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  DCAF Successfully Concludes Training on Election Reporting for Thirty Gambian Journalists   By Sheriff Saidykhan   The Geneva Centre for Security Governance (DCAF) in partnership with Gambia Press Union (GPU), through the support of the European Union (EU), on Friday 19 November 2021 completed a five days intensive training for thirty Gambia media practitioners across different media outlets. The training was held at National Nutrition Agency (NANA), along the Bertil Harding Highway.   The training dubbed: ‘The Role of Media in Monitoring and Objective Reporting on Election and Security’ among other things, gave journalists the opportunity to interact, share experiences and better understand the safety and security considerations associated with in elections reporting.     Ken Isaac, Head of DCAF office in Banjul spoke of their determination to continue to support capacity building of Gambian journalists and media practitioners.   Muhammad S. Bah, President-elect of Gambia Press Unio

    ICC Advisor says: Jammeh Must Be Prosecuted, “Impunity is not an option”   By Amadou Manjang    The special adviser to the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, Adama Dieng, has said that The Gambia needs to prosecute the crimes that were committed under Yahya Jammeh’s brutal rule.     He added that if The Gambia fails to prosecute the crimes, then the International Criminal Court under international jurisprudence will take the matter and investigate.   “Justice must happen and justice will happen. Impunity is not an option,” he firmly stated.   Dieng believes that there should be no circumstances where the crimes should be left unpunished.    Dieng made these remarks on Wednesday 17 November 2021 at the International Conference held at Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference centre.     The International Conference was organised by the Advocate for Justice and Human Rights, Justice Truth Dignity, Gambia Bar Association and IHRDA on the theme ‘from Truth to Justice- the Impleme

By Sheriff Saidykhan In a statement released by the Gambia Transport Union, they urged politicians to ensure compliance with traffic laws and regulations. The statement reads: “The General Transport Union wishes to remind all drivers hired for the purpose of political campaign to constantly ensure they adhere to Traffic Laws and Regulations, particularly regarding the manner in which passengers are carried during the campaign. It is deeply concerning and utterly worrying that, people are left hanging on open doors of running vehicles, in certain instances many are left seated on top of vehicles without any protection, while others are left clinging on the back of vehicles; all in insecure  manners. This precarious situation if left unaddressed has potential to cause serious Road Traffic Accidents which may lead to loss of lives and severe injuries. In this regard, the executive of the General Transport Union wishes to solicit the cooperation of party leaders, independent candid

Sheriff Saidykhan In a press conference yesterday, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, party leader and flagbearer of the Citizens’ Alliance (CA) confirmed that lawyers for his party have “already issued proceedings against the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)”. Speaking to journalists from the party’s headquarters in Kanifing Estate, a calm and collected Dr Ceesay details that the lawsuit against the IEC is “scheduled to be heard on Tuesday 16th November 2021 at the High Court in Banjul”. The CA leader did not offer any in-depth details about the case but highly placed sources have informed this medium that the Chief Justice, Hassan  Jallow “has reserved the case to himself” which makes this high profile and unprecedented suit all the more interesting.  It could be recalled that on Saturday 7th November 2021, Dr. Ceesay was among one of over a dozen Presidential aspirants who had their nominations for the presidential elections scheduled for 4th December 2021 rejected. A number of these, includ

By Alimatou S  Bajinka   P eace Ambassadors the Gambia (PAG) in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI)  has recently completed an overall report on their findings and observations of the nomination process of candidates, ahead of the December 4th Presidential election at a presser briefing held at its main Office in Kanifing.     Bubacarr Sambou, President Peace Ambassadors The Gambia said Peace Ambassadors deployed an observer to observe the political candidates during nomination process and public scrutiny during the 8 days period, from the 30th October to November 6th at the IEC headquarters in kanifing.    “Our observer was permitted by the IEC to observe the submission of nomination papers by aspirants, he was only given 5 minutes to go through all the files of over 20 aspirations who submitted their nomination papers. Therefore observation findings only generally comprise the submission procedures and the general environment at the IEC office during the the proc

  Introduction Purpose and objective of the Report   This unsolicited report is the result of a careful and thorough study of the provisions within the Draft Constitution (hereinafter “the Draft”), identifying those provisions whose substance are inconsistent with the Constitution, fundamental human rights and international treaties. The study which informed this report also sought to uncover and highlight the adversities such provisions present and offer sound recommendations for reasonable amendments by way of safeguards etc. in order to ensure compatibility and adequate protections. Whilst the issue of fundamental human rights is the primary focus of this report, Draft provisions relevant to good governance and the enhancement and entrenchment of democracy, democratic accountability and institutions were also carefully considered and reasonable recommendations for amendments and further enactments made in the same regard. This report’s objective is to compliment and consolidate the