Gambia : Jammeh’s Shortsighted Vision 2020

Original article by Sarjo Bayang
All inspiring leaders know how to create stirring dreams in the minds of their people. They know how to write speeches (or at least deliver them) and put together mission statements which, if made into reality, would revolutionise the lives of those whom they serve. Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia has a curious ability to do just that. The problem is, Dictator Jammeh seems to have forgotten to deliver on his promises and goals.
Here’s his own special brand of nonsense, quoted from the State House website:
Mission Statement and overall orientation of Vision 2020 reads:
“To transform The Gambia into a financial centre, a tourist paradise, a trading, export-oriented agricultural and manufacturing nation, thriving on free market policies and a vibrant private sector, sustained by a well-educated, trained, skilled, healthy, self-reliant and enterprising population and guaranteeing a well-balanced eco- system and a decent standard of living for one and all under a system of government based on the consent of the citizenry.”
And here’s a brief look at what’s happening in reality:
Vision 2020 has absolutely no development plan to back it up. There are simply no measures put in place to implement these grand ideas.
Financial centre? The Gambia has, according to less in the state’s coffers than belongs to Yahya Jammeh himself. He is allowed complete freedom to claim development tenders and state financing. He owns many large business interests, and there is absolutely no good governance in place to hold him accountable for his wealth or business interests. Neither the Ministry of Trade nor the Ministry of Finance has any measures in place for accountability or the delivery of an improved economy- an economy which has been in steady decline.
Gambia is in decline- but Yahya Jammeh’s personal fortunes are increasing daily. His favourite publicity stunt is to “donate” resources back to the country he stole them from.
Tourist paradise? The World Tourism Council has released a report which is fairly damning: The Gambia is in the midst of a tourism decline. The industry, instead of becoming a mainstay for the country, is on the verge of collapse, and, with a depressed international market, is unlike to recover. Especially with absolutely no plans in place by Jammeh’s government to rescue this once key facet of the economy.
Trading? An Export-oriented economy? There has been no candidate remaining in the Department of Trade Industry, and Employment now renamed Ministry of Economic Planning and Industrial Development long enough to improve trade in any measurable way. Government interference has seen the cotton industry collapse, and Jammeh’s own personal farming interests have pretty much ruined agriculture- he’s still obsessed with stealing lands from Gambians in order to create “State farms”- farms worked on by his own soldiers and police force (for no pay), and farms from which he derives any profits. Even his mother runs farms. Essentially, his farms in every province represent Gambian agriculture- but that’s no national improvement.
Manufacturing nation? A short-lived development project at Kanifing Industrial Estate was, for the most part, a flop. So many people used their development grants to build residential units that fears of industrial pollution prevented any major industries from being established. Gambia imports pretty much everything, right down to basic commodities.
Free Market Policies and a vibrant private sector? Again, there are very few businesses which can cope with unfair competition in the country, and Jammeh’s personal interest in competing with almost every kind of business in the country has also left both sectors useless. Notably, however, the banking sector has grown- implying that there is plenty of money changing hands- just not through legal or formal business channels.
Well-educated, trained, skilled and enterprising population? Jammeh’s own children are educated by American tutors in a private classroom, and claims to be building schools- yet systematically targets intellectuals for arrest and torture.
Guaranteeing a well-balanced ecosystem? Gambia has extensively rich ecosystems, and, under previous regimes, there were measures in place to protect these. Jammeh is selling off land to Asian investors, and developing on land previously protected.
Decent standard of living for one and all? Poverty and hunger are rife in the Gambia. The entire country relies on the “generosity” of Jammeh for basics such as food.
Healthy nation? Jammeh claimed he could cure AIDS and other ailments. Despite his claims, there has been no medical proof, and civilians are left to hide their unhappiness at his failure to cure their relatives. There is no medical fraternity in the Gambia rejecting his claims. Jammeh himself uses foreign doctors for his family.
System of government based on the consent of the citizenry? There will be elections in November 2011- elections Jammeh expects to win. Of course, political opposition has been criminalized, so there is no viable opposition party. He insists that he must lead “for forty years”.
So it’s pretty obvious that according to his own standards, Dictator Jammeh has failed miserably to live up to his own vision. Of course, he has nine years left to do something about it, but by then he’ll have invented something else to parade as the next best thing.

Courtesy: africandictator.org

The Gambia UPDATE: Missing ex-minister found, treason charges preferred against him and three others

Dr Amadou Scattered Janneh, a detained former Minister of Information and Communication and three others have been charged with treason for allegedly distributing anti-Jammeh materials, demanding an end to the authoritarian rule of President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia. 

Dr Janneh, an outspoken former minister went missing after his arrest on June 7, 2011. He was picked-up by plainclothes security agents who, without explanation, sealed off his offices, dismissed his staff.  Dr. Janneh was whisked towards Banjul, the capital to an unknown location.

 

On June 13, 2001, he was seen publicly for the first time after his arrest. This was when he appeared before the Banjul Magistrate’s court together with three others. All the four persons are being tried on charges relating to sedition and treasonable offences.

The three- two Gambians, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow and a Nigerian citizen Michael C. Ucheh Thomas, were also arrested and held  incommunicado at  an undisclosed location on the same day that Dr. Janneh was arrested. They have since been remanded in prison custody to reappear at a High Court, as the magistrate court does not have the jurisdiction to hear treason cases.

 

The charges stemmed from the four allegedly printing and distributing t-shirts of Gambian political pressure groups, Coalition for Change, which is calling for an ‘End to Dictatorship Now’ in The Gambia

 

This is not the time in 2011 (an election year) that the authorities have arrested Gambian citizens for exercising their political rights. On March 7, two family members of Mai Fatty, an exiled leader of the opposition Gambian Moral Congress (GMC) party, were detained by the Gambian police over the display of photographs of Fatty and other GMC campaign materials at their family home in the Upper River Administrative Division of the Gambia.

MFWA views this as a deliberate attempt to scuttle the election and entrench the authoritarian regime of President Jammeh in office. In 2006, they used similar method when they launched another phase of their systematic clampdown of journalists and political opponents to deny Gambians free and fair elections.

 

For more information Please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.gh, alerts@mediafound.org

Website: www.mediafound.org

GAMBIA : Africa’s dangerous skies a little safer.

GAMBIA:Africa’s dangerous skies a little safer.: "Evil, in politics, consists in intentionally behaving in ways that harm, abuse, demean, dehumanize or destroy innocent people- or using one’s authority and power to encourage or permit others to do so. Maimuna and Pa Musa are two heroes who resist all pressures to morally disengage from their commitment to probity and ultimately paid a price for their ethical intergrity. Once again this story exposes the moral corruption and decadence in the heart of the Gambia government under Yaya Jammeh’s watch." Read More

Source:hellogambia.com

Gambia News:Former Information Minister Yet to Answer Treason Allegations

(Dailynews) Almost six days after his arrest and detention without access to family and attorney, Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh and three other men have been arraigned on Monday on charges of treason and sedition. 
They are accused of distributing T-shirts imprinted with the slogan: ‘Coalition for Change, The Gambia: End Dictatorship Now.’
But they are yet to respond to the allegations as the matter was transferred to proceed at the High Court after it was decided that the magistrates’ court lacks jurisdiction to preside over treason, which attracts up to a death sentence.  
The Daily News could not gather much information about the other three men: Michel C Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow. 
But Dr Janneh served as Information Minister for over a year under the Jammeh administration following his return from U.S. where he studied journalism and political science and later taught for over ten years as assistant professor, African and African-American Studies University of Tennessee, U.S. 
He is the CEO and sole proprietor of Commit Enterprises a leading IT outfit in The Gambia. 
A community development activist, Mr Janneh has for many years spearheaded and financed development activities in his hometown of Gunjur. It is not clear when the High Court will preside over the case. 
Meanwhile, all the accused persons are remanded pending proper arraignments.


courtesy: dailynews.gm

Gambia News : Yusuf Ezziden’s Appeal Still On But the appellant is yet to appear in court

By Lamin Sanyang
(Foroyaa Online) Proceedings on the appeal of Yusuf Ezziden against his sentence to death and conviction of treasonable offences continued in his absence at the Court of Appeal in Banjul on Tuesday, 14 June 2011.


Yusuf Ezziden alias ‘Rambo’ was convicted of treason and sentenced to death together with the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lang Tombong Tamba and others on allegation of a coup plot against the government of The Gambia in 2009.
During the proceedings of 14 June 2011 before the three panel judges led by the president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Wowo, the addresses of the appellant and respondents were adopted. The case was adjourned till Thursday 23rd June 20ll.
Mrs. Hawa Sisay Sabally appeared for the appellant while Mr. Daniel O. Kulo, the Director of Special Litigation, announced his appearance for the State.
The appellant Mr. Ezziden did not appear in court and the reason for the appellant’s absence was not explained or questioned. Mr. Ezziden has not been appearing in court for the past several months. Readers could recall that the appellant (Mr. Ezziden) had failed to appear for three consecutive times at the Court of Appeal. None has questioned or explained the reasons for his absence. This is the fourth time the appellant has failed to appear in court.


Source: Foroyaa online

Gambia:GNOC Trio Freed on Theft Charges - Daily News from Gambia

GNOC Trio Freed on Theft Charges - Daily News from Gambia: "Three high ranking officials of The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) Monday were acquitted and discharged on the theft charges leveled against them.
“The prosecution was not able to prove the suspects guilty,” Magistrate Tabally of Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has said, marking an end to the five-month long trial that emerged in the midst of a controversial race for the top position at GNOC following the conviction of the ex-president, Lang Tombong Tamba, former defence chief, for treason." Read More

Press Alert: Update: Professor Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh

Update: Professor Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh

Late Monday evening, Professor Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, a former cabinet minister, was unceremoniously yanked from the National Intelligence Agency dungeons where he had been detained for a week, and rushed to the Banjul Magistrates court. The court charged Dr. Janneh with treason in the absence of any legal representation, charges he is yet to plead to.

After the charges were metered out, Dr. Janneh was this time around transferred to the notorious Mile Two Prison, where he is still being detained. Attempts by Dr. Janneh’s legal counsel to locate and have access to him had so far proved futile. Lawyers working feverishly to secure the freedom of Dr. Janneh, are as we speak, attempting to secure his charge sheets. But according to court staff, all matters surrounding the case were being transferred to the Banjul High Court for trial.

Coalition for Change - The Gambia: Setting the Record Straight

To the Gambian media at home and abroad

The Executive Committee of the Coalition for Change Gambia (CCG) commends the online media for bringing news to Gambian Diaspora. We however take issue with the recent relentless characterization of CCG as a “clandestine and subversive organization.” This characterization is reckless and does not represent what CCG stands for, and we therefore reject these labels. We are not an armed movement seeking change through violent means. We don’t have armed militia lurking in the bushes. We don’t have guns hidden somewhere ready to use. Our only weapons are our mouths and our pens; two weapons we by law have a right to use to inform and educate Gambians about the untenable situation in which our country finds itself. We rely on the power of The Gambian people to bring about change and restore dignity in their lives.
Further, it seems some media to a degree relied heavily on innuendo and speculations to drive home points that have no grounding on fact. The CCG is under no illusion how such embellishment could inadvertently assail the judgment of reasonable people, and we encourage all media practitioners to take the moral high ground and desist from employing language that can sow seeds of panic and skepticism about CCG.

While we acknowledge the selfless dedication the media has contributed to the cause of liberating our motherland from the jaws of tyranny and corruption, we ask that media practitioners refrain from creating a cloud of distrust over their efforts by persistently engaging in unnecessary and baffling mischaracterizations of CCG. To build a level of credibility and prestige in the media enterprise, it is imperative that any story that makes it in the pages of the newspaper and the airwaves of their radios, are supported by irrefutable evidence. This means avoiding the dissemination of information that is the creative genius of the figment of their fertile imaginations.
The CCG is not unlike any other civil society organization trying to restore democracy in The Gambia, and it is neither a surprise nor a coincidence that nearly all these Gambian civil society organizations have “democracy” embedded in their names to articulate their primary goals.
The main objective of CCG is the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in The Gambia; our motivation derives from the sixteen years of servitude to which fellow Gambians have been subjected; our determination is grounded on our civic responsibility and our patriotic duty to legally dissent, and our aspiration is pegged on the eradication of the fear that has paralyzed Gambians into total submissions.
CCG calls on all Gambians, especially the youth to come forward and help rescue our country from the vicissitude of tyranny and oppression, so their little brothers and sisters and their future sons and daughters will not be reduced to slavery or driven out into exile by the hand of another future dictatorship. Gambians have been afraid for far too long, and the time has come to break this intellectually debilitating and mentally corrosive fear of state power and Yahya Jammeh. With this in mind, CCG was formed to bring like-minded Gambians with a desire and the commitment to help rescue our country from yoke of physical and mental bondage. In two paragraphs below, we present a summary of CCG’s hopes and aspirations for our country, and some of our demands outlining what the regime needs to do to respect the civil and human rights of every Gambian.
“The Coalition for Change -The Gambia (CCG), a civil, human and political rights organization, which brings together a cross-section of the Gambian community at home and abroad, has been launched. The group is a non-partisan organization established to challenge the dictatorship and restore basic freedoms in The Gambia through nonviolent action. The Coalition's formation is necessitated by the repressive political environment in which Gambians find themselves. Virtually all avenues of orderly political change have been shut by a despot determined to cling on to power by any means necessary.”
“To accomplish this, the group will be providing an alternative voice - Radio Free Gambia - which is to go on air by mid-July. Together with the FM Station, CCG will continue utilizing social media to further spread our messages and to garner public support.
CCG has been calling on the regime to immediately:
· Repeal laws that unduly restrict freedom of expression
· Ensure equal access to public media for all political establishments
· Organize a referendum on instituting Presidential term limits
· Free all political prisoners
· End arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and murders
· Investigate all mysterious deaths and disappearances
· Respect freedom of assembly and association
CCG also continues its call for all groups and individuals from every sector of the community, in The Gambia and abroad, to join us in the struggle to restore democracy and the rule of law.” Visit our website at:http://www.changegambia.org

Furthermore, in a recent radio interview/interrogation relentless attempts were made to cajole information about CCG out of individuals who possess no such knowledge about CCG. Additionally, allegations were made to the effect that CCG’s had abandoned Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh in his moment of crisis. To begin with, neither Ndey Tapha-Sosseh nor Mathew K Jallow confirmed nor denied Dr. Janneh’s membership of CCG, but we are nonetheless proud that someone like him is challenging the last sixteen years of tyranny in our country. CCG Executive members enthusiastically align themselves with Dr. Janneh’s position regarding the abysmal human rights record and the disappearance of citizens in our country, and are committed to do everything in our power to mitigate the suffering of any Gambian who becomes a victim of this regime, regardless of their position in our society, and that includes Dr. Janneh.
Secondly, the question of CCG’s legitimacy was raised, and we want to make it categorically clear that the organization is a bone-fide civil society organization, and any queries regarding where it was founded is mute and does not merit belaboring further. As to the issue of the composition of our executive, we will continue to respect their desire for anonymity, for the same reason, all the media are protecting the identities of their information sources in Banjul. The theory of not knowing what will happen to them if they openly operate as champions of liberty is the driving rationale. It boils down to the hostility of the regime towards dissenting voices, and the danger dissension poses to the wellbeing of Gambians. CCG believes you will agree that none of the civil society organizations founded abroad will be permitted to freely operate as champions of Human Rights in The Gambia, moreover, it might interest Gambians to know that CCG may not be the only organization protecting the anonymity of their home-bound members, nor will it be the last.
For as long as Yahya Jammeh still remains in power, we will never enjoy the freedom to operate openly as civil rights organization free to protect our fellow citizens from the overreach of this barbaric regime.
Finally, while it is correct that CCG should be held accountable to Gambians; our overriding calculation is the protection of our membership from the mean-spiritedness of a calculating megalomania. This position is absolutely non- negotiable, come what may.
Lastly, CCG thanks all of Gambia’s media for the efforts and sacrifice they make in the dissemination of information to the Gambian Diaspora community and for their steadfast stand against the tyrannical regime that has held our country hostage for the past sixteen years. Thank you.
Signed June 13, 2011
Ndey Tapha-Sosseh
Secretary General
CCG
Mathew K Jallow
CCG Chair (U.S)

Gambia News: Update: The detention of Professor Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and others

Three days after his arrest, Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh was this afternoon seen in public our reliable sources from Banjul have intimated. Dr. Janneh under the escort of plain- clothes police officers, was driven back to his Commit office building in an unmarked white police pickup truck. After spending a considerable amount of time in the building, the security officers left again with Dr. Janneh. It is not clear why they were there or what they took from the premises.
Meanwhile, one of the three legal counsels retained to handle the case, was alerted of the arrival and presence of the plain-clothes officers with Dr. Janneh at the Commit office building. The counsel rushed to the location just as the plain-clothes officers were exiting with Dr. Janneh. Our source intimated that the police have handed back the keys to the Commit office building to an employee who is also a relative of Dr. Janneh and the employees were asked to resume normal work again.
The legal counsel, however, could not speak to Dr. Janneh and, therefore, could not ascertain the condition of his health and wellbeing. It can be recalled that since his unceremonious arrest three days ago, Dr. Janneh has not had the privilege of seeing family members or consulting legal counsel; a clear violation of the law. Additionally, three days after his arrest, no charges have been brought against Dr. Janneh, yet he continues to be held in detention again in clear violation of the 72 hours maximum detention time allowed by law. As we receive more information, we will be forthright in sharing with the Gambian public, friends of The Gambia around the world, and the international community.

Gambia: Petition for the Release of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and Others

Petition for the Release of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and Others

Ndey Tapha Sosseh; Coalition for Change Gambia - CCG (Gambia)
Mathew K. Jallow; National Movement for Restoration of Democracy Gambia (US)
Abdoulie Jobe; Coalition for Human Rights The Gambia (UK)
Banka Manneh; Save The Gambia Democracy Project – STGDP (US)
Alieu Badara Ceesay; Campaign for Human Rights The Gambia (CHRG) – Scotland
Yaya Dampha; Human Rights for All ( Sweden
Bubacarr Baldeh; United Gambia for Democracy and Freedom (Senegal)


The Executive committee of the Coalition for Change-Gambia, in collaboration with the Gambian civil society organizations around the world, call on all Gambians, friends of The Gambia and Human Rights groups around the world to join us in condemning the unlawful arrest and continued detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and others.
Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh and others, whose identities are still unclear, were arrested Tuesday June 7, Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 June 2011.
We the undersigned Gambian civil society organizations, hereby call on the Government of The Gambia to comply with the demand to:

• Immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Janneh and everyone associated with his arrest, or charge them as the 72 hours provision as stipulated in The Gambian Constitution has expired
• Grant Dr. Janneh and others linked to his arrest immediate access to legal counsel;
• Treat Dr Janneh and others arrested alongside him humanely, with dignity and not subject them to torture or any other form of physical trauma;
• Allow the family members of Dr Janneh and others arrested with him unfettered access to them;
• Jealously follow and respect the spirit of the laws and the Constitution of The Gambia in the treatment of the detainees;
• Transparently, judiciously and speedily resolve this unlawful arrest and detention against innocent citizens

We further call on all Gambians, friends of The Gambia, the international community, and International and Regional Human Rights organizations to support calls for the unconditional release of Dr. Amadou Janneh and all those arrested with him by signing this petition. We highly appreciate your fraternal cooperation in this most egregious case of state over-handedness.
Signed:
You can view and sign this petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/731/224/590/

The Gambia ALERT: Former minister missing after being arrested by plain-clothes security agents

June 10, 2011

Dr. Amadou Scattered Janneh, who recently criticized the disappearance of people and attacks on the media, was on June 7, 2011 arrested by plain-clothes security agents at his office in Serrekunda, The Gambia's largest town.

More than 72 hours after his arrest, the whereabouts of Janneh, a former Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology, are still not known. No reasons have been assigned for his arrest and subsequent detention. 

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s sources reported that Janneh was picked up at about 10 hours GMT by plain clothes security agents who, without explanation, sealed off his offices, dismissed his staff members and drove him away in the direction of Banjul, the capital. 

Janneh, an ICT professional, was dismissed from the regime of President Yahya Jammeh as Minister on July 6, 2005 after serving as a Minister from April 4, 2004. He then set up a communication and information technology enterprise, Commit Company Limited, of which he is the Chief Executive Officer.  

The sources said Dr. Janneh has recently been giving lectures on a wide range of issues in the Gambia. He was a guest at the World Press Freedom Day event in Banjul on May 3.  On May 25, he addressed a public forum at the University of The Gambia to mark the celebration of African Liberation Day. On this occasion, the outspoken former Minister condemned the frequent disappearance of people and the hacking or blocking of websites of online Gambian newspapers.

In another development, the case of Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter of The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) who is being tried for allegedly giving “false information” to a public officer, has been adjourned to June 13 by the Banjul Magistrate’s Court. According to the court, the adjournment will enable it to write to colleagues of Sanneh atGRTS who have been identified by the police as prosecution witnesses. The sources said Sainey Joof, the prosecutor, had told the court that the witnesses were unwilling to testify against Sanneh. 

For more information Please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.gh, alerts@mediafound.org

Website: www.mediafound.org

Gambians Condemn the Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh (#Gambia)

Press Release :The Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh

We the undersigned Gambian civil society organizations learnt of the arrest and detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, which occurred on the morning of Tuesday June 7 2011, with consternation and regret.

We were also reliably informed that in the process his unlawful arrest, his home was ransacked by agents of the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA). We members of the Gambian civil society fraternity condemn in the strongest terms, this dastardly abuse of the civil rights and denial of our fellow citizens the inalienable right to free association and assembly for purposes of legitimately opposing and petitioning the regime as enshrined in our Constitution.

Dr. Janneh, a high profile member of the civil society community in The Gambia, has a history of opposition to the regime of Yahya Jammeh, where he briefly worked as member of cabinet. Dr. Janneh's political inclinations are not the issue at this point, but his rights to express his views and his right to freely associate in furtherance of this aspiration for our country are.

Consequently, the Executive committee members of the Coalition for Change Gambia, in collaboration with the undersigned Gambian civil society organizations, call on all Gambians, friends of The Gambia and Human Rights groups around the world to join us condemning the unlawful arrest of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, and others and we further declare as follows:

A. that Dr.Janneh and everyone associate with his arrest, be unconditionally released with immediate effect or be charged within the 72 hours provision as stipulated in The Gambian Constitution.
B. that Dr. Janneh and others linked to his arrest be accessible to legal counsel without delay
C. that they be treated humanely and with dignity and not be subjected to torture or any other form physical trauma to their bodies
D. that their families members be allowed unfettered access to them
E. that the spirit of the law and the Constitution be jealously followed allow their immediate release
F. that this matter be handled transparently and judiciously by the Gambian authorities, and in a speedy manner

We the undersigned Gambian civil society organizations jointly condemn the unlawful arrest and detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, and others falsely associated with him and are urging their release with immediate effect. We will monitor progress on this matter in conjunction with partners in Human Rights work and friends of the Gambia worldwide.

Signed
Ndey Tapha Sosseh; Coalition for Change-Gambia (Gambia)
Amie Joof; Coalition for Human Rights-Gambia (Senegal)
Alieu B. Ceesay; Gambia Campaign to Fight Human Rights Violations (Scotland)
Banka Manneh; Save The Gambia Democracy Project (US)
Abdoulie Jobe; Coalition for Human Rights The Gambia (UK)
Yaya Dampha; Human Rights for All (Sweden )
Saihou Mballow; Movement For Democracy and Development (US)
Mathew K. Jallow; National Movement for Restoration of Democracy Gambia (US)
Bubacarr Baldeh; United Gambia for Democracy and Freedom (Senegal)

Gambia: Security Sector Reform Now! A year on since the record catch of more than two tons of cocaine

Today is one year since the record catch of more than two tons of cocaine was made in the small Gambian village of Bonto on 3rd June 2010 and there are still widespread speculations among people here that part of the catch may be recycled to the market. If anything, the name of the Gambian president came up several times in a host of cocaine-related cases currently being heard in Gambian courts. In fact just weeks before June 3^rd one prosecution witness, Silaba Samateh, while being cross-examined by defense lawyer, Borry Touray, was asked if    he had not told another witnessed that President Jammeh had tons of cocaine inside the country and that he was trafficking some of it for the Gambian leader. This at a time when the executive director of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, NDEA,  his deputy and several other top officials were, and are still being tried for selling cocaine exhibits meant for destruction in their custody. So the speculations surrounding the June 3^rd were not that far fetched and off the mark after all. And it was not only that.

Nine accused nationals of foreign countries are being tried in court for possession and distribution of the catch but most people have lost interest in the case. This lack of interest is not only because all the accused persons are foreigners, and without any close relatives around, but because most Gambians believe the authorities are not telling them all they know about the case. Many Gambians believe leading members of the government were involved in that particular case. How could a group of foreigners, without any local support structure, risk bringing in over a billion US dollar worth of any illegal substance and stockpiling it in a village just about 45 kilometers outside Banjul? It certainly does not sound sensible that such a group of South Americans, speaking little English and none of the local languages, would get themselves in the business of importing, stockpiling and distributing such huge quantity of cocaine without any support base among the locals, especially those in powerful and influential government positions. Even in neighboring Guinea Bissau where both the linguistic and cultural settings would have been better managed by the South Americans, they needed local support base within the security forces, powerful government circles and influential politicians. The west African sub-region has now being identified as an important hub, transit point and stockpiling warehouse for South American cocaine destined for Europe, but no where have the South American operated without local partners.

As early as 2004 signs of West Africa as new route for the international cocaine trade had been emerging. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, UNODC, annual cocaine seizures in Africa as a whole averaged about 0.6 metric tons between 1998 and 2003. This represented only a minute portion of the global seizures of cocaine.

However, since 2004, African seizures have been above 2.5 metric tons, almost five times more than before. In July 2005, the Spanish navy seized over 3 metric tons of cocaine in a Ghanaian ship, representing almost 40% more than the total West African cocaine seizures of the previous year. According to the same UNODC sources in 2006, two seizures in Western Africa, one made in Ghana (1.9 mt) and one Guinea-Bissau (0.6 mt), accounted for 90% of all seizures reported on the continent. Out of the 5.7 tons of cocaine seized in 2007, 99% were reported from Western African countries: 2.4 mt were seized in Senegal in June, almost 1.5 mt were seized in Mauritania between May and August, 0.6 mt in Guinea-Bissau in April, 0.5 mt in Cape Verde in March, 0.4 mt in Benin in August and 0.2 mt in Guinea. Despite the doubling and redoubling of quantities of the narcotic drug seized in the sub-region, many experts suspected this was just the tip of the iceberg. Lack of seizure reports from countries like The Gambia did not necessarily mean the absence of trafficking in these countries, but more likely the deficiency of law enforcement capacities, or worst, complicity of influential government officials.

The growing use of Western Africa as a large cocaine stockpiling location was further confirmed by seizures made by European and Latin American countries of cocaine shipments bound to Africa.

In June 2007, a cocaine trafficking network was dismantled at Brussels airport. The network had been active for about two years, trafficking cocaine from Gambia and Sierra Leone. That same June 2007, Venezuelan authorities seized two and a half tons of cocaine on a private plane that was about to take off for Sierra Leone.

Intensified American war against the cocaine trafficking had forced the South American cartels to shift market to Europe where markets were growing even more lucrative but increased law enforcement successes in the Caribbean and in Europe compelled the cartels to look for alternative routes for the trafficking of the drugs to the European market. Traditionally, South American traffickers smuggled cocaine via Central America and the Caribbean to the United States and across the Atlantic to Europe. But with declining markets and tighter law-enforcement in North America and higher demand and wholesale prices in Western Europe, traffickers sought ways to step up supply to Europeans and found in West Africa a new and safer channel to this fast-growing market. By 2005, Guinea-Bissau had become a hub, and cocaine seizures in the region grew more than twenty times since 2005. Spain is the main entry point of cocaine into Europe and traffickers exploit Spain’s historic and linguistic ties with Latin America, as well as its long coastline. In 2005, Spain’s seizures of 48 metric tons of cocaine accounted for 45 per cent of all cocaine seizures made in Europe, and rose by almost half from 2004 to 2005 after Spanish enforcement agencies intensified their control along the northern coast. According to official Spanish sources up to 70% of Spanish cocaine seizures is made at sea.

Holland is another traditional entry point for cocaine into Europe but by 2005 the authorities there tightened control, enforcing a 100% controls policy on flights from specific Latin American countries. Many believe it is all this that prompted some traffickers to find alternative channels through Africa. The continent’s geographical location made it an attractive staging post from South America to the growing cocaine market in Europe. Drug enforcement authorities believe that most cocaine shipment destined to Europe is transited through Venezuela and Brazil, the South American sub-region closest to West Africa. Incidentally West African countries provide the most permissive working environment for

Drug traffickers due to widespread corruption and poor law enforcement structures. Many countries here have weak states and unstable regimes faced with difficulties of controlling their territories, maintaining law and order and administering justice. The archipelagoes of Guinea Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands alone have hundreds of uninhabited islands where even the semblance of law and order are unknown, providing idyllic setting for all sorts of smugglers. Without such geographic physical features that can provide cover for the narcotic business that both the Cape Verde Islands and Guinea Bissau have, The Gambia’s competitiveness in offering sanctuary for such criminal activities, appeared to lie in the complicity of its authorities, a monolithic support, unmarred by the violent rivalries of the fractious and volatile authorities in Bissau. Many South American drug cartels preferred a safe haven in a country under one-man rule to the contending multiple contending centers of power that obtains in Bissau. With president Jammeh’s totalitarian grip over almost everything, the cartels wish for a predictable local partnership looked more assured in The Gambia than in Bissau where there was fractious tumult within the government system or, say Dakar, where there still are pockets of incorruptible sections in government administration.  

Rumors of President Yahya Jammeh’s involvement in the cocaine business began circulating when Guinea Bissau navy chief, Rear-Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto, fled from alleged coup-plot related house arrest in Bissau to take refuge under the Gambian leader’s protection in Kerr Serigne, just outside Banjul. Since then the rumors of Jammeh’s involvement in the cocaine trade have increased not diminished. Tchuto’s name is among top Bissau-Guineans under US sanctions for alleged involvement in the narcotic business.

Now, a year since the June 3^rd cocaine seizure perhaps it is time we bother less about President Jammeh culpability and more on what we should about saving the country from becoming a narco-state by calling for security service sector reform. With the former Inspector General of police in court facing over sixty count charges, among them about twelve of them cocaine-related, a man who shortly before earned the explicit endorsement of President Jammeh; the whole top echelon of the NDEA on the dock for cocaine trafficking, among other things and dozens of other drug cases involvement men in the security services, that sector sure does need urgent reform. In the words of Yahya Jammeh himself, Gambians have lived under a police chief who was possibly an armed robber. We therefore cry, SECURITY SECTOR REFORM NOW!

Courtesy of TheGambiaJournal.com