ANJUL (Reuters) - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has dissolved his entire cabinet two months after securing re-election for a new five-year term, state broadcaster GRTS announced on Thursday. 

The brief announcement did not say why Jammeh had taken the decision or when the cabinet would be replaced. It said the president had commended his ministers for their patriotism and hard work. 

Former military coup leader Jammeh scored a landslide 72 percent victory in November to extend his 17 year-rule over the tiny West African country, which attracts thousands of Western tourists to its white-sand beaches and tropical forests. 

The African Union said Jammeh had benefited from a strong media bias and greater financial resources than rivals.

Although he has presided over a period of stability, a number of former allies have been accused of plotting coup bids during his rule.

Minnesota Department of Health

News Release

Feb. 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Free HIV testing and public awareness events scheduled in Minnesota

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) will be held in Minnesota, as across the nation, on Feb. 7 to call attention to the staggering toll HIV/AIDS has had on Black communities across the country.

With the national theme of, "I Am My Brother/Sister's Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS," local organizers hope to raise awareness and encourage African-Americans and African-born persons to get tested, get educated, get treated and get involved within their communities to halt the spread of this disease.

"We are emphasizing the importance of getting tested for HIV and getting into care if infected," said Peter Carr, manager of the STD and HIV Section, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). "New studies show that HIV transmission rates can be reduced by 96 percent when infected persons get into care and treatment. As part of this year's observance, local agencies will be offering free HIV testing."

By Mathew K Jallow

Civil Society Associations-Gambia, a coalition of seven Gambian civil and human rights organizations spread across Europe, the United States and West Africa has been launched after a year of online meetings and dozens of conference calls between founding members. The purpose of CSAG is to challenge the impunity with which the Gambian state has subjected innocent citizens to the most egregious rights abuses, which include extra-judicial executions, murders, tortures, forced disappearances, and the pervasive arrests, detentions and incarcerations. To more effectively execute its responsibilities, a new executive was elected to manage the affairs of the organization for a period of two years.  The new executive comprises:

i.                    Banka Manneh; Chairman, US

ii.                  Ndey Tapha-Sosseh; Secretary General, Mali

iii.                Yaya Dampha; Treasurer, Sweden

iv.                Abdoulie Jobe; Member, UK

v.                  Alieu Ceesay; Member, Scotland, UK

vi.                Buba Baldeh; Member, Senegal

vii.              Mathew K. Jallow; Member, US

Following the election a new executive, and after extensive and exhaustive consultations, CSAG launched a website to facilitate the gathering and dissemination of information in timely manner. Readers will notice that over the past few weeks, CSAG put out press releases and public notices in line with the organization’s commitment to the restoration of the rule of law in The Gambia. So far, CSAG has sought to network with like-minded regional and international rights organizations to more broadly involve the wider international community in the effort to put the spotlight on the atrocities perpetrated by the Gambian regime. CSAG recognizes the difficult challenges confronting the Gambia and, therefore, values the working relationships so far established and continue to establish with other regional and international rights organization.

Dear Editor,

I am a board member of Hand In Health (HIH – handinhealth.org), a Minnesota based NGO. Hand In Health has been supporting health and education in The Gambia since 2006. In 2010 HIH provided 7500 medical books for the hospital library in Bwiam.

Hand In Health is partnering with Books For Africa, (BFA - booksforafrica.org) with a goal of ending the book famine in The Gambia. Together we will send one million school and reading books to The Gambia and build up to six regional libraries, over a 3 to 5 year period. BFA and HIH raised funds for two 40ft containers of over 44,000 school and library books for The Gambia. This shipment left Atlanta 3 weeks ago and is due in Banjul by early February 2012. 

By Mathew K Jallow

Dr. Amadou S Janneh conviction

For once, the cynics proved me wrong. I admit. It was just that given the extraordinary amount of unsubstantiated prosecutorial evidence, I felt that no judge could find grounds on which to convict Dr. Amadou S Janneh. Or so I thought; rather, I hoped. I was holding our hope that at the very minimum; Dr. Janneh would come out this fracas wounded by the blatant abuse of his citizen rights, but still a free man.

I was wrong; very wrong. Quite frankly, I was thrown way off guard by the allure of fair-play; charmed by some of the comments and observations Judge Emmanuel Nkea made during the trial. But these turned out to be mere rhetorical flourishes weaved in sadistic deception and delivered with provincial embellishment to project a false sense of fairness. Read more

Thursday, January 24, 2011

GAMBIAN CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS AND PARTNERS CAUTION AGAINST A PRESIDENT YAHYA JAMMEH AFRICAN UNION CHAIRMANSHIP

Your Excellencies,

On the eve of the African Union Summit to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the 29th and 30th January, we the undersigned Gambian Civil Society Groupsi, regional and international partners in the struggle for human rights, democracy and free expression in The Gambia, humbly petition your august body, the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, representing the member countries of the African Union not to elect President Yayha Jammeh of The Gambia, as chairman of the African Union.

 It has been brought to our attention that according to the rules of procedure of the Assembly, the Heads of State during the January Summit should elect one of their peers to assume the rotating Chairmanship of the Union. We are also aware that in 2012, West Africa has the chairperson responsibility and that President Yahya Jammeh, of The Gambia has declared his candidature. Read details 

 Click on link for details http://www.gainako.com:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/webmail.php

By Archam Molengel, Sare Balebeh, The Gambia

Reflections from a Gambian citizen on the recent imprisonment of a former government information minister-Dr. Amadou Scattered Janneh will spend the rest of his life in prison, this, after a Gambian court found him and others guilty of attempting to overthrow the democratically eleceted government of President Yahya Jammeh.

Exploring the Scattered Janneh case 

I observed from the onset, how the trial started, reading very seriously the editorials, and the general trends in the news media. I wasn't supposed to be very occupied to miss the court reports about the case when I could not make it at the courts. Somehow, I had started to make up my mind after I allowed myself to be part of a spiritual flight that traverse across the cosmos urging the heart to doing things that are so passionate to itself. That moment, the moment, we, call love, yes or no. If someone can get kicked for speaking one's mind, rest assured, if Amadou Scattered Janneh, (scattered as they call him his native Gunjur) is there, his face will be kicked right on. And here is why? Read more

By Fakebba j Samateh.

I learned with sadness and dismay that the chief Gambian cheat had given himself another five year term in the office, thus making a fourth five year term. Watching Yahya Jammeh's inauguration on televission would show any sensible thinking Gambian, what the true intentions of this Kanilai Monster are.

1. Jammeh came to power accusing the Jawara administration of staying too long in power thus encouraging rampant corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
2. Jammeh said he hates politics because all politicians are hypocrites for they always lie to people promising what they cannot do.
3.Maybe Gambians either did not know or they keep pretending they don't know. How many of you have ever visited Kanilai? Yesterday Kanilai and today Kanilai are like earth and heaven for Kanilai is turning into a Dubai with Banks and hotels also the president has built a semi stadium now called the cultural square.

President Obama's State of the Union Address 2012

"So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we’re joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong".  Read full text

Press Release:

In accordance with the organizational by-laws, the general membership of Save the Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP) elected a Management Committee to run the affairs of the organization for the next two years on Saturday January 21, 2012.  The Management Committee comprises of six officials as: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary General, Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, and Political Strategist At-large. Listed below are the newly elected Management Committee members: Banka Manneh of Atlanta Metro Area (Georgia, USA) was elected to extend his term as Chairman of STGDP. Banka's relentless demeanor and hard work, commitment and top notch leadership has proven to be a tremendous asset for the organization.