERMINE EVERYTHING By Ousainou Mbenga On June 25 2015, the desperate despot, Jammeh yet again unleashed another of his trademark amendments to assure himself “president for life”. The despotic one million Dalasis ($25,000) fee imposed on presidential candidates and the […]
Gano Licks Old Wounds; Recounts Bitter Encounter With Ndure
The former Aide de Camp of President Yahya Jammeh has opened up his bitter encounter with the mastermind of the March 21st abortive coup. Lt. Col. Lamin Gano, who became the first high-ranking military official to resign from the army, explains how his pre-coup exchange with Col. Ndure Cham turns […]