TheNewsGuru

Tag: Gambia

  • EU pledges $80 million aid to Barrow’s govt. after 2-year suspension

    The European Union, EU on Thursday pledged 75 million euros (80 million dollars) to Gambia’s new government, two years after suspending aid due to human rights abuses by former President Yahya Jammeh.

    The EU froze 33 million euros in aid to Gambia, one of the world’s poorest countries, after Jammeh’s government introduced a tough law against homosexuality in late 2014.

    Adama Barrow, who defeated Jammeh in a December election, has pledged to respect human rights and rebuild foreign relations.

    Jammeh refused to accept the election result and went into exile last month after regional forces entered the country.

    Following a meeting with Barrow in the capital Banjul, the EU commissioner for international cooperation and development, Neven Mimica, said the aid package would to be used to increase food security, rebuild roads and boost jobs.

    “The visit is a clear signal of the EU’s readiness to provide immediate financial and technical support to the democratic process in The Gambia,” Mimica told reporters.

    The EU is also preparing a medium-term assistance package of 150 million euros, he said.

    Jammeh took power in a 1994 coup and his government established a reputation for torturing and killing opponents, charges he denied.

    He repeatedly fell out with the EU, expelling its charge d’affaires in 2015.

    A weak economy and political repression in the West African country has made it one of the continent’s leading sources of migrants trying to reach Europe by sea despite a population of only 1.9 million.

     

    NAN

  • Gambia Crisis: Nigeria not appreciated by AU in peacekeeping role

    The just concluded African Union, AU summit ended without a mention of the gallantry role the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and the Nigerian troops played in solving the political imbroglio of the tiny West African nation.

    Speakers at the summit took time to appreciate efforts made by Mauritania and Guinea for persuading for President Yahya Jammeh to hand over power to President-Elect Adama Barrow without acknowledging the mediatory roles Nigeria played from the beginning of the crisis to when Jammeh finally agress to handover.

    At various meetings held during the Summit, nobody mentioned the efforts Nigeria made to resolve the empasse despite Nigeria’s spending millions of Dollars in moving military personnel and warships to the Gambia, a threat that eventually made Jammeh to leave power.

    Despite efforts by Nigeria’s foreign Minister, Godfrey Onyema’s for participants to recognize Nigeria’s role in solving the crisis, AU still did not specifically recognized Nigeria as providing leadership role on the issue.

    TheNewsGuru.com can authoritatively report that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari pulled the final chord that settled the crisis by calling on Mauritanian’s president who is known to be a close friend of Jammeh

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Nigeria footed the logistics bill of the entourage that went to The Gambia from the beginning till when the crisis was successfully resolved.

     

  • I didn’t leave Gambia with looted funds on Tinubu’s plane – Jammeh

    Ousted president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh has denied leaving the country with stolen funds as reported in some sections of the media on Monday.

    According to reports, Jammeh left the country with $11million cash after he was forced to go on exile in Guinea on Monday.

    TheNewsGuru.com had reported that following a meeting with Guinean President Alpha Conde and Mauritania’s President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz on Saturday, Jammeh left Banjul into exile with his family aboard Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Falcon 900.

    However, investigations have revealed that there was money on the private jet.

    According to a source who craved anonymity, “No such thing happened.”

    Speaking further, the source said: “In fact, it was impossible for looted monies to have been taken away on an aircraft that was in public glare. The radar of the international media, security forces and Gambian people was on the aircraft.

    “It is practically impossible to load millions of dollars on the plane. In any case, no money was loaded into the plane, safe Guinean President Conde, Jammeh, his wife, mother and son.”

    TheNewsGuru.com also reported that the newly sworn in president, Adama Barrow has promised to investigate and probe the former president if found guilty.

     

  • Barrow arrives Gambia after taking oath of office

     

    President Adama Barrow has arrived his country a brief swearing-in ceremony at the country’s embassy in Senegal on Thursday.

    His arrival was greeted by loud celebrations in the streets of Banjul, with some excited citizens capturing his return on their mobile devices amid songs of joy.

    Barrow has been in Senegal for several days at the request of West African leaders until his planned inauguration.

    Speaking after taking oath of office in Dakar, he called on security forces to “demonstrate their loyalty” in a standoff with outgoing President of the country, Yahya Jammeh.

    He said, “From today on, I am the president of the Gambia regardless of whether you voted for me or not.”

    “I command the chief of defence staff and officers of high command to demonstrate their loyalty to me as 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 firearms without my order will be considered rebels.”

    Recall that Barrow defeated Jammeh in the nation’s presidential election conducted in December.

    Although Jammeh initially conceded defeat, he later changed his mind citing irregularities during the polls.

    This comes as a spokesperson for the Senegalese army confirmed troops have entered Gambia, following Jammeh’s refusal to step down as president of the country.

     

  • Buhari congratulates Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow

     

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has congratulated Adama Barrow, after he was sworn-in as President of The Gambia.

    The congratulations was conveyed on behalf of the president by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama on Thursday via Twitter.

    “Nigeria welcomes the swearing-in of His Excellency: Adama Barrow – as President of The Gambia, today. Congratulations,” Onyeama tweeted.

    Barrow was sworn-in at Gambia’s Embassy in Senegal.

    He has since returned to The Gambia.

    Barrow has been in Senegal for several days at the request of West African leaders until his planned inauguration.

    Speaking after taking oath of office in Dakar, he called on security forces to “demonstrate their loyalty” in a standoff with outgoing President of the country, Yahya Jammeh.

    He said, “From today on, I am the president of the Gambia regardless of whether you voted for me or not.”

    “I command the chief of defence staff and officers of high command to demonstrate their loyalty to me as 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 firearms without my order will be considered rebels.”

    Barrow defeated Jammeh in last month’s presidential election. Although Jammeh initially conceded defeat, he later changed his mind citing irregularities during the polls.

  • Senate blasts Buhari for deploying troops, warships to Gambia without approval

    Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s deployment of Nigerian troops, warships to crisis ridden Gambia, the Senate has condemned the president’s decision to go ahead with the deployment without seeking the approval of the senate.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari was appointed as the ECOWAS mediator in the Gambia’s electoral crisis. However, despite the peace talks, Jammeh has refused to step down thus forcing the coalition of African forces to the troubled nation.

    The Nigerian Air Force had on Wednesday sent a contingent of 200 men and air assets, led by Air Commodore Tajudeen Yusuf, to Dakar, Senegal, with the aim of ousting the embattled President from office.

    Reacting to the military action, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, during today’s plenary at the red chambers of the National Assembly, raised a point of order.

    Citing Section 5(4) of the Constitution, he said what the Buhari-led government did was against the law.

    Utazi said, “I am saying this because of the happenings in our friendly country in Gambia. The ECOWAS countries have been discussing on this issue; on how to ensure that democratic crisis of the people of Gambia are protected. But to add that this country will go on a warfare in another country without a recourse to this constitutional provisions is an affront of the 1999 Constitution and it is a breach of the Constitution, and we have failed even when the Senate has been cooperating with the executive.

    “Let it be on record that if anything of this nature happens, that this national assembly have to be informed properly in writing.”

    Section 5(4) states, “(a) the President shall not declare a state of war between the federation and another country except with the sanction of a resolution of both houses of the National Assembly sitting in a joint session; and (b) except with the prior approval of the senate, no member of the armed forces of the federation shall be deployed on combat duty outside Nigeria.”

  • Barrow to be sworn in as Gambia’s president today

    Gambia’s President-elect, Adama Barrow, has announced that his inauguration will take place at the country’s Embassy in Senegal on Thursday.

    He made this known via his official Twitter handle.

    “My dearest Gambians — the presidency of Yahya Jammeh is officially over. The new era of Gambia is here at last. #NewGambia,” he tweeted.

    Barrow then revealed that his swearing-ceremony, will not take place at the National Stadium in Banjul, as is always the tradition.

    He added: “You are all welcome to my inauguration today 4pm at The #Gambian embassy in #Dakar.”

    Barrow’s spokesman, Halifa Sallah, told the media in Banjul on Wednesday: “It is very clear that the inauguration that should have taken place at the national stadium will not take place as planned … At this moment he (President-elect) is preparing for the inauguration through other means.

    “He will be inaugurated in The Gambia. We cannot understand where he will be inaugurated either than The Gambia because he is the President of The Gambia.

    Sallah said this at a press conference, which was held at a time the joint military troop sanctioned by ECOWAS stationed at the Gambian border in Senegal, were ready to enter the country by midnight Thursday to oust President Yahya Jammeh.

    Jammeh had earlier devised a means of extending his stay, by declaring a 90-day State of Emergency this week.

  • Gambia Crisis: Vice President, Isatou Njie Saidy resigns

    Gambia’s Vice President, Saidy Njie Saidy resigned her position on Wednesday, bare 24 hours to the deadline issued to President Yahya Jammeh by African leaders to hand over to President-elect, Adama Barrow.

    The development is coming same day the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, Technology and Religious Affairs, Abubacar Senghore, resigned. He is the eighth cabinet member‎ to resign.

    Earlier, Nigerian soldiers and a Nigerian warship were sent to the Gambia to terminate the 22-year old leadership of President Jammeh who lost the December 1 election but has vowed not to hand over power today when his term runs out.

    Jammeh, who was defeated by Adama Barrow, first conceded defeat but later changed his mind citing irregularities. He has since challenged the results in court but has suffered several setbacks.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was however appointed chief mediator in the crisis by ECOWAS but all attempts to convince Jammeh to leave power peacefully after 22 long years failed.

  • Photos: NAF deploys to Senegal, set to sack Gambia’s president, Jammeh

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed to Senegal as part of Nigerian contingent of Economic Community of West African States Military Intervention in Gambia (ECOMIG) – a standby force tasked by ECOWAS Heads of State to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in the The Gambia.


    The NAF today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia.

    The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia.

    Addressing the contingent before departure, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar urged the troops to maintain discipline and be professional in their conduct.

    Reminding them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, the CAS stated that no act of indiscipline by the contingent would be tolerated.

    The contingent, led by Air Cdre Tajudeen Yusuf, was airlifted this morning from 117 Air Combat Training Group Kainji. Other troop contributing countries include Senegal, Ghana and countries within the sub-region.

  • Gambia Crisis: Nigerian troops, warship on standby to enforce Jammeh’s removal

     

    All is now set for the arrival of Nigerian troops and warship named NNS UNITY on Wednesday (today) at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19.

    According to a report by The Punch, a top military source in the Nigerian Air Force said the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal.

    It was gathered that apart from the NAF and the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army would also contribute troops, although the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

    The source said some of the NAF fighter jets were expected to airlift the troops.

    He said, “I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.

    “That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.

    “The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.”

    Another military source added, “The NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos. It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.”

    The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, however, said it could not confirm the deployments, adding that it was a matter being coordinated by political leaders.

    The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said, “We should not drag the Nigerian military into a political issue. What is happening is a political discussion between the ECOWAS leaders, aimed at solving a political impasse in one of its member states.

    “Whatever they agreed to do is what will happen. Therefore, the military is not for any engagement regarding Jammeh or any other person for that matter.”

    Recall that Adama Barrow of the opposition party won the December 1, 2016, presidential election but Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat by congratulating Barrow, made a U-turn a week later, saying he would challenge the results.

    However, despite interventions by the African Union, AU, ECOWAS, and other influential world leaders, Jammeh insisted he would not hand over power to Barrow. Jammeh’s tenure expires Thursday (tomorrow), January 19.

    The AU, ECOWAS and other countries outside Africa have openly declared that Jammeh won’t be recognised as Gambia’s president from Thursday (tommorrow), if he refuses to hand over power to president-elect, Adama Barrow.