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    By Sheriff Saidykhan Alagie Saidy-Barrow, former TRRC Investigator has Critiqued President Macky Sall's election postponement till December 15th 2024. His pronouncement has sparked an international condemnation, calling on Macky to reconsider its decision and call for election.  In his regular Coffee Time contribution on Tuesday Alagie Barrow said the trappings of power continue to hypnotize him. “When I hear what President Macky Sall is continuing to do in Senegal I could not help but wonder if he too has reach a point of no return. The simple man among us will tell you Macky did everything according to due process. That one man can wake up and go to the TV and tell the people that he has  indefinitely suspended the election, and it means nothing to our democratic crusaders” argued.   Being President in Africa he said, can be hypnotic and mesmerizing. “Combine presidency with the unaccountable powers. And the President will get lost in the trappings of power. He will never wan

  By Sheriff Saidykhan The China-Gambia Alumni Student Association (CGASA) has over the weekend been officially launched at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference hall in Bijilo.  The launching brought together dignitaries, student's and people from different walks of life.  Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Minister for Higher Education Reasearch Science and Technology Professor Pierre Gomez applauded the initiative, saying it will strengthen the already enduring bilateral ties between the Republic of the Gambia and the People's Republic of China.  Seedy Njie, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly said over the past decades, the two countries have a long standing brotherly relation.  He said the association will further concretise the existing bilaties ties between Banjul and Beijing.  Lamin Ceesay, the President of the association went down memory lane to catalogued the historical background of the association.  “The Asssociation is legally registered on the 9th October

  Team Outpost The Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) have warned the general public against the dangers of Tobacco and electronic cigarettes in the country.  It is against this backdrop, the public health officers in collaboration with National Environment Agency (NEA) have recently confiscated e-cigarettes and other illicit tobacco in accordance with the Tobacco Control ACT. Speaking at the presser held at the Central medical store in Kotu on Friday 2nd February 2024, Momodou Gassama from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said smoking is a killer product, adding that active or passive smokers all die due to smoking. He said 13 per cent of children are smokers. “Tobacco is a killer and nearly 8 million people die because of Tobacco use. 7 million actively smoke directly die. 1.2 million people die extra  because of passive smoking.  Whether you smoke actively or passively, smoking kills. 8.2 million people die every year as a result of smoking

      The Outpost Team The newly-elected executives of the Association of Health Journalists, (AoHJ) recently, paid a courtesy call to the Officials of the National Nutrition Agency, (NaNa) headed by the executive Director, Malang N. Fofana, to formally introduce themselves and as well as to forward their activity plans for the year 2024 - 2025. The executives were Sally Jarjue the President, Secretary General Ousman A. Marong, Assistance Secretary General Sheriff Saidykhan and Treasurer Bakary Manneh. Addressing the executives, the Executive Director, of NaNA, Malang N. Fofana expressed gratitude for receiving the AoHJ executives.  He assured the executives of his agency's support in all AoHJ's activities adding that there will be more capacity-building trainings for AoHJ members. “Your request for the capacity building training is in line with policies and strategies. We will work on that together. What we need is for you to formalize things and back them with a draft MoU. We

    By Sheriff Saidykhan The embattled former minister of Interior and Inspector General of Police, Ousman Sonko told the Court in Switzerland that the defunct Independent Newspaper was closed by a Court order and that was why the police were presence at the premises for two years.  Sonko was pushed to a corner by one of the lawyers of a private plaintiff Madi Ceesay. In a cross examination, he (Sonko) said in defense of good human right climate during Jammeh’s regime indicated that it was in 2014 that their government established the National Human Right Commission, but due to lack of funds it was not functional. as the National Human Right Commission was as an act of parliament in 2017). In the ongoing trial of the former Minister and IGP, Ousman Sonko, who since 2017 was in jail for crimes against humanity the allegations ranges from multiple rapes, force imprisonment and torture.  Narrating his ordeals Madi Ceesay the tenth private plaintiff in the Sonko trial told the Court that h

             By Sheriff Saidykhan Musa Saidykhan, onetime journalist at the defunct Independent newspaper has yesterday told the Federal Criminal Court in Switzerland about the severe torture meted out on him at the former (NIA). Musa informed the court that he was arrested on the 27 March 2006 by a group of army including some police officers at his home in Faji Kunda, and later transported to the PIU in Kanifing before taken to the NIA at night. He said he was put in a small cell together with some of the abortive 2006 coup plotters. Musa told the court that when he was taken to the NIA, said he was severely beaten several times and was forced to striped naked, and they applied electrical shocks all over his body including his private part.  Musa said due to those severe beatens he has lost his right arm and sights. He said during the second beaten his right arm was completely broken down twice.  He told the court that him and Madi were taken before the panel he could vividly see Ous

By Team Outpost Fatou Camara, one of the victims of April 14th peaceful protest has told the Federal Criminal Court in Switzerland about the gruesome torture meted out on her at the NIA. In her testimonies on Wednesday, during the eight sittings of the on going trial of Ousman Sonko, former Interior Minister for his alleged role in the human rights violations committed under the former regime of Yahya Jameh.  In her testimony, Fatou Camara told the court that she was assaulted by some PIU with a nasty slap on her face during the protest at Westfield.  “I was bundled into an open truck at the PIU with some other senior police officers, including Yankuba Sonko, then the Inspector General of Police and Yankuba Colley, former KMC Mayor together with the former Interior minister Ousman Sonko,” she told the court. Under the instructions of Ousman Sonko, Fatou told the court that they were moved from the PIU  to the Mile2 Prison. Fatou said she was picked with others from their cells one late

       By Sheriff Saidykhan      Alagie Saidy-Barrow, former TRRC Investigator  said  the character of commuters and drivers in the highways, has thus contributed to the growing nightmares in the traffic.  “Having left Banjul I finally made it into Serrekunda, and came face to face with my biggest nightmares, traffic!  If anyone wanted to study Gambians without the need to talk to us, they should simply observe our behaviours,” he said.  Speaking to West Coast Radio popular Coffee Time show on Tuesday, Alagie Saidy Barrow said the way we conduct ourselves in the  traffic "mirrows our behaviour towards one another".  He continued: “Let me start with the reason why I have to go deeper into Banjul. I got to McCarty square, and I was informed by a police officer that the road was closed off.  It was the same road I took into Banjul, and I spent lest than an hour I Banjul. The time was 13 minutes after 4pm. And people were getting to go home from work Our government officials, wit

        By Team Outpost Modou Ngum, one of the victims of April 14th peaceful protest has today told the Federal Criminal Court in Switzerland about the circumstances of the protest that led to the death of Solo Sandeng.  He said the protest was organised by the inter-party committee of political parties, but none of them participated during the protest.  Ngum told the court that they converged at Bambo and march towards Serrekunda to Westfield demanding electoral reforms. Upon arrival at Westfield they were forcefully dispersed by the PIU. He told the court that while at the PIU, they were asked to sit on the floor and hands tight at their back. He said Ousman Sonko, and the former NIA Director were all present there.  He said it was himself (Modou Ngum) Solo Sandeng, Ebrima Jabang, Nogoi Njie, Kafu Bayo Fatoumatta Jawara and Fatou Camara at the NIA.  Ngum said the Interior Minister and his team including Yankuba Sonko instructed the police to take them to the NIA office in Banjul.  N

           By Sheriff Saidykhan Hon. Madi MK Ceesay, MP for Serrekunda West Constituency and former Executive Editor of the defunct Independent newspaper has recounted his ordeal of torture under the ruthless hands of the then (NIA) now State Intelligence Service (SIS). Currently in Switzerland, to witness the on going trial of Ousman Sonko, Madi MK Ceesay explained the circumstances of his arrest that led to his torture. “This is at the time of the foiled coup in 2006. So as the news of the day; all the papers were keep quite and did not write anything about it. We interviewed the late Samba Bah, former Interior Minister as among the coup plotters. We did our investigations and published the story.  So when that happend he Samba Bah failed us. The next day him Samba drove to the office very angrily saying you guys published that am part of the coup plotters and arrested. Am getting calls from within and outside.  So as Professional journalists we assigned him with a reporter for an in

     Team Outpost Honourable Madi MK Ceesay, the MP for Serrekunda West Constituency and a onetime victim of Jammeh era has said that he is relief in the current on going trial of Ousman Sonko in Switzerland.  “As a victim I feel big relief, I am confident and optimistic that i will soon get justice that I waited for too long.  There is nowhere criminals can hide. Because the long arm of justice will find them wherever they go” he said. Ousman Sonko was arrested in 2017 in Switzerland for aiding and abetting the rights violations committed during Jammeh era.  The trial started on Monday. The defence counsel for Ousman Sonko raised lot of objections, saying the Switzerland court is not  competent to cover the case. All his objections were rejected by the presiding judge. Speaking to Outpost Media in a telephone interview, Madi MK Ceesay who is currently in Switzerland witnessing the trial recounted his ordeal. “I for one, was arrested by the police in 2006, and I was taken to the police

  By Sheriff Saidykhan The Gambian-U.S based criminologist has said that the continued stay of foreign troops in the country, most especially manning the key strategic areas is a threat to national security.  Mod Lamin Faye, a specialist on law enforcement and national security matters made these remarks recently in a telephone interview with The Outpost Media. “For ECOMIG to be in the country and for us allowing foreign security forces to be in our sensitive areas, especially at State House is basically a threat to national security.  So we the Gambian have this tendency that in believing in other than ourselves.  Why do we always reach to these foreign security forces to take care of our security issues in the country.  whatever is going on right now in The Gambia is a threat to national security,” he argued.  As readers could recalled  the deployment of foreign troops (ECOMIG) to The Gambia was precipitated by  the refusal of former President Jammeh to ensure the peaceful and smooth

  Team Outpost A delegation from the Association of Health Journalists (AoHJ), led by its president Sally Jarju, paid a courtesy call to the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education, DHPE, on Tuesday, January 2nd 2024, at the Directorates Office at the Medical Drug Store office in Kotu. The visit was to introduce the AoHJ 2024 activity plans and the areas it deemed necessary to collaborate and, DHPE, interventions.   Michael Manga Mendy, the Director at Health Promoting and Education, commended AoHJ in their recently concluded and successful elective congress. “Congratulations will not be limited to you (AoHJ). We have to congratulate the Health Promotion Directorate and the Ministry of Health (MoH), for accepting this opportunity that we have been thinking of. I can remember one year ago your absence was felt. This was in December last year when we needed your participation and we came to realise that there were lapses here and there. I am delighted to receive you and I will info

  Team Outpost Lamin Manneh, UDP’s Deputy Senior Administrative Secretary for Diaspora and External Affairs has said that the move of Momodou Sabally to NPP is his prerogative right. He made these remarks on Thursday in an interview with Peter Gomez on the popular Coffee Time show.   “If he chooses to move to another party, that is entirely his prerogative right, and we must respect that Sabaaly is a Gambian and it is his democratic right. He came to the UDP and we welcomed him with open arms, and he played his part. And he decides to move on.  Constitutionally he has the right to move to any party he wants to. So we respected that.  Anybody who comes to UDP from another party, we are open to all Gambians. We will accept you , and give you the treatment that we give to everyone in the party. we give everybody the benefit of the doubt.,” he asserted.  asked about the fear of whether Sabally will leak information that will be damaging to the party. He responded: “That's how often peo

Team Outpost Gambians have reacted to the recent dramatic political move of Momodou Sabally, the former Campaign Manager of the United Democratic Party (UDP) to join the National People's Party (NPP). It is reported that Momodou Sabally, the outspoken critic of President Adama Barrow made a surprised u-turn on Wednesday.  The move was greeted with mix feelings among the UDP militants, and Gambians living in home and abroad.  Aisha Bint Ibrahim, a UDP supporter said it is his right to shift political allegiance to NPP, adding that their loyalty remains to the party. “It's Sabally's right to cease being a member of UDP. We have nothing against him. We extend our gratitude to him for serving the party. Meanwhile we are behind Ba Ousainou, our loyalty remains the same,” she said. Ousman Ceesay, a concern Gambian said the country has a poor record of elite accountability.  He further added that Gambians still continue to live in an era of impunity for people of influence.  “We h

      By Sheriff Saidykhan The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in partnership with the National Democratic Instutute (NDI), have today began a two day capacity building training for 25 Journalists from different media outlets on Access to Information Act.  The training seeks to equip journalists on the required skills on Acces of Information Act.  The training held at Bakadaji in Kotu, brought together journalists to brainstorm ideas on Access to Information Act.  Lala Touray, Senior Program Manager expressed delight and extended gratitude to the Gambia Press Union for it's show of commitment towards training journalists on the Access to Information Act.  Saikou Jammeh, journalist and freedom of expression advocate outlined an overview and the evolution of different countries on access to information act.  Kumba Leigh, of the Gambia Daily News explained her expectations of the training.  “My expectations is to be able to familiarize myself with the process and procedures of Access to Info

       Team Outpost Marr Nyang, the Executive Director of Gambia Participates (GP) has said that the 2024 draft budget for revenue estimates and expenditure needs proper  restructuring for the growth and management of the economy.  “I guess restructuring our fiscal policies and attitudes, how do we efficiently manage our public funds is something that need to be look at,” he said  In a telephone interview with The Outpost Media on Thursday, he said there is need for the new draft budget to better explain the new projects included in the budget.  “The budget need to be program base, and for the budget to be explaining it's new act. or its new project that is included in the budget. There should be a note detailing the outcome of that project. To know what is the input and to know those that are going to benefit. And how we can impact the economy,” he posited.  He added: “I guess these are the informations that are still lacking in the budget.  These informations will help parliament

    Team Outpost Forbes a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and lifestyle has recently named Fatou Bensouda among the 100 most influential African women.                      Early Life And Education  Born on 31 January 1961 in Banjul (then Bathurst), Gambia, into a polygamous Muslim family, she is the daughter of Omar Gaye Nyang, who was a government driver and the country's most prominent wrestling promoter.  Fatou Bensouda is the niece of the Gambian historian and author Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof. Her father is related to the Joof family through his maternal grandmother Ndombuur Joof (Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof's great-aunt).  She attended primary and secondary school in the Gambia before leaving in 1982 for Nigeria, where she graduated from the University of Ife with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree in 1986.  The following year, she obtained her professional qualification as a barrister-at-law from the Nigeria Law Schoo

Team Outpost Alagie Said Barrow, former TRRC Investigator has called on the government of President Adama Barrow to take a comprehensive approach to eradicate the back way menaces in the country. “Addresing the back way issue requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond merely passing strict laws. Conduct some form of root analysis, identify possible solutions, draw up a strategy or strategies, and implement the strategy and monitor progress; while holding staff accountable,” he posited.  Speaking to West Coast Radio popular Coffee Time Show with Peter Gomez on Tuesday,Alagie Saidy Barrow responded to President Barrow's declaration on migrant smugglers, saying passing stricter laws is akin to ‘treating the rashes and ignoring the leprosy’. He continued: “The laws may help, but it will not help the root causes. And from a national security standpoint, I urge the government to study the correlation between countries with an active youth population like ours and social unrest in

By Sheriff Saidykhan Gambians have reacted to the 2024 draft budget submitted by the Finance Minister and Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita few weeks ago at the National Assembly.  Speaking to West Coast Radio popular Coffee Time show with Peters Gomez on Tuesday, Alagie Saidy Barrow, former TRRC investigator said the country's dependence on foreign support has hindered the economy of the country.  The continued dependence on aid he said, will always put a setback for the development of the country.  “How can this country get to its potential when it is relying on corrosive institutions like the IMF and World Bank to survive.  As long as Gambians continue to rely on the World Bank and the IMF. And as long as Gambians insists on borrowing or begging from others we will always remain behind those that run these institutions and countries we begged and borrow from.  You do not need an economic degree to know that begging and borrowing is not a development model,” he said Karamba Touray, a