November 2021
Gambia’s electoral authorities clear 6 to contest presidential elections
The Independent Electoral Commission has accepted the nomination of 6 candidates to contest the 2021 presidential elections, disqualifying 15. In a statement read before journalists on Saturday evening, the chairman of the electoral commission, Alieu Mamour Njai, said 5 people have cancelled their nominations. The 6 candidates are Ousainou Darboe of United Democratic Party, Mama Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Congress, Halifa Sallah of Peoples’ Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, president Adama Barrow of National Peoples’ Party, independent candidate Essa Mbaye Faal and Abdoulie Ebrima Jammeh of National Unity Party. Gambians head to polls on December 4, in what is expected to...
Gambian Leader Adama Barrow’s assets revealed
The Gambian leader Adama Barrow has declared at least D50.7 million worth of assets to electoral commission, Malagen has confirmed at the Independent Electoral Commission on Saturday. Gambians head to polls on December 4, in what is the small country’s most crowded presidential race since independence. Close to two dozen candidates are expected to be nominated, a final list of which will be announced on Saturday evening. According to Gambia’s electoral laws, candidates are required to declare their assets with the IEC. These asset declarations and other documents submitted by candidates were published for public scrutiny on Saturday morning. However, both members of...
Op-Ed: A Competition of Ideas
By R. Carl Paschall, U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia For the first time in more than a generation, Gambians are presented with an intimidation-free election, having embraced the democratic freedoms ushered in after they courageously cast their marbles in December 2016 to demand peacefully at the ballot box a break with the past. Even a casual observer can’t miss the energy and excitement – and, yes, tension – with a crowded political field of candidates vying to make their case to the voters of why theirs are the best ideas to move The Gambia forward in rule of law-based democratic governance, respecting citizen’s fundamental...
GMC leader files for nomination, says talks on coalition with 2 others is ongoing
The Gambia Moral Congress, the Citizens’ Alliance and All People’s Alliance have so far failed to reach an agreement on a common presidential candidate to lead their recently formed ‘Alliance for Change 2021, said Mai Ahmad Fatty on Monday. Fatty, a lawyer and key member of the coalition 2016—a 7-party political grouping that backed President Adama Barrow to power— has filed his nomination papers on Monday afternoon. Last week, the Citizens’ Alliance (CA), All People’s Party (APP), the National Unity Party (NUP), the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) and Gambia For All (GFA) party have called a meeting to signed an alliance agreement. However,...
Factcheck: are executives orders/directives laws?
Claim 1: Executive order (directives) is law Source: Deputy Inspector General of Police Momodou Sowe Verdict: The claim is false On November 2, a local newspaper in the country published an article quoting the deputy inspector general of police Momodou Sowe saying executive orders are law. Some observers expressed disappointment at such statement coming from a police chief. Gambia has just emerged from 22 years of dictatorship during which executive directives were frequently used by ex-president Yahya Jammeh to arrest, detained or make declarations such as turning the country into an Islamic State in 2015. (more…)
UDP Leader Makes Public Declaration Of Assets
The 73-year old’s assets include a leased property on 57 Kairaba Avenue acquired in 1975 approximately worth D10,000,000. He also has undeveloped plots of land in Kembujeh, Serekundanding, Tanji Batosilokang, Tanji Salanding, Sanyang, Gunjur, Sukuta and Bansang (kongko santu). All the properties, except the Bansang property which was acquired in 2021, were acquired between 1989 to 2015.
GDC leader says alliance with APRC faction wouldn’t jeopardize victims’ pursuit for justice
Mama Kandeh, the leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has downplayed the potential impact of his alliance on victims’ pursuit of justice had he get elected president. Gambians head to polls on December 4 in what is country’s most crowded race for presidency since independence. On Tuesday, the GDC leader led an impressive crowd of supporters to file his nominations with Independent Electoral Commission. In the midst of the crowd, eyes couldn't miss the purple (GDC party colour) and green (APRC colour). The GDC has announced for[edgtf_dropcaps type="square" color="" background_color=""][/edgtf_dropcaps]ming a coalition with a faction of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation...
Ex-justice minister Joof, others submit details for nominations with IEC
The nomination for presidential candidate in Gambia’s December 4 election has started on Saturday with the submission of nomination papers by Joseph Henry Joof, a one-time justice minister under ex-president Yahya Jammeh. The controversial figure passed a bill in 2000 indemnifying soldiers who shot student protesters. “I will win these elections. I am very optimistic. Gambia needs a new breed of politicians…,” Joof told journalists after submitting his nominations at the Election House. Joof will be an independent candidate if his nomination gets a pass from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). In April 2000, hundreds of Gambian students took to the street...