By Lt. Colonel Sheriff Samsudeen Sarr 

I have all these past days been trying to put the Jammeh-Singhateh fracas into its proper perspective but with little or no success thanks to the ever-lingering doubts popping up after every finalized analysis. As much as a good part of my gut feelings tend to lead into believing that their conflict is real, my past experiences with the characters of this shadowy government frequently jostled my instincts into wondering whether it is actually what I think it is.

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By Tijan Nimaga, Bronx, New York.

When the proposed sale of The Gambia’s Gamtel and Gamcel to a Lebanese company was announced, there was a widespread public disapproval and condemnation from concerned citizens, journalists, Gambian opposition leaders and employees of the company itself. However, widespread protestations as demonstrated by the response from The Gambian public and other efforts made by patriotic citizens, fell on deaf ears.

World Bank building in Washington, DC

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By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-Chief

According to our Yundum Barracks whistle blower Officer “X” (a.k.a. “OX”), a platoon of 30 soldiers from Bakau’s Fajara Barracks is poised to deploy to the Kombo Central village of Darsilami, 55km off Banjul. The platoon, led by a Lieutenant Manneh is expected to begin operations no later than Monday October 1^st, part of what our correspondent described as “combat-readiness”. Says our correspondent, the idea to strategize culminating to the deployment of a platoon of 30 men was the result of President Wade’s

recent request for the Jammeh government to handover the remnant of Cassamance rebels still languishing at Gambia’s Mile II Prisons.

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By Bubacarr Sankanu, B.A., LL.B., LL.M

The sacking of retired Captain Edward David Singhateh from the privileged positions of Secretary of State for Forestry and the Environment as well as Secretary-General of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party did not surprise me at all!  I saw it coming since 1996! Only that it took a record eleven (11) years to happen. My assessment then and now is based on the fact that there cannot be two strong men running a nation-state simultaneously.

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Dear Editor:
 
Please allow us to respond to Yahya Jammeh's tirade at yesterday's signing ceremony of the so-called strategic partnership at State House between Jammeh and Spectrum International Investment Group, a group that was formed recently for the sole purpose of acquiring Gamtel shares offered by Yahya Jammeh.  We can state categorically that Spectrum is a bogus group consisting of con artists, fly-by-night operators and cowboys bent on preying on our country with the tacit collaboration of Yahya Jammeh and therefore they lack the business wherewithal to add value to Gamtel stocks for the benefit of Gambia and Gambians. 

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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today expressed its fear that Chief Ebrima Manneh, who has been missing for more than a year and was reportedly being held incommunicado, has been killed in jail in The Gambia.

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By Pateh Kinteh, Banjul, The Gambia

It’s now 365 days (one year) since Ousman Jatta (a.k.a Rambo) United Democratic Party (UDP) Councilor for Old Cape Town Ward at Bakau was arrested by personnel of the much feared, all too pervasive National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and detained at various Police Stations across the length and breadth of the country. Jatta’s arrest followed his protest against alleged election malpractices during the September 25 Presidential Elections in The Gambia.

   The Children Are Crying: Where Is Rambo Jatta?

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By Mathew K. Jallow, Associate Editor.

Events of the past several weeks are a clear manifestation of the accelerated unraveling of this murderous Jammeh regime. Jammeh’s attempts at reinvigorating his government by drawing in some new and fresh blood, cannot undo the damage that his mismanagement of our resources brought upon our country. Even as our institutions are failing, and there is no longer an existing government to guide the social and economic development of our country, Yahya Jammeh continues to live in denial.

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By Pateh Kinteh, Gambia & Ebrima G. Sankareh, Raleigh, NC

The protracted trial of Madam Tabara Samba who was initially only known as a jealous husband-murderer until her trial began to reveal disturbing details of spousal abuse, has ended at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Courts a few hours ago and her punishment? Death! Despite an unprecedented inundation on a rainy Tuesday morning, every square meter of the courtroom was filled and numerous others stood outside-on the windows, on the rotunda and some in the rain to get a rare glimpse of Madam Samba and hear what sentence the trial Magistrate had for her.

Madam Tabara Samba

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Predictably, Lt. Colonel Peter Singhateh the younger sibling to Edward Singhateh has been discharged from The Gambia National Army. Kebba Sanyang who until last week was Attorney General and transfered to the Works Ministry has been given the boot. Investigations are on as to why Interior Minister Ousman Sonko has two passports bearing two different names. Stay tuned to The Echo for our analysis later tonight.

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Breaking News: About Ten Security Officers Defect To Senegal

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-Chief

According to our State House operative Kissy Kissy Mansa, at least ten security officers from the police, the armed forces and National Intelligence Agency have defected to neighboring Senegal in the past weekend. Two of the officers were agents of the much-feared NIA. Although Kissy could not reveal their identities, rank or precise designations, it is widely believed that the defection had to do with the recent sacking of Forestry and Environment Secretary, Edward Singhateh.

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By Lt. Col. Samsudeen Sarr (Rtd.) 

Dear Mr. Sankareh: We are now in the Holy month of Ramadan and my approach to life in general at this period is simply to tone down on many things, especially, those that somehow affect my emotions. It is a time when I modify my behavior or actions into a peace-fostering mode. That’s why in my attempt to discuss the latest state of political developments in The Gambia, I will to the best of my ability conduct it with the proper spirit of this sacred month.

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By Mathew K. Jallow, Associate Editor

Over the past few days, things seem to be happening at (home) a dizzying speed. However, a lot of the news that could potentially grab the headlines were buried under the weight of the Edward Singateh spell, news to which everyone seemed transfixed, and with good reason. The events that have transpired over the past two weeks mirror the state of our country, or rather, the unsettling social, economic and security issues that has pervaded Gambian society.

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By Ebrima G. Sankareh

Unassailable sources from State House say President Yahya A. J.J. Jammeh has sacked the embattled Mayor of The Kanifing Municipal Council, Mr. Alieu Momar Njie. He is replaced by Mr. Yankuba Colley. Says our most competent State House operative, Kissy Kissy Mansa, Finance Secretary Musa Bala Gaye and Chief Justice Abdou Karim Savage are being monitored by the National Intelligence Agency. For what ? We cannot tell at this stage. 

Musa Bala Gaye- What says the NIA?

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Mr. Lamin Jammeh of Helsinki, Finland, brings to your attention the best housing deal money can afford in The Gambia-Africa’s Smiling Coast. Are you a tourist, an immigrant or a Gambian wishing to build a home? Check this deal; perhaps the best housing offer ever.

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By Ebrima G. Sankareh 

Unimpeachable sources from the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education reveal massive examination malpractices in the recently released Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examinations held in May-June, 2007. Our correspondent Kissy Kissy Mansa says the Department has since suspended the entire results pending rigorous investigations by the authorities and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) the body tasked with standardization tests in English Speaking West African states mostly known as the Anglophone.

Fatou  L. Faye, Basic & Secondary Education Minister

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         By Ebrima G. Sankareh 

According to our State House operative Kissy Kissy Mansa and Banjul Bureau Chief Njie Khakatarr, Dr. Alieu Badara Sarja Taal, Managing Director of the Gambian Daily Observer was subjected to a grueling questioning by the all too powerful National Intelligence Agency (NIA) over the weekend. Says Khakatarr, the NIA held Sarja for at least 12 hours and when he was released, he was sweating all over.

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As Fafa Nyang smiles in Heavan Edward Singhateh contemplates his fate. The disgraced former Vice Chaiman, Defence Minister and Master of all is today in a quagmire, stripped off all his earthly belongings by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. This is what happens when human beings out of a desire for material wealth and power engage in senseless killing  of innocent citizens. 

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Our most competent State House operative has just informed us that the Banjul Mafia have been at State House begging Jammeh to reconsider the fates of Bala Garba Jahumpa and Sheikh Omar Faye. According to Kissy, Omar Faye may likely go to Mauritania and Bala to Nigeria as Ambassadors respectively.

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By Ebrima  G. Sankareh, Editor-in- Chief

Ever since we broke news of Singhateh's political demise, numerous readers have called to verify if at all our State House operative Kissy Kissy Mansa had not deliberately misled us to tarnish our credibility. We have assured all our readers that there was a fundamental difference between journalists and join-the-lists; that we cannot be so myopic as to write such a story out of malice.

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The Verdict 

By Adama Hawa 

The arrests and subsequent charging of Mam Sait Ceesay and Malick Jones, two pro-government journalists with some bogus offences under the Official Secrets Act, is yet another clear manifestation of how rotten the system has become. The very fact that these two so-called journalists were among the most apologetic in the country, is another indication that no one in the administration is safe from Yahya Jammeh’s delirium. 

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According to our most competent sources, Gambian Ambassador to the US His Excellency Dodou Bammy Jange is to return to The Gambia following the expiration of his term and contract with the Government. Jange who had earlier on retired was contracted and appointed Ambassador by the Jammeh Government sometime in 2003-4.

      H. E. Dodou Bammy Jagne

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By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-Chief

According to unassailable sources from State House, the most powerful man in Yahya Jammeh’s government, 39 year old Edward David Singhateh, a callous man masked in a fake image who has killed more Gambians than any other person has been sacked. His Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kotu Cham of Sanchaba Sulay Jobe village is the new Secretary of State for Forestry and the Environment. Cham a career civil servant was at the National Environment Agency; was Permanent Secretary President’s Office and finally Permanent Secretary Forestry and the Environment before the appointment yesterday. Asked if Cham has accepted the appointment our sources replied in a word “absolutely!!”

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Notorious Killer Singhateh Sacked 

The most powerful man in Yahya Jammeh’s government Edward Singhateh, a man who has killed more Gambians than any other person has been sacked. In his place is Kotu Cham. We are piecing the pieces together. See detailed story in 30 minutes.

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By Pateh Kinteh in Banjul & Ebrima G. Sankareh in Raleigh, USA 

Predictably, Secretary of State for Youth, Sports, Culture and Religious Affairs Sheikh Omar Faye has tumbled alongside Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Bala Garba Jahumpa, the older brother to Gambian House Speaker Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay. The major Cabinet reshuffle only solidified predictions about Omar Faye’s honeymoon with Yahya Jammeh, the details of which we will deal with later in our analysis. For now though, the reshuffled Cabinet. President Yahya Jammeh acting on the powers conferred on him by Sections 71(1) and 71(3) of The Gambian Constitution has immediately effected the following changes in his Cabinet:

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By Pateh Kinteh, Mile II Prisons  

Today September 14^th, 2007 marks 427 days since a young Gambian journalist Chief Ebrima B. Manneh disappeared. On July 7^th, 2006 Manneh left his home for work at the Gambian Daily Observer (President Yaya Jammeh’s own newspaper) and never returned home. He was picked up by personnel of the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA) who accused him of downloading documents from the Internet critical of Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorial regime.

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Gambia: Journalist still held despite receiving bail 

New York, September 13, 2007—A prominent radio producer at the Gambia Radio and Television Services is still being held in jail despite being granted bail yesterday. Producer Malick Jones was charged with communicating to an unnamed foreign journalist sensitive information in violation of state security, a charge made under the Official Secret Act. Jones, along with government Press Secretary Mam Sait Ceesay, who was also charged, were granted bail of 200,000 dalasis (US$4,000) each at the Banjul Court on Wednesday.

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ON FRIDAY WE'LL NAME THE SOLDIER WHO KILLED THE UDP SUPPORTER AT  THE TALLINDING  MARKET,  IN THE EVE OF THE 2001 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. WE WILL NAME THE SOLDIER WHO SHOT CPL. DUMBUYA AT THE ALBERT MRT. WE WILL ALSO NAME THE SOLDIER WHO SHOT THE LIBENESE BUSINESSMAN AT THE TDA FEW YEARS AGO. STAY TUNED TO THE ECHO FOR AN "OX" EXCLUSIVE.

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By Pateh Kinteh, Banjul, The Gambia  

Following their arrest three days ago, Malick Sam Jones, a senior producer at Gambian TV and Mam Saite Ceesay erstwhile Press Secretary at State House were today Wednesday September 11^th, dragged to court by the State for allegedly passing classified information to foreign journalists.

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By Pateh Kinteh, Banjul The Gambia

Although no outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease has been reported in The Gambia so far, however, reports have it that the H5N1 is spreading rapidly across the world. 

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By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor in- Chief 

The Gambia Echo has just concluded an exclusive interview with Captain Sana B. Sabally on the efforts of the Jammeh government to have him assassinated days after he was discharged from Mile II Prisons. First it was Saikou Jarju a Gamstar Insurance broker who also doubles as an NIA operative. Saikou Jarju is a former classmate of this reporter at the St. Augustine’s High School Sixth Form and during the days he was very involved in the Cassamance crises. 

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The Verdict 

By Adama Hawa 

While it is still unclear as to why President Jammeh has not gone to attend the Taiwan-Africa Summit currently taking place in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, it is definitely not quite hard to guess the reasons for his absence. He is paranoid and thinks that there are people waiting to pounce on him anytime he leaves the country. It was the same paranoia, which led him to order the massacre of the 50 West African immigrants mostly, Ghanaians in July 2005.

Jammeh The Coward; scared to travel

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Ali Mohammed Gueye 

In about 48 hours time, Muslims will begin the observation of the Holy month of Ramadan. This is one of the greatest months in both Islamic history and religion ranking it the 4th pillar of the religion. It is also the month in which the noble Quran was revealed in piecemeal for a period of 23 years to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Almighty Allah reveals in the Chapter of the Cow (Al-Baqarah) verse 182: "O ye who believe, Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in that ye may become righteous souls.''

The Venerable Baye Nyass of Senegal

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By Pateh Kinteh 

The Gambia has belatedly joined the global fight against human trafficking by ratifying the UN Protocol on Human Trafficking late last week. The Bill presented to the National Assembly by Attorney General Kebba Sanyang, is geared towards fostering collaborations with neighboring countries to address the multi-faceted problem of trafficking. 

Atty. Gen. Kebba Sanyang

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By Ebrima G. Sankareh

For the past two weeks, our mailbag has been saturated with questions regarding President Yahya Jammeh's alleged sexual liaisons with famed Senegalese musician Vivian Ndoure. Some readers had gone as far as suggesting that Yahya Jammeh had sent in dowry proposing to marry VIVI as she is affectionately called by her fans.

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By A Concerned Citizen, Marena Parade, Banjul

A Gambian newspaper columnist recently simply cited the poor results of this year’s Junior Secondary School examinations when he was inundated with critical email messages from the Jammeh sycophants accusing him of being unpatriotic - accusations laced with unwarranted invectives.  The columnist’s piece is really the tip of the iceberg of what is now considered by the donor community as a dismal state of the education system in The Gambia.

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Dear Editor: 

The Supplementary Appropriation Act 2007 is yet another attempt by Yahya Jammeh and his Secretary of State for Finance to continue their policy of deceit and lack of transparency in the management of our country’s meager resources.  Yahya Jammeh and his cronies, including the APRC members of the National Assembly, continue to test the resolve of the Gambian people by their continuous and sustained act of fiscal indiscipline contrary to the persistent advice of the IMF and the World Bank and at the expense of the welfare of ordinary citizens. 

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By Lt. Col. Samsudeen Sarr

Dear Editor: Reading the sincere comments of Momar A. Samba in your paper bolted me into this obligatory thought that I hope to share with the young scholar. In having a young curious student like him reading and showing his genuine appreciation of the information contained in my book: Coup D’etat By The Gambia National Army gave me a special satisfaction derived from the understanding that the Gambian readers I had targeted are being hit at a bull’s eye.

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Dear Editor: 

The manipulation of the exchange rate regime in The Gambia by Jammeh has been standard operating procedure of this illegal regime since they seized power in 1994.  They manipulate fiscal and monetary data and thus the output of your analysis will always be 'suspect'.  Interestingly, the AFPRC and the APRC governments refrained from doctoring the figures until fiscal year 2000/2001 and therefore, it was less hazardous prior to this date to analyze and interpret the data.

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By Pateh Kinteh, Banjul, The Gambia. 

The Gambian President Yahya Jammeh in exercising  the powers conferred on him by Section 101 of the Gambian Constitution, 1997 has passed to the National Assembly a Bill Of Urgency that reads in pertinent part: “An Act to provide additional sums of services to The Gambia from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the period 1^st January to 31^st December 2007 be processed under Certificate of Urgency. 

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By Momar A. Samba, Columbia, SC. 

After reading Lt. Col. Sherrif Samsudeen Sarr's exclusive book with great enthusiasm and astonishment, I could not help wondering what sort of an evil curse has befallen our dear country from the later part of Jawara’s regime to the Jammeh era. It seems as if the country is sinking very fast into anarchy marked by excessive violations of human rights while everyone naively looks on.

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By Njie Khakatarr  

Regrettably, in his clownish shows of political bravado, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has jettisoned two landmark Bills that Gambians were long awaiting for. Minutes before the Telecommunications and Assets Management & Recovery Bills were due for amendment, a strongly worded presidential memo from State House grounded matters to a halt. Our special correspondent Njie Khakatarr was at the ill-fated National Assembly from where he dispatches this report.

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Dear Editor: 

Lt. Col. Sarr’s Rejoinder on the recent developments along the Sene-Gambian borders raises some interesting observations relating to Yahya Jammeh’s deceptive diplomatic posture relating to his relations with the MFDC.  He is known to declare publicly his support of the diplomatic route to settling the conflict whilst privately hosting Salif Sadio in Kanilai with promises of his unflinching support for the total independence of Casamance, by violent means if necessary. Wade is aware of Jammeh’s disingenuous approach to the conflict.

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The Verdict 

By Adama Hawa 

While I understand and sympathise with the views being expressed by numerous Gambians about the recent partial sale of our telecommunications company, Gamtel/Gamcel to a Lebanese concern, I certainly have a different reaction to the sale and I quite welcome it for various reasons. I am sure many patriotic Gambians would be disappointed to hear that, but I hope anyone who has the patience to read my reasons below will realize that it is a better alternative to what had obtained.

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By Lt. Col. Samsudeen Sarr 

I am following the developments on your last article captioned “As Senegal Proposes 148 Vehicles For Trans-Gambia, Jammeh Deploys Troops To Farafenni- Showdown Imminent?” The story reminds me of Jammeh’s crude but discreet diplomatic approach to the ever-lingering crisis generated by the MFDC nuisance within the region. I have in my book “Coup D’etat By The Gambia National Army”, treated the subject of President Jammeh’s covert and overt positions towards the conflict, two un-identical and seriously troubling positions that should be of major concern to both belligerents in the conflict.

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 In the wake of our piece on the Senegalese no-nonsense Transport Minister Farba Senghor’s plan to dispatch 148 vehicles to ply the Trans-Gambia High Way(Echo Saturday August 26, 2007), numerous readers had written expressing concern as to the feasibility of the deal given Banjul’s alleged intransigence. Despite claims to the contrary, Farba Senghor’s plan to put 148 vehicles just kicked off from Dakar where our Special Correspondent picks the story: 

Minister Farba Senghor, an honourable Man of Candour 

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