There Is No Functioning Government In The Gambia Right Now-Concerned citizen writes open letter.

Dear Pa,

I would like to register my utter dismay at the way this new Barrow Government is taking us for a ride.

As I am writing to you, we have not been given electricity in our area for more than twelve hours. There is acute water shortage my children are going round from neighbors to neighbors to fetch water to go to school. 

What is more disturbing is the fact that the President is out there in the provinces on a tour with four or five minsters campaigning for their political parties. In the absence of the President, the minister overseeing the Office of the President is out of the country, the Minister of Trade and Employment is also out of the country traveling with her Permanent Secretary and a strong delegation from Women’s Bureau.

The budget for traveling in 2017 is almost exhausted very soon they will look for supplementary appropriation but there is no Parliament to pass it. The dalasis has started falling against the major currencies. Unemployment is still on the rise and the economy is showing real signs of weakness. We are now dependent on finacial assistance and our security is still in the hands of ECOMIG. We are really living in borrowed times yet certain politicians in the Government are playing tribalism for political gains.

The wheels of Barrow’s new Government is coming to a crashing halt. President Barrrow’s approval rating is now lower than the deposed ex-president Jammeh. We are in need of a strong leader to unite the country and committed to the principles of accountability, transparency and probity. The only ministry functioning is the Justice, Health and Information ministries. These are all non-political appointees.

The coalition government is heading to a crashing defeat in the polls. 
Thank you for publishing my deep concerns.

 

Written By An Insider 

Fmr Gambian Presi,Yahaya Jammeh pictured in the farm. PHOTOS

According to popular journalist Sainey MK who lives in Banjul,Gambia,former Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh was pictured farming in Equatorial Guinea, where he is living in Exile.

See photos below

New Gambia President Adama Barrow to be inaugurated in Banjul.

Mr Barrow came to power after his predecessor reluctantly agreed to step aside

New Gambian President Adama Barrow is due to be formally inaugurated in the capital Banjul where celebrations will mark 52 years of the west African country's independence.

Mr Barrow was sworn in last month at a ceremony at the Gambian embassy in neighbouring Senegal.

Long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh had refused to step down despite his electoral defeat.

Under pressure from regional powers, he went into exile in Equatorial Guinea.
Adama Barrow is only the third president in the history of The Gambia.

He has promised a new dawn for the country, which was ruled with an iron fist by Yahya Jammeh.
Mr Jammeh was voted out in December but he only agreed to step aside when regional powers sent in troops ready to remove him by force.

Many political prisoners have already been freed and The Gambia is set to rejoin international institutions such as the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth.

BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says that thousands of people are expected to attend the ceremony at the main stadium in the capital Banjul.

Source BBC

President Adama Barrow,flanked by his newly sworn in ministers.

The Gambia's President Adama Barrow, surrounded by his newly sworn-in members of his Cabinet.You can leave comments, suggestions and shout-outs in this page. If you have a question to ask, kindly shoot it here,Follow www.fabmimi.com @Fabmimiblog on facebook,@Fabmimiblog on twitter,@Fabmimiblog on Instagram,

Dog that killed son of Gambia's president has been put down by the Veterinary unit .

A dog that killed the son of Gambian President Adama Barrow has been put down, an agriculture ministry source said, with mystery over the circumstances sparking witchcraft rumours amid political turmoil in the country.

Eight-year-old Habibou, one of Barrow’s five children, died after the attack last month, days before his father’s contested inauguration at a time when then-president Yahya Jammeh was refusing to step down.

Jammeh’s refusal to cede power to Barrow, who won a December election, triggered a crisis in the small west African nation, before the longtime leader eventually agreed to hand over the reins to his successor and leave the country.

The timing of the boy’s death, and lack of details on the circumstances surrounding it, has inflamed the imagination of Gambians, giving rise to rumours of sorcery.

The dog was put down on Tuesday, the source in the veterinary unit of the department of agriculture told AFP Wednesday, on condition of anonymity.

“We concluded that it was not wise to allow this dog to continue roaming in the streets. We carried out some test and realised that the dog is not infected with rabies,” the source said.

Barrow returned to The Gambia last week to a jubilant welcome marking the beginning of the west African nation’s first democratic transfer of power.

He had been living in Senegal for safety reasons since mid-January.

Jammeh went into exile in Equatorial Guinea under threat of regional military intervention.

Gambia President swears in first batch of ministers.

Gambian President Adama Barrow revealed Wednesday the names of the first batch of some 10 ministers appointed Tuesday and swore them into office.

The ceremony was held at Kairaba Hotel, the temporary office of Barrow, who has yet to occupy the State House, or the presidential palace, which was “sanitized” by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forces following the forced departure of Barrow’s predecessor Yahya Jammeh.

“This is a new Gambia. The new Gambia is a reality with these cabinet appointments,” Barrow said in the swearing-in ceremony he presided over.

Amie Bojang Sissoho, director of press and public relations, was also sworn in.

Barrow has made a total of 12 appointments so far since his return from Senegal a week ago. The appointees include Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang.

Barrow led a coalition of seven political parties and an independent candidate to a shock election victory against longtime President Jammeh, who has now been forced into exile following ECOWAS military intervention.

Almost all the leaders of the parties in the governing coalition have been given ministerial positions, except Halifa Sallah, the head of People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, who continued to serve as Barrow’s spokesman.

Ousainou Darboe, Barrow’s ex-boss and long-time leader of former main opposition United Democratic Party, will take charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, External Relations and Gambians Abroad.

A seasoned lawyer, Darboe was imprisoned by Jammeh in July 2016, after he protested against the death in custody of Solo Sandeng, his party’s young leader.

Tuesday’s ministerial appointments include only one woman, Dr. Isatou Touray, who became the minister of trade, industry and employment.

In the coalition, the United Democratic Party has a lion’s share of cabinet appointments so far.

Besides Darboe, the party’s former treasurer Amadou Sanneh has been appointed as minister of finance and economic affairs. Lamin Dibba, the party’s chief propagandist, became the minister of lands and regional governments.

Hamat Bah, the leader of National Reconciliation Party, another member of the seven-member governing coalition, has been appointed as the minister of tourism and culture.

Henry Gomez of Gambia Democratic Party took charge of the ministry of youth and sports; Mai Fatty of Gambia Moral Congress became minister of interior affairs; Omar Jallow of Progressive Peoples Party got the position as minister of agriculture; James Gomez has been appointed as the minister of fisheries, water resources and national assembly matters; while Lamin Dibba of National Convention Party became minister of forestry and environment. Endi

Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh

Switzerland arrests former Gambian Interior minister for crimes against humanity.

Switzerland on Thursday detained former Gambian interior minister Ousman Sonko, who is under investigation for crimes against humanity during the regime of ex-president Yahya Jammeh.

The arrest and probe come as The Gambia Monday welcomed their new president Adama Barrow, who had fled to Senegal after winning a landmark election as Jammeh refused to give up power sparking a political crisis.

Bern prosecutor Christof Scheurer told AFP that Sonko was being investigated under article 264a of the Swiss criminal code, which covers crimes against humanity.

Sonko had been one of Jammeh's top aides, serving in his presidential guard before heading the interior ministry from 2006 to 2016.

Jammeh sacked him in September and Sanko fled to Sweden where his request for asylum was rejected.

Sonko was detained in the Swiss capital Bern following a complaint filed by rights group TRIAL.

"He will be interrogated soon," Amael Gschwind, a spokesman for Bern prosecutors told AFP, confirming the arrest.

TRIAL, which campaigns for the Swiss judicial system to act on crimes committed abroad, described Sonko as one of Jammeh's "strongmen" and claimed he must have been aware of the violations committed under the fallen authoritarian regime.

"Sonko could not have ignored the large-scale torture that political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders suffered," charged Benedict de Moerloose of TRIAL's criminal law division.

According to TRIAL, Sonko arrived in Switzerland in November and applied for asylum.

It was not immediately clear where he had lived between his arrival and his arrest.

TRIAL urged Switzerland to move forward with prosecution, suggesting it could give positive momentum to the unprecedented political developments under way in The Gambia.

"The crimes of Jammeh's government have never been judged, and torturers walk free. At the time Gambia is preparing for a democratic transition, these developments send a strong message of hope," the rights group claimed in a statement.

Jammeh refused to step down after his election loss to Barrow, but was ultimately forced to quit power and flee to Equatorial Guinea amid strong regional and international pressure.

On Thursday, military officials and senior members of his coalition government, along with jubilant Gambian citizens welcomed Barrow home as he stepped off a plane from neighbouring Senegal, where he had taken shelter on January 15.

His return marks the first ever democratic transfer of power in The Gambia's history.

Photos: Women wear T-shirts with photos of President Barrow and his wives

A group of women under a group called "Best Wives Association" were spotted yesterday wearing T-shirts with photos of Gambia's new president and his two wives. More photos after the cut.

Source LIB

Gambia: Yahya Jammeh Writes To President Barrow

Gambia’s former president, Yahya Jammeh has sent a letter to his successor, Adama Barrow wishing him and his administration well and readiness to give advice and support when needed.

Mr Jammeh who was defeated in last month’s presidential election left into exile on Saturday after as part of a deal brokered by regional group Ecowas. As part of the deal, him and his closed associates were given immunity and safe pass out of the country. He was also allowed to take personal items including luxurious vehicles.

Prior to leaving Banjul, Mr Jammeh wrote an open letter to Mr Barrow stating: “As I have already stepped down as President of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia, I hereby wish President Adama Barrow all the best from the bottom of my heart. The Almighty Allah has decided and I will be found wanting if I as a Muslim and a former President do not sincerely wish him and his administration all the best. For the welfare of all Gambians, anytime my advice and support is needed by President Adama Barrow; I am ready to offer him sincere advice and services.

On this note, I hereby donate to President Adama Barrow all the rice that is harvested at my Vision 2016 farms, that is the entire harvest for him to give to the women who have been helping at the farms in Central River Region (CRR) as seed rice as most of them had no harvest at all due to the floods.

I hereby appeal to President Adama Barrow and his administration to support Vision 2016 on behalf of the women as this is the only way to ensure food self-sufficiency. “Growing what you eat and eating what we grow.”

On this note, I hereby also appeal to President Barrow to do everything possible to encourage Colonel Baldeh to come back and continue to manage the Vision 2016 Farms as he has an excellent rapport with all the women from different communities that come to work on the farms otherwise it will fail; and this will be a catastrophic blow to the women of CRR and beyond who depend on the Vision 2016 farms not only for quality seed rice given to them free of charge, but Colonel Baldeh have been ensuring that the Vision 2016 tractors plough these women’s fields on time and free of charge thereby boosting their production by also 95% yearly.

To conclude, I call on President Barrow to come in immediately and take over the supreme responsibility of President, Head of State, Commander- in-Chief and First Citizen of our Republic.”

Source (JollofNews) – 

The Gambia's president Adama Barrow unveils Vice Presi.of The Gambia.

been appointed as the new Vice President of the new government of President Adama Barrow.

Tambajang has ever been a good mediator engaging opposition parties to create a credible gender-balanced coalition for the 2016 National Elections which resulted to her election as Chair of the Coalition that fought to effect a regime change.

Her appointment was announced on Monday by Halifa Sallah, the Spokesperson of President Adama Barrow at a Press Conference held in Banjul. He further announced that the remaining list of Cabinet ministers will be announced later on State TV GRTS.

Tambajang did great strides to unite opposition members in defeating the former dictator Yahya Jammeh in the December 2016 presidential election, ending his 22 years rule of tiny West African nation.

Fatoumatta C.M. Jallow Tambajang was born on October 22 1949 in Brikama, a trading town in The Gambia. She schooled in the Gambia, Dakar and France. She is a national female icon, mother of eight (8) children and an award winning UNDP-groomed development practitioner focused on gender mainstreaming.

During her work with UNDP and Women NGOs in various leadership capacities for over 20 years in both in stable and challenging environments, including 5 years in war-torn Mano River and Great Lakes Regions leading to her being victim of a rebel hostage situation in 2001 and 2002 she still strived and stuck to her commitment gender parity.

She is a dynamic human rights defender with effective women’s rights and political activism in the Gambian mainstream Struggle for Democratic Change against the 21 year dictatorial regime for social justice, poverty alleviation, equity and prosperity.

Last year, she was pinpointed as a mediator engaging opposition parties to create a credible gender-balanced coalition for the 2016 National Elections. She later was elected Chair of the coalition due to her great strides to unite opposition members in defeating the incumbent in December 2016.

Fatoumata was former adviser on women and children affairs to the First President of The Gambia and has chaired the Gambia National Women’s Council and represented it at the Gambia National Economic and Social Council for six (6) years bringing about the strengthening of the National Council/Women’s Bureau and key women NGOs, empowered women in entrepreneurship, basic education and maternal and healthcare; a marriage bill was also adopted against early marriage; Government also supported the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): 1980 Council’s Act.

She was also former Secretary of State (SoS), Health, Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs and engineered reforms and initiated and launched a fund for special needy medical patients – The Sera Jarjue Fund.

She was awarded Gambia’s highest national citizen award by the the first Gambian President, Sir Dawda Kai

MORE PICTURES + INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF H.E. ADAMA BARROW - PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA

Fellow Gambians and friends of The Gambia, I am humbled to stand before you to address the whole world on this historic occasion. This is a day no Gambian will ever forget in one’s life time. This is the first time since The Gambia became Independent in 1965 that Gambians have change their government through the ballot box.I must take this opportunity to thank the entire electorate of the Gambia and Gambians in the Diaspora for making this day possible.
I thank the entire campaign team of Coalition 2016 and the stakeholders for putting aside their political differences to unite us for the national interest. 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to register special appreciation to Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, and the Chairperson of Authority of Heads of States of ECOWAS, for her personal commitment and tireless efforts towards resolving the political crises in The Gambia. The same sentiment goes to H ;E Muhammadou Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and H.E John Draman Mahama, former President of Ghana.I must also express profound gratitude to ECOWAS, AU, the Security Council of the United Nations and all friendly nations who stood by us during our time of greatest need.I wish to thank His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and his government for their hosting and hospitality accorded me and my delegation at the request of the ECOWAS Chair. This is what it means to be part of a Community of Democratic Nations.
Exceptional circumstance has compelled me to be sworn here today and does not permit all those who made this day possible to be present.It was later realised that the loser of the Election may not fulfill the mandate of a caretaker government and facilitate a proper Inauguration with the full support of all state Agencies.In fact, two days before the term of office of the incumbent expires a State of Emergency was declared. However, the Constitution of the Gambia does not permit any law maker to deprive a citizen of a right that is already acquired. My right as a winner to be sworn in and assume the Office of President is constitutionally guaranteed and irreversible. I hereby make a special appeal to ECOWAS, AU and the U.N particularly the Security Council to support the Government and peoples of The Gamba in enforcing their will, restore their sovereignty and constitutional legitimacy.
This is a victory of the Gambian Nation. Our National flag will now fly high among those of the most Democratic Nations of the world. The capacity to effect change through the ballot box has proven that power belongs to the people in the Gambia.
Violent change is banished forever from the political life of our country. All Gambians are therefore winners. There is no loser in the Gambian Election. It is a fact that we contest Elections on the basis of political diversity but we bI therefore call on all civilian and military Personnel of the state to support my Presidency since it is built on a Constitutional foundation. They are assured that they will not be subjected to any injustice and discrimination but would be provided with better working conditions and terms of service.Build Nations on the basis of National Unity. We are here assembled as One Gambia, One Nation, and One People.Throughout our campaign we promised to unify our diverse people so that each would take ownership of the country, irrespective of ethnic origin, religion, gender or any other differences. Today, most Gambians are united in-order to give Gambia a new start.Hence, as of today, I am the President of all Gambians regardless of whether you voted for me or not.We could now become the architects of a Democratic Republic that is built on the pillars of Good Governance, Rule of Law and Respect for Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

My government will implement comprehensive reforms. These include constitutional, institutional and legal reforms to expand the democratic gains we have made.
Your Excellencies, Honourable Guests, fellow Gambians, I belong to the generation of children who were born in 1965 when The Gambia became Independent. I believe in the wise saying that “to whom much is given, much is expected”.I established a Think Tank, The Agency for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (ASSED). This will bring experts on board to share their knowledge and skills in order to put in place an inclusive development agenda. As the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, I call on all personnel of the armed forces and other security agencies to remain loyal to the constitution and to the Republic.

Your Excellencies, honourable guests and fellow Gambians, I would like to conclude by saying that men and women of this nation joined hands to effect a change that was in the making for many decades.This is a change that should bring liberty and prosperity to everyone and not to be discriminated on the basis of gender, religion or ethnic origin. We are now determined to build a Gambia where merit and what you know counts more than who you know.I command the Chief of Defense Staff, and other officers of the high command to demonstrate their loyalty to me as their commander-in-chief, without any delay. I command all members of the armed forces to remain in their barracks. Those found wanting or in possession of fire arms without my order, shall be considered rebels. Gambia is our homeland! It demands our love and loyalty. Let us all pledge our firm allegiance to be ever true to our mother land The Gambia.Long Live The Republic Long Live the United People of The Gambia.Forward Ever! Backward Never!

BREAKING NEWS: After being in power for 22 years, President Jammeh of The Gambia loses election to opposition.

President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia has lost the 2016 presidential election to Adama Barrow, candidate of the opposition party.

After announcing the result, Alieu Momar Njie, chairman of the Gambian electoral commission, said Jammeh had accepted the unfavourable outcome of the election.

Njie said it was unprecedented for a head of state in the country to accept defeat before the final results.

“It’s really unique that someone who has been ruling this country for so long has accepted defeat,” Alieu Momar Njie told reporters.

Jammeh has been in power for 22 years. The West African country has not had a smooth transfer of power since independence in 1965.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan made history when he conceded election to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

In March, Lionel Zinsou, prime minister of Benin Republic, conceded defeat to Patrice Talon, winner of the country’s presidential election.