- 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. It also ruled that Saidykhan’s arrest and subsequent detention were illegal and violated his right to personal liberty and a fair hearing as guaranteed by Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The ECOWAS court, therefore, awarded Sa…
The Nigerian Nobel Prize winner for literature said heads of states who are trying to cling to power suffer the same fate as the dictators who were swept away by the Arab spring. Nigerian's Wole Soyinka cited the example of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, describing both of them as "irremovable octogenarian" who try to hold on to power "when clearly they have already served their time. - ‘But what happens to them to think that if they leave power, the earth will stop spinning," one of the first sub-Saharan Nobel Prize for Literature questioned.
According to the Nobel prize winner; "In the end, those who treat their people as infer…
- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; the French foreign Minister and the US embassy in Senegal have expressed concerns over the increasing violence and an upsurge in political tensions, ahead of the country’s February 26 presidential election.
Five people have been killed by police in Dakar and several other cities around the country since the country’s Constitutional court approved the third term candidacy of President Abdoulaye Wade last Friday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the embassy condemned recent violence and urged Senegalese to put an end to it.
The statement also called on the Senegalese government to seek better ways of preserving and consolidating…
Hundreds of anti-government protesters Tuesday gathered in the central Dakar, Senegal to show their dissatisfaction over the incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy after two civilians were killed by paramilitary police in a similar demonstration in Podor situated in the northern part of the country. - The angry demonstrator gathered, holding up signs and chanting slogans in Place de l'Obelisque, a large square in downtown Dakar.
The demonstrators are protesting against the ruling by the country's top legal body which validated President Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy in next month's election for the second time since verdict was delivered.
The embattle pre…
- If records are anything to go by one could describe Gambian law makers as law breakers.
At least four Member of Parliament from the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) in the Gambia have been convicted of the criminal offense over the past seventeen years.
Convicts includes Baba Jobe; former majority leader of the of National Assembly and member for Jarra west constituency in the lower River Region of the country; Ouly Taal a nominated member; Musa Susso former national assembly member for Kombo North and Dawda Manneh former National Assembly Member for Nianija Constituency in the Central River Region of the country.
In spite of his claim for tr…
Opposition and civil society groups in Senegal have vowed to increase their fight against incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade's presidential bid. The pronouncement came after the constitutional Council rejected an appeal filed by the opposition. - Senegal's highest court also rejected opposition appeal and confirming President Wade's bid for third term for the second time in a week.
The court's decision has dashed the hopes of many Senegalese who thought the country’s political stalemate will be resolved.
Youssou Ndour’s candidacy was nullify because he did not file enough valid signatures.
Ndour warned that country may run into a political crisis; …
President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic has been elected chairperson of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. President Yayi Boni elected Sunday at the 18th Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) took over the post from Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. He is expected to lead the continental body for a period of one year. - "I have no doubt that with your great leadership ... you will conduct the work of our Union towards our agenda of peace and prosperity. I wish you all success in your efforts," Obiang added.
Yayi, an economist who took office six years ago in the small West African nation, said he accepted the post with humility for…
Clashes have erupted in Senegal's capital Dakar and several other city cities ; after the Constitutional Council said President Abdoulaye Wade could run for a third term in next month's poll. A police officer has made his untimely death during clashes with civil society and opposition suppers in the central Dakar - Angered by the decision, protesters threw stones at riot police, who responded by firing tear gas.
Wade, 85, has already served two terms. But the constitution was amended since he was last elected, and he has argued the law is not retroactive.
In its ruling, the court rejected barred famous singer Youssou N'Dour with two other candidates from running saying t…
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has pulled out of the race for the presidency of the African Union's Assembly. Gambia's foreign minister Momodou Tangara informed AU officials that president Yahya Jammeh has decided to with withdraw from the race for the AU presidency after a closed-door meeting of foreign minister from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). - The Gambian foreign minister Yahya Jammeh felt it better to concentrate on domestic politics. “He wants to devote the first year of his election to satisfy and meet the needs and aspirations of the Gambian people,” Tangara said, speaking on the sidelines of the AU summit in Addis Ababa.
Tangara …
- Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has been sworn in for a fourth five-year term of office pledging to transform The Gambia into an economic superpower.
In his inaugural speech shortly after he was sworn in by the Nigerian born Gambian Chief Justice President Jammeh declared 2012 as the year of science; technology and innovation in the West African nation.
The ceremony was held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau a suburb of Banjul, attended by over 30,000 people, among them three African presidents from Senegal, Sierra Leone and Mauritania.
Also attending the inauguration were the prime ministers of Guinea Bissau, Rwanda and Swaziland, former president Sir Dawda Jawara and…
Amnesty International a human advocacy group based in the UK with offices around the Globe has described recently jailed former Gambian minister of Communication and others as 'prisoners of Conscience.' The Human rights group further called on the Gambia government to release the convicts with immediate effect and unconditionally. - “These men are prisoners of conscience and must be released immediately and unconditionally. Gambia must stop such acts of persecution and allow criticism to be heard in the country,” said Lucy Freeman AI researcher on the Gambia in a press release.
She revealed that journalists and activists in Gambia are routinely subjected to human rig…
A Special Criminal Court in Banjul has convicted and sentenced Dr Amadou Scatred Janneh former Gambian communication minister to life imprisonment with hard labour for being guilty of treason. Three of his accomplishes Michael C. Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow, were also sentenced to three years each with hard labour. - Dr Janneh and the rest were found guilty of treason and sedition. The four convicts and others at large conspired to print and distribute 100 T-shirts which carried ‘seditious’ statements: “Coalition for Change - The Gambia: End Dictatorship Now.”
The prosecution, led by the chief prosecutor, Mikailu Abdullahi called 14 witnesses to tes…
- In spite of the gain registered by the Senegalese government there are several problems in the current health system; populations in hard-to-reach areas have barely begun to demand services. One such area is Toubab Dialaw a suburb of Dakar.
However; it is against this background that Infa International Familien Hilfe in collaboration with Apotheker Helfen an Association of Pharmacists base in Munchen; Germany on Saturday Inaugurated a Euros 50,000 maternity project in the community of Toubab Dialaw to improve access to maternal health.
Touba Dialaw is located in the rural community of Yene 45 kilometer from Dakar. The inaugural ceremony which brought together a cross section of the pharm…
President elect Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia winner November 2011 disputed presidential polls is due to be sworn in for a fourth term on the 19 January 2012 in the Capital Banjul. Jammeh made this announcement in his twitter account this afternoon 'I will be sworn in for the fourth time on January 19th 2012. Thank you Gambia. Alsaamadeh' President Jammeh stated in his tweet. - The Gambian leader, who has rule the country with iron fist for the past 17 years, was pronounced winner of last year’s in a landslide with 72 per cent of the votes, amid wide spread criticism from the Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) sub-region saying its fact-finding mission had found…
- With just barely five weeks before presidential election in the country; a Senegalese advocacy group Y en a marre meaning ‘we are fed up’ will host a public meeting in Dakar on January 22nd; 2012 to discuss the socio-economic challenges facing the West African country.
The group has invited all presidential hopefuls except President Wade; they said President Abdoulie Wade is legible for the run for a third term this is why they exempted him from the meeting.
According to group; the forum will discuss difficulties faced by Senegal which include land ownership, transportation, agriculture, the conflict in Casamance, the high cost of food, unemployment among major e…
Gambian-born new chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been named as Gambian Personality of the Year 2011. Fatou Bensouda, 50, was named by the Gambia News and Report weekly magazine because of what the management of the magazine said was its satisfaction that Bensouda has met the criteria for the award. - Mrs. Bensouda’s decoration In view of the exemplary strides she continue to make at the International Criminal Court resulting to her r recent elevation to the top prosecutorial job of this highest Criminal Court of the world.
In a letter to the press conveying the news of the award to Mrs. Bensouda, Swaebou Conateh, proprietor of the Banjul-based Gambia C…
In a move seen by many political activists as a bargaining strategy to retain his grip on the presidency Senegal's president Abdoulie Wade has authorized Senegalese prison official to free all women convicts serving prison sentences in the country's jails by January 20, 2012. - In a similar move president Wade has also extended his gesture to the ministry of justice with a donation of sixty brand new vehicles including five Limousines worth fifty million CFA francs to the staff of the constitutional courts; the very courts that is expected to determine whether he is eligible to run for the presidency for a third term or not later this year.
According to mebitimrew.net; Presiden…
- Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade reiterated his government’s readiness to continue the dialogue with the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) for a peaceful solution to the crisis; this according will also pave away for the government to reintegrate all those who agree to lay down their arms.
He called on the leaders of the different rebel factions to join the government on the path of peace and ‘national unity."
The Senegalese leader expressed concern over the number of deaths in recent weeks ‘I know you are all moved by what happened recently in Casamance because of the irredentism of some factions, while others are negotiating with us to…
- The archbishop of Dakar Cardinal Theodore Adrien Sarr has appealed to the Senegalese government; the MFDC rebels and neighboring countries like Guinea Bissau and the Gambia to join their efforts and collectively bring a definitive end to the 30 year old civil war in Casamance.
Speaking to worshiper during a Sunday mass at the St. Anthony Cathedral Church in Ziguinchor on the first of January 2012 said the his visit to the region is purposely to pray for lasting peace in Casamance and the Senegal as a whole.
Cardinal emphasized the need for the parties involved in the conflict which include the MFDC separatist movement and Senegalese government and its neighbors to dialogue resolve the…
In a desperate attempt to draw attention of the world to what many see as one of the longest civil wars in Africa; the people Casamance, Senegal have expressed their disgust through a protest march over the protracted civil war in Southern region of that country. - The move followed attacks organized by the separatist Movement for Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) killing and kidnapping scores of civilian and military personnel in different locations of the region.
Nearly 400 people took to the streets of Mangacounda and Sédhiou village calling on the authorities to scale up security in the area to save them from the violence perpetrated by the separatist Movement for Democratic Force…
The detention of Barthélemy Diaz, the mayor of Sicap Baobab Mermoz a district of Dakar has triggered a serious political tension in Senegal. Police and youth wing of various opposition parties clash in a City Hall in the Senegalese capital Dakar over protracted detention of Mayor Barthélemy Diaz beyond the 48 hours limit. - Mayor Diaz is accused of allegedly ordering the killing of one Ndiaga Diouf. The deceased Ndiaga Diouf is alleged to have joined a group of thugs who were paid 15.000 CFA francs by senior officials of the ruling party to carry out attack on the mayor’s office in Dakar.
Mayors Diaz detention has been widely condemned by opposition and civil society groups who blam…
Seegnal's President Abdoulie wade has been unanimous endorsed by the Ruling Party Democratique Senegalais (PDS) to be the party's presidential candidate in the forth coming presidential elections slated for 26 February 2012, amid serious political tension in the West African country. President Wade's candidature was endorsed by over 70, 000 party delegates in Dakar. - In a resolution presented by Mr. Ousmane Ngom the Senegalese interior minister said Wade, “has met all the requirements to take on new ambitions.''
The event was characterized by chanting party slogans and praises.
President Wade whose candidature has been widely criticized by the internati…
- Barthélemy Diaz, the mayor of Sicap Baobab a district of the Dakar is currently being hunted by police investigators to answer to questions for allegedly killing one Ndiaga Diop a supporter of the Senegalese ruling Party Democratique Senegalese (PDS).
The murder allegation followed a wrangling between the employees of the mayor and the ruling party militants who allegedly launched an attack the Mayor’s office on Thursday morning. Mr. Diaz is alleged to have shot Ndiaga Diop who was paid 25.000 CFA francs by senior officials of the ruling party to launch an attack on the mayors.
The decrease Ndiaga Diop was among a group of thugs by thugs who were on board five 4X4 L200. Three other…
- Pape Diouf, a Senegalese musician has expressed his preparedness to fight against cancer, poverty and flooding faced by people within Dakar suburbs.
Speaking to Africanews in an exclusive interview, Mr. Diouf, the lead vocalist of the Generation Conscious Band lamented that he was surprised to hear about the suffering of cancer victims on a local television talk show.
“I was very shocked to hear the ordeals of some cancer victims on Tele Futures Media,” he says, “This is really traumatizing and from now on I will include the fight against cancer in my future projects to help victims.’’
According to one of the Mbalax star who recently released an explosiv…
- The Government of Senegal has worked to increase the availability, access and information about family planning to its people. So far, these efforts have led to a decline in the country's fertility rate, a substantial increase in urban and rural contraceptive prevalence rates, and a considerable expansion of family planning services to those individuals with unmet needs.
However, despite the gain registered there are several problems in the current health system. Populations in hard-to-reach areas have barely begun to demand services. One such area is Toubab Dialaw a suburb of Dakar.
Access to maternal health has been a major cause of unprecedented maternal deaths in Toubab Dialaw…
- Posted on Wednesday 28 September 2011 - 15:47
Experts including journalists, communication experts, and journalism educators, communication experts in the ministries of education, other media practitioners and members of civil society organizations are currently meeting the Ghanaian Capital, Accra for a three day tool kit pre-validation workshop on education reporting in Africa from the 26-28 September 2011.
The tool kit if validated will enable African journalists and media practitioners to enhance their capacity in education reporting with a view to improve the quality of education in the continent.
The event which is organized by the Association for the Development Educat…
Human rights advocates in Africa and Europe renewed their call for justice to be done on the case of Hissene Habre, former Chadian leader who sought for refuge in Senegal twenty-one years ago and regionalization of international criminal law highly featured during a forum in Senegal. - The public conference which is part of a two week study session is meant for Lawyers, magistrates and human rights advocates most of them drown from the Economic Community of West Africa states sub region (ECOWAS) , also future areas like international criminal law, the need establishment of the African court of Justice and the extradition of Hissene Habre former Chadian leader.
On November 24, 2010 a meet…
Stigmatization and stereotypes against women on fundamental social issues has contributed to women unwillingness to engage themselves in certain income generating activities like mechanical work. However, despite this challenge Ndey Kumba Mboob a trained Senegalese mechanic who many thought wouldn't be able to stand the job for this long period is able to make a legacy for herself, due to her resolute stand in the mechanical work for the past eighteen years. - Speaking to Radio AVG in an exclusive interview Mboob explained how she came up with the garage project, she further stated that her graduation at the Senegalese/ Japanese cooperation technical school in Dakar, she secured a job i…
- Mr. Sam Sarr, Managing Editor of Foroyaa newspaper has revealed that Gambian opposition parties have been denied access to the state own media.
Mr. Sarr who was speaking to Africa news in an exclusive interview in the Senegalese Capital, Dakar said, ‘as it stands at the moment the opposition has been deprived of the state owned media, they don’t have access to it, so you don’t have a level playing field.’
He said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has the authority to compel the state media during the campaign period for the opposition political parties to have equal access to air time like the ruling party. ‘But until such time, opposition par…
- Female genital Mutilation (FGM) is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects a deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women.
The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) that fight for the reproductive health rights of women and young girls in The Gambia, is a leading women civil society group that is engaged in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Despite the challenges, GAMCOTRAP has succeeded in convincing majority of circumcisers especially those in rural communities to stop the practice, through tireless campaigns and sensitization, as well as p…
- Thousands of opposition supporters and civil society activists in Senegal on Thursday morning gathered at the country’s national Assembly complex to protest against what they call a constitutional coup d'état against the will of the Senegalese people.
Opposition parties and civil society organizations called for a protest march on Thursday when the Senegalese parliament is set to debate the proposed constitutional changes that would reduce the need for election run-offs.
The proposed constitutional amendment barely seven months before presidential in which President Abdoulaye wade is seeking for a third term.
The changes would reduce the proportion of votes needed to win a…
- The African Gender Award 2011, initiated by the NGO Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) through its Pan-African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC) was on Friday June 2011 awarded to Liberia and its President Ellen Johnson-Sir leaf.
The was presented to the Liberian president during a reception held at Meriden President Hotel in the Senegalese capital Dakar. The ceremony brought together a cross section of delegates from across the world.
The African Gender Award 2011, initiated by the NGO Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) through its Pan-African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC).
The Liberian leader African Gender Award represents a moment of celebration which acknow…
- The Senegalese government has cut its diplomatic relations with Iran following an admission made by the Iranian foreign Affairs minister that the arms that intercepted in Nigeria were bound for the Gambia on January 19, 2010.
According to the a statement t relayed on the state television the Senegalese government has decided cut its diplomatic relations with Iran with effect from February 22nd, 2011. ‘Our country have noticed that the sophisticated weapons which use by members of the Movement for Democratic Forces of Casamance were sold them through the Gambia government by the Islamic Republic of Iran’ the statement from the Senegalese foreign ministry reads.
The weapons w…
- Transparency International (TI), the global anti-corruption organization, strongly supports the people in Egypt and Tunisia working to build new democracies based on transparency, integrity and accountability, free from corruption.
The change of regimes in Egypt and Tunisia ordinary citizens brings great opportunities to stop the corruption that plagued the daily lives of ordinary people.
According to Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International (TI) freedom from corruption is a basic human right. We support the pro-accountability voices within the countries who want to build governments that work transparently to guarantee this right.
TI believes that countries need govern…
- Delegates at the world social forum currently underway in the Senegalese capital, Dakar have expressed concern on the presidential stand off between Alasan Ouatatara and Laurent Bagbo in Ivory Coast.
many of them stressed the need for stakeholders in the negotiations process should talk to the Ivorian people for peaceful end of the ongoing crisis centered on the social reforms democracy and crisis in Africa.
Halifa Sallah, Secretary General of the People Democratic Organization for Independence and Social (PDOIS) emphasized that people should not under estimate the essence of democracy,he recalled that Mr Laurent Bagbo was elected in an election which widely contested in terms o…
- A team of United Nations, UN, officials has arrived Nigeria to inspect Iran’s arms shipment. The inspectors have begun meetings with government officials, including ministers and security agents, since their arrival on Sunday.
According to the Vanguard in November last year, authorities at the Tin Can port intercepted arms shipments which were disguised as “building materials,” which were said to be heading for The Gambia.
The Federal Government also reported the incident to the UN Security Council. Four persons including one Iranian were arrested and charged to court over the seized weapons which included calibres of mortars, rocket launchers as well as anti-aircraft…
- The foreign ministers of Senegal and the Republic of the Gambia yesterday hold talks, amid looming diplomatic tension between the two countries.
The talks came following a long acrimonious between the two countries accusing one another of sabotage; however, the key issue of contention was centered on the impounded Iranian arms destined for Banjul.
Mamadou Tangara, Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs came to Dakar for a two day working visit in a bit to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Gambia and Senegal.
The Senegalese foreign minister Mr. Madikey Niang told journalist the visit of his Gambian counterpart is not motivated by the question of the Iranian…
Diplomatic relations between Gambia and Senegal continued to sour since the discovery of arms deal between Gambia and Iran. Public opinion in Senegal points to an increasingly acrimonious feeling towards Gambia, specifically directed at President Yahya Jammeh, over increasing tension in the Southern Senegalese region of Casamance. - Rebel separatist during an onslaught last Sunday executed seven Senegalese soldiers in the town of Bingjona. The event has provoked public debates and appeal from religious leaders to, pray for definitive peace in the Casamance region.
The case of the arms shipment intercepted in Nigeria, which has the Senegalese government restless over prospects of the weapo…
The Senegalese security official barred the main opposition coalition Beno Sigil Senegal from protesting against what they called bad governance. Security agents were last night scattered in the city of Dakar and it surroundings to take action against opposition protesters should they defy the government orders. - President Abdoulie Wade has been widely criticized for spending about US $80million to host the World Festival of Black Artists.
Hundreds of opposition supporters rallied at Beno Sigil Senegal party head offices denouncing the ongoing malpractices carried out by Senegalese authorities.
Speaking to AfricaNews Batilemy Jazz mayor of Sicap Baobab and a member of opposition allia…
The president of the young religious leaders of Senegal, Modou Bousso Dieng, has called on the EOWAS, African Union and the West not use military means to forcefully oust incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo from power. - Bousso Dieng was who speaking during the inaugural ceremony of an Islamic school in the Senegalese city Touba told journalists that military is not the best option to remove the embattled president Laurent Gbagbo; adding that it would only prolong the crisis instead of resolving it.
‘Bagbo should relinquish power to Alassane Ouattara in the interest of peace in Ivory Coast. They have suffered for too using external forces will only worsen the situation, therefore, E…
- Dr Henry Olaonipekun Programme Advisor at Advanced Centre for Sustainable Development Nigeria has said that mutual suspicion among African states will never pave a way for sustainable development.
Dr Olaonipekun was speaking at the just ended a week long seminar on Cultural Diplomacy in Africa organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy based in Berlin, Germany, which brought together a cross section of scholars academics, civil society journalist and diplomatic representatives is aimed cultural diplomacy as a tool in helping Africa to address the challenges it currently faces.
However, the forum looked at thematic areas like international and regional economic integration,…
The Gambian leader President Yahya Jammeh has appointed his in-law Jamal Miknas, former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology as the new managing director of the Gambia Telecommunication Company Limited (GAMTEL). - Miknas’ new appointment came following the dismissal of Katim Touray on Tuesday evening.
The new Gamtel boss is said to be a brother to mother of Gambia’s second First Lady, Alima Sallah.
Touray was dismissed with no official reasons, which many Gambians described as the traditional way of relieving civil servants of their duties. An insider at GAMTEL confirmed the story to AfricaNews but could not assign any reason beh…
The commissioner of the African Union's Peace and Security Council, Ramtane Lamamra, has said the suspension of Guinea from the continental body would remain, pending the outcome of the junta's agreement to a transitional government amid hopes for lasting peace in the West African country. - The commissioner said Guinea will remain suspended until the restoration of constitutional rule; he maintained that African Union would not rush into lifting the suspension because the international community is committed to the restoration of democracy in Guinea through free and fair elections.
“I am afraid Guinea will remain suspended until the restoration of democratic order one ha…
