Political Crisis: Mass Exodus From Urban Gambia

Non-Gambians are also fleeing the current political uncertainty. This photo shows commercial vehicles preparing for a long, tedious four days trip to Conakry, Guinea from Serekunda, The Gambia. (Photo Credit: The Voice)

The Gambia’s Parliament throw-outs US deal against ‘illegal maritime activities’

Article 6 of the agreement give the US the right to conduct operations to suppress illicit transnational maritime activity in Gambia’s territorial waters – and as an old Gambian fisherman looks out to sea – lawmakers in Banjul say the deal is “one-sided”. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Lamin Jahateh

The Gambia’s Parliament Wednesday threw-out a motion to ratify an Agreement between the Government and the United States cooperation meant to suppress illicit transnational maritime activity.

Parliament said the deal is “one-sided and does not favour” the tiny West African country.

Gambia forum divided over cause of Africa’s retardation

Policy Dialogue Forum blames colonialism and Breton Woods Institutions for Africa’s economic backwardness. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Modou S. Joof

Panellists at a Tuesday Policy Dialogue Forum in the Gambia could not reach a common ground on the major cause of Africa’s underdevelopment.

At the 7^th Policy Dialogue Series of The Association of the Non-Governmental Organisation  in The Gambia (TANGO), representatives of civil society, academia and the private sector  – blamed colonialism and Breton Woods Institutions  for Africa’s economic backwardness.

Senegal undecided over Kukoi’s burial

Kukoi’s reign as Gambia’s Head of State was brought to an abrupt halt on August 5, 1981 by Senegalese troops – five days after his National Revolutionary Council, NRC, seized power.

By Modou S. Joof

Authorities in neighbouring Senegal are undecided over the burial of late Gambian dissident, Kukoi Samba Sanyang, who died in the Malian capital Bamako on June 18.

Latest online reports indicated that Kukoi’s body is kept at a mortuary in Dakar, where the Senegalese Government is waiting for a decision as to where he is to be buried.

His body was repatriated to the West African nation at the expense of the Macky Sall Government, which had expelled and deported him to troubled Mali in April.

Gambian dissident, Kukoi Samba Sanyang, dies at 61

Kukoi Samba Sanyang died in Bamako, Mali on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

By Modou S. Joof

Online media reports says Gambian dissident Kukoi Samba Sanyang has died on Tuesday in Bamako, Malian capital at the age of 61.

Kukoi, who was expelled by Macky Sall’s Government in April, was briefly admitted at a hospital in Mali before he was pronounced death, according to media reports.

ACHPR’s Atoki talks about ending human rights problem in Africa

Mrs Catherine Dupe Atoki, Chairperson, ACHPR (Photo credit: (Falka)

By Modou S. Joof

African States have been urged on Tuesday to build democratic functional human rights institution to put an end to the problem of human rights violations and abuse committed in the continent.

At the end of the 53^rd Ordinary Season of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul, The Gambia on April 23, 2013, Commissioner Catherine Dupe Akoki said: “African governments should promote the building of democratic values, competent and independent judiciary.”

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: More Gambians determined to travel to Europe in perilous journeys

Fishmarket in Bakau (Photo credit: Wikipedia) – Majority of Gambian youth involve in small-scale business (fisheries, used-clothing) usually gather money to travel to Europe through the ‘Back Way’

By Modou S. Joof

For Bakary Sanyang, 27, a city driver in Banjul, a salary of D5000 per month can’t keep him in The Gambia. “I will go to Europe because in The Gambia everything thing is expensive. It is difficult for a family man to survive,” he said.

He argued: “There are no jobs in The Gambia so we have nothing to do here, we must go the ‘back way’. The jobs available to us cannot even earn us a decent living condition.”