News



"The longer they stay in power, the more African presidents seek to personalise power. Their success erodes the institutional basis of the state."
Mahmood Mamdani
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Media in The Gambia

"Media plagued by repressive laws, crackdowns"
Saikou Ceesay, Free African Media, 07 Febr 2011
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African editors demand release of journalists arrested in Gambia

28 June 2009
The president of the Gambian Press Union (GPU) is calling for international media freedom organisations to support its campaign for the release of journalists being held under sedition charges.
Their alleged crime is to have criticised the country’s president over the handling of investigations into the murder in 2004 of editor Deyda Hydara.

Links and documents:
Gambia Press Union - Press Release, 18 June 2009 (download Word.doc)
Statement of The African Editors Forum, 23 June 2009 (download Word.doc)
The African Editors Forum is shocked, Gambia Press Union
Amnesty International Urgent Action (download Word.doc)
GPU-UK Message of Solidarity (download Word.doc)
Sign a new GPU_USA petition
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President Jammeh concedes witch hunting


6 June 2009 | Gambia / Cassamance
President Yaya Jammeh has admitted witch hunting allegations against his government. [1]
Jammeh has said that he believed witchcraft was behind his aunt's death December 27, 2008 [5], and has been inviting "witch doctors" from nearby Guinea to combat witches. Jammeh's aunt Aja Fatou Jammeh she passed away after suffering from a long illness at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) [4].
Amnesty International had called on the Gambian government to put an immediate stop to the campaign, investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice. [2]
On 03/14/2009 the Imam of the State House mosque, Alhaji Abdoulie Fatty has dismissed reports of alleged state sponsored 'witch hunting' in which more than a thousand people are reported to have been arrested, as wild rumors aimed at discrediting the government of president Yahya Jammeh. [3]
References:
[1] africanews.com - Gambia: President drops bombshell
[2] Amnesty International - Hundreds released as Gambian witch hunts end
[4] President Jammeh’s Aunt Passes away, Daily Observer, December 30, 2008
[5] Daily Observer, February 05, 2009
Related links:
Time to stop the abuse, Abena Ampofoa Asare, Pambazuka News, 14 May 2009
Witch hunts in Papua New Guinea, The Independent World, Unreported World: Bush Knives and Black Magic, Channel 4, tonight, 7.35pm, Friday, 8 May 2009
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Killings and disappearance of Ghanaians in Tanji forest, The Gambia

July 2005 - May 2009
Tanji is also known as Tanje, Tanjen


Large view

Map: Beaches of Brufut and Tanje


Gambia blamed for 44 Ghanaian deaths [1] - Friday 15 May 2009 by Africa News
Gambia is liable for Ghanaian deaths [2] - Friday 15 May 2009 by afrol News
Exhume Bodies Of Murdered Ghanaians [3]
The United Nations (UN) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission have recommended that the government of The Gambia pay compensation and redress to Ghana for the killing and disappearance of Ghanaians in The Gambia. The international investigation panel of the UN and the ECOWAS Commission that looked into the killing and disappearance of 40 Ghanaians in July 2005 said the compensation should be agreed upon by both the governments of Ghana and The Gambia.

References:
[1] Africa News http://www.africanews.com
[2] afrol News http://www.afrol.com
[3] peacefmonline http://www.peacefmonline.com

Related Links - Tanji

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Gambia - Data

Geographic properties:
area 11 300 km²
population 1.71 million people
population density 171 people/km²
population growth 2.67% per year
life expectany 55.4 years
median age 17.9 years

Cultural properties:
languages Mandinka (42%)
Pulaar (25%)
Wolof Gambian (15%)
Soninke (6.2%)
Fonyi Jola (5.6%)
Serer-Sine 2.7%
Mandyak 1.8%
Western Maninkakan 1.2%
English 0.094%

Ethnicities:
African (42%)
Fulani (18%)
Wolof (16%)
Jola (10%)
Serahuli (9%)
other 4%
non-African 1%

Religions:
Muslim (90%)
Christian (8%)
indigenous (2%)
literacy fraction 40.1%

Capital city: Banjul

Largest cities:
city | population
Serre Kunda,Kanifing 323421
Brikama 77700
Bakau,Kanifing 43098
Banjul 34589
Farafenni,Kerewan 29867

Data by courtesy of wolframalpha.com

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Data

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