Saturday 23 June 2018

‘‘The Authorities Running Away From Their Responsibilities Is A Sign Of Failed State’’

The last time I checked Foni bigot the unusual as a bitter confrontation between the peaceful protesters and Senegalese soldiers at the entrance of the village letting to bloodshed. Residents of the rural settlement and the Foni environs demanded for the immediate evacuation of both the Gambian and Senegalese soldiers in Kanilai. The protesters were shot on their route to Kanfenda leading to some citizens sustaining injuries and fatal, Mr. Haruna Jatta who was later laid to rest on the 6th June, 2017.

It was narrated that the ECOMIG soldiers from Senegal were informed to shoot the protesters as they are rebels from Cassamance? If that was true then it is complete ridiculousness to allow any nation, regardless of the external generosity to fight their enemy within your land, and knowing very well and with supreme belief that the aftermath can be life threatening.

Surprisingly enough, the former Minister of Interior Mai Ahmad Fatty is on record who said that the protesters were armed with traditional weapons while Demba A. Jawo the Minister of Information alleged that the ECOMIG Soldiers used rubber bullets against the protesters.

Of recent 3 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured in a clash between residents of Faraba Banta who were expressing their constitutional rights as guaranteed by Section 25 (1) A, 25(1) B and 25(1) D respectively of the 1997 Constitution and the members of The Gambia Police Force Intervention Unit (PIU).

Sources highlighted that the incident happened after Police opened fire on a crowd of unarmed protesters who were concerned about sand mining activities by Julakay Engineering and Construction Company in their community. It was described that the mining company was granted licenses to operate closer to their rice fields which they perceived to be counterproductive not only to crop production but also exposed them to environmental dangers.

One of the greatest problems that the world is facing today is that of environmental pollution and degradation, which is causing grave and irreparable damage to the natural world and human society with about 40% of deaths worldwide being caused by water, air and soil pollution. The decrease in quality of air leads to several respiratory problems which includes asthma, lung cancer chest pain, congestion, throat inflammation, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease.

Furthermore, In a Democratic State the police are to protect, serve and to deliver criminals into the hands of the law who threaten the livelihood, property and peace of other sovereign citizens as in Section 178 (2).


It is one year now investigation into Haruna's death was never make publicly as promised. But the commission was set to investigate Faraba killings and ultimate one month duration was given to the said commission to tender its report and several arrests were made, IGP decided to resign in respect of that and the president also visited Faraba on the 22nd June, 2018.

Democracy means a government by the people and for the people governed by the parameters of the constitution. What happened in both Kanilai and Faraba is sad and unfortunate, there is no justification for the killing and shooting of the citizens. If service men and power holders can abuse power what is expected of the citizens then? This can call for a further retaliation from others. The Barrow led administration must endeavour to investigate and provide the killers and face justice as per the laws of the land.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist

Tuesday 19 June 2018

The Police Should Understand Their Role In A Democratic State!



The police force represent the strong arm of the state as in Section 180. The police are operationally independent of the government. This means that although the government is responsible for the police budget, the legislation that creates the laws under which police operate and for appointing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as in Section 178 (1). The police decide how they will go about their various duties in maintaining peace and order for a better society as stipulated on Section 178 (2).

Moreover, the separation of powers between the police and government is considered a significant ideology of democracy in the 21st Century. The separation of powers assists in ensuring that the police are not used in a partisan political way to harass and punish political opponents and protesters.

The last time I checked there is also a separation of roles and powers between the courts and the police force. As a result it is the role of the police to bring suspected offenders before the courts and the courts' role to decide. It is also the duty of the police to investigate, they aren't the courts, and should not treat the citizens as innocent until proven guilty as in Section 24(3) A of the 1997 Constitution.

The police are important in a democratic society because they provide for the rule of law, which enhances civic trust and helps maintain social order. Equality under the law is a basic principle of a democratic society. (Majumder, 2017)

MIT Professor Emeritus Gary Marx notes, “It is ironic that police are both a major support and a major threat to a democratic society.” On one hand, police enhance democracy by exemplifying one of its central tenets, the rule of law, while also suppressing crime. On the other hand, police are granted by government the exclusive power to use force, which can be abused to undermine democracy. In either case, they play a prominent role in the success or failure of a democratic society.


In a Democratic State the police are to protect, serve and to deliver criminals into the hands of the law. Police are responsible for catching criminals who threaten the livelihood, property and peace of other citizens. The police have various roles. Officially, the core functions of the police include enforcing the law, keeping the peace and protecting life and property. But not killing the sovereign citizens as per expressing their constitutional rights as guaranteed by Section 25 (1) A, 25(1) B and 25(1) D respectively.

A hard or uncompromising attitude to protests prioritises enforcing the law regardless of the consequences for keeping the peace, whereas a more conciliatory style of policing political protest generally prioritises keeping the peace. When keeping the peace is prioritised police will generally only make arrests in a protest situation where the offences are serious and on balance the risk to life and property in not making the arrest outweighs the risk to life and property associated with making the arrest.

Furthermore, the National Council for Civic Education should also act as soon as possible to minimise defect as in Section 199 (1) A, B and D for a better society we all want to see.

Political Activist

Monday 18 June 2018

The Gambia’s Ambassador To The Kingdom Of Morocco Fighting His Subordinate Is A National Insult And Tragedy!

Protocol Officer, Mr. Jarju

Reference is invited from the article published on the Fatu Network on June 16, 2018, that “Jarju used one of the vehicles to go pay his children’s tuition. This, the source said didn’t go down well with Ambassdor Jammeh who angrily rushed into Jarju’s office upon his return with a stick hitting him. As Jarju was trying to stop him, he bites off his finger”.

An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government.

The question is, is the Ambassador aware of his duties and responsibilities as per the execution of his task as stated on his term of reference. The last time I checked the ambassador shouldn't be involved in administrative and operational matters at the embassy as it is the duty and responsibility of the Deputy Head of Mission to oversee and handled the local Staff and all the embassy assets.

Ambassador Jammeh’s action saw a clear testimony that he is the least diplomatic and professional to represent The Gambia at such a prestigious body. No matter what had happened fighting should not be part of the options to remedy the situation. The nature of 21st century diplomacy is also changing. To be successful, diplomats must simultaneously shape, act upon, and react to global challenges.


What a disgrace, insult and tragedy to The Gambians both those home and abroad? This aforesaid immorality incident is the first record in the Guinness book of records that an Ambassador bites and cut off the finger of his subordinate. Besides do we really need these many embassies all over the world? Has a cost benefit analysis been done over the expenditure to run these offices randomly scattered across and the returns accrued to the nation? Would it not be better off to invest in the education, health, needed infrastructure and inter Africa and intra Africa trade.

The fact of the matter is that's the impact of what happens when you pick people randomly for appointment based on affiliation to political party and not on merits. For The Gambia to develop and achieve the Agenda 2063 we should give the job to the rightful owners with expertise, experience and knowledge. We've got a lot of university graduates sitting at home when they're extremely qualified and capable to do such a job accordingly.

Meanwhile, we need a rethink of moving Gambia forward. It is unacceptable that all that is happening is a recycling of ideas of pensioners. Where is the returns on the investment to educate young and talented Gambians who could contribute to a renewed vision and strategic thinking for change? The Barrow led administration should refrain from recycling old brains and open up to young dynamic and aspiring youth who can lead The Gambia not only with words but with actions.


Furthermore, the Personnel Management Office (PMO) should understand that Job induction should not only be a private sector thing but it should also be introduced and seen done for Government new hires, particularly top Government employees to avoid such a tragic replica in the future.


An induction programme is a vital process for bringing staff into an Institution. It provides an introduction to the working environment and the set-up of the employee within the Institution. Getting the induction process right can help you get new employees up to speed and productive as quickly as possible.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist

‘‘Corruption In The Government And Abuse Of Power Can’t Develop A Nation’’

The belief in The Gambia is that if you are in government, department, agency or institution, you must make money like Bill Gates of Microsoft. If you don’t use your position to amass wealth, your friends and family members think of you as a fool or worse being to live on the state of nature. They never cease to remind you of this or that fellow who got a big job like yours, and already has two or three Mansions with luxury cars.

Transparency International have not failed in giving updates on the nations that have stained their hands by indulging in massive corrupt practices. Corruption is increasing to such a level that the poor Gambia has been marked 130 as per the corruption index in the world. Since 1965 after independence there has been outright and open corruption by both Governments who have been placed to manage the affairs and develop this country economically, educationally, politically and otherwise in making our country great.

We have seen the privilege given to some individuals to manage the affairs of this poor country being distorted, abused and dynasties created, some have enriched themselves and their cronies and in turn the very people who have elected them to serve have been abandoned and the country is saddled with enormous debts which our children and grandchildren will have to repay.

The last time I checked the University of The Gambia and other tertiary institution graduates with the right qualification deserving jobs but not getting them due to nepotism and discrimination being displayed. We must rapidly come up with solutions to our problems such as unemployment, poverty and debt recovery.

Meanwhile, we must stop government officials in their destiny to becoming rich through state coffers. We need to carefully seek to place right individuals with the right mind set and qualifications to run The Gambia in the direction that is beneficial to the greater population rather than focusing on personal gains.

Furthermore, I want to see The Gambia flourish and not weaken with corrupt politicians becoming heads of state, I want to see our debts reduce and continue to reduce until we are in good standing as per the international standards, I want to see our justice system be fair to all, but for this to happen we must first put without a doubt in our minds the right persons in place to run our country and not running it down the drain beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

I want to see individuals with the right mind set who are willing and able to get the job done exactly how it should be done without fear or favour. I have seen well mannered, educated, and humble individuals turn to quite the opposite as soon as they enter into politics or enter into government. This is what our country has become, normal individuals in suits and ties who seemingly are above the law and above the people of this country.

I tender this to draw attention to several facts that demand immediate attention, and do not require legislative action or other time-consuming procedures. In my humble opinion, it will not require any special effort in order to transcend this shameful worship of ideas which breeds ignorance, and halt corruption in the true sense of our society.

A Luta Continua!

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist

Monday 11 June 2018

In Solidarity With My Manjago Christian Brothers And Sisters



‘‘According to reports, a young villager who belongs to the Christian faith, died and was to be buried in the Christian cemetery; that some people refuse family members of the deceased to bury their loved one at the cemetery because the land where the Christian cemetery is located is said to belong to one Seedy Barrow of Gunjur village; that Seedy deliberately decided to seize the whole land area which included the grave yard’’. (Foroyaa, June 7,2018).

According to the Christian community in Teneneh, they were burying their deaths in the said plot of land for almost 50 years. Therefore, any outsider claiming ownership of the 50 years Land will violate the 1997 Land Acts of the Republic of The Gambia which stated that no single Gambian should claim ownership of land which he never built or used as Agriculture purposes for the past 12 years.

It is very sad to see the minority being suppressed and subjected to all kind of inhumane and immorality pain in The Gambia that belongs to all religions, tribe, race and gender. The above mentioned have been aggravated by politics. It is sad to say that but most politicians either publicly or privately try to encourage tribal sentiments for their own self-centred interests.

Furthermore, many a tribalist traces the perceived superiority of their tribe to ethnic lineage. They will recount how their forebears defeated the other tribes in a war or a series of wars, or sometimes how their forebears enslaved the other tribes. Such people take pride in their history and no amount of persuasion can make them to see today’s reality. They believe that since their ancestors were “better” than the other tribes, so also are they now which is a major obstacle of land dispute in today’s Gambia.

By this we mean that tribes which are endowed with abundant resources and opportunities often tend to disrespect people from other tribes especially the minority who come to seek work/stay on their land. Similarly, tribes which have the seat of power tend to think that they are better than others and sometimes look down on them.

Growing as a child staying and attending the same school, the same football club with the manjago’s, I came to realize that they are the most hardworking and trustworthy people ever to live in The Gambia. Armed robbery, theft and rape is the order of the day in the new Gambia, but hardly have you seen a Manjago part of such an ungodly act. The Manjago’s are always content to what they have and treat all people within the state of nature with respect and dignity.

Portraying the Manjago’s as strangers in The Gambia is the highest insult and hypocrisy of the 21st Century. Until and unless we change our attitudes as per the teaching of Islam of ‘sharing and caring’ The Gambia will never be at peace.

The last time I checked Land conflicts can be persistent, and this suggests caution in talking about conflict “resolution.” Particular disputes over specific lands, which may be expressions of a larger conflict, can be resolved, and this can ease tensions. While local and traditional institutions like village Alikalos, councilors, religious and traditional leaders, and other stakeholders can often resolve local land conflicts.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

A Luta Continua

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist

Monday 4 June 2018

The Truth Shall Be Told For A Better Gambia!



 Omar Touray must be released and left alone to exercise his democratic rights as a sovereign citizen of the Republic of The Gambia which are guaranteed under Section 25(1) A and 25(1) B of the 1997 constitution


Furthermore, this is intimidation and the officers involved in this dishonourable, shameful recording and harassment should be reprimanded and charge for human right violation as per the laws of the land.


"They are not upholding the law as professionals but a cult serving the interest of few". We have many armed robbers, thieves and rapists who are walking freely in the streets of The Gambia who are yet to be arrested.


The government is yet to demonstrate any leadership direction after one year in to office. Is that The Gambia we dream where citizens constitutional right are being denied to serve the interest of few elites.


The Gambia as a country will continue to sink until and unless the citizens are treated with respect and dignity. The Gambia belongs to The Gambians both those home and abroad. But with this era of selective justice we can't move towards a better Gambia we all want to see.


Those his action is wrong but he don't warrant such an undemocratic and humiliation. He is innocent until proven guilty by the court. Presumption of innocence is under Section 24(3) of the constitution.


The matter should be investigated with immediate effect to bring those human right violators to face the full fledge of the law.


The Security personnel should not be used as a mean/tool of castigation but rather the protectorate of the citizens.


A Luta Continua!

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist

Friday 1 June 2018

‘’The Gambia Is A State In Coma Which Needs Urgent Diagnosis Through Institutional Reforms’’




It is over one year since inauguration the Barrow led administration is yet to demonstrate any leadership or clear direction as per campaign promises.  This is believed to be an oversight by the President and his advisers, due to a lack of familiarity and understanding of the existing 1997 constitution.

The last time I checked the government under the leadership of Adama Barrow have lost touch with the people of The Gambia and have lost ability to maintain order, command and respect for the rule of law.  This is leading people to take the law into their own hands.

The question one might be quick to ask shall be, is that The Gambia Edwards Francis Small fought for? If Small were to arise from the grave yard on see the killings, robbery, theft and rape happening in The Gambia that he dreamt would one day be the heaven of peace. I am quite sure that he will regret the sacrifices he made to see The Gambia where one day her citizens will live without fear of being robbed rape and murdered.

Electricity is very vital in our daily lives, the patients who are getting their treatment in various hospitals also face many difficulties as per NAWEC’s inability to supply uninterrupted electricity and water supply to the citizenry. The patients operations are not happening on time as the electricity is moving on and off like a timing bomb. This increases their diseases as the fans of the hospital are not moving which result to the patients to feel great pain in their body.

Furthermore, The Gambia tourism industry has successfully improved and developed but it is still facing some challenges beyond imagination which have greatly affected the safaris tours within the country. These challenges include; limited marketing due to insufficient funding as a serious problem facing the tourism industry and it has retarded many people internationally to know Gambia as a tourist destination hence affecting safari to the smiling coast. The high competition from neighbouring countries like Senegal, Mali and Guinea Bissau has affected Gambia’s tourism sector since it’s considered a land locked country and most tourists go to the neighbouring for leisure

Corruption in The Gambia is an obstacle that restricts citizens on a daily basis in their enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, contributing to the perpetuation of poverty and hindering economic opportunity. The collective recognition of the challenges posed by rampant corruption has led to political turmoil.

There is an urgent need for institutional reforms that will focus on improving financial management and strengthening the role of auditing agencies as such will make The Gambia a free zone of corruption. Also strengthening citizen’s demand for anti-corruption and empowering them to hold the government accountable as sustainable approach that will helps to build mutual trust between citizens and government.

A Luta Continua!

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Blogger/Political Activist