Climate Change is a Threat to Rich and Poor Alike

From Miami and Puerto Rico to Barbuda and Havana, the devastation of this year’s hurricane season across Latin America and the Caribbean serves as a reminder that the impacts of climate change know no borders.

In recent weeks, Category 5 hurricanes have brought normal life to a standstill for millions in the

Caribbean and on the American mainland. Harvey, Irma and Maria have been particularly damaging. The 3.4 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico have been scrambling for basic necessities including food and water, the island of Barbuda has been rendered uninhabitable, and dozens of people are missing or dead on the UNESCO world heritage island of Dominica.

The impact is not confined to this region. The record floods across Bangladesh, India and Nepal have made life miserable for some 40 million people.  More than 1,200 people have died and many people have lost their homes, crops have been destroyed, and many workplaces have been inundated. Meanwhile, in Africa, over the last 18 months 20 countries have declared drought emergencies, with major displacement taking place across the Horn region.

For those countries that are least developed the impact of disasters can be severe, stripping away livelihoods and progress on health and education; for developed and middle-income countries the economic losses from infrastructure alone can be massive; for both, these events reiterate the need to act on a changing climate that threatens only more frequent and more severe disasters.

A (shocking) sign of things to come? 

The effects of a warmer climate on these recent weather events, both their severity and their frequency, has been revelatory for many, even the overwhelming majority that accept the science is settled on human-caused global warming.

While the silent catastrophe of 4.2 million people dying prematurely each year from ambient pollution, mostly related to the use of fossil fuels, gets relatively little media attention, the effect of heat-trapping greenhouse gases on extreme weather events is coming into sharper focus.

It could not be otherwise when the impacts of these weather events are so profound. During the last two years over 40 million people, mainly in countries which contribute least to global warming, were forced either permanently or temporarily from their homes by disasters.

There is clear consensus: rising temperatures are increasing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, leading to more intense rainfall and flooding in some places, and drought in others. Some areas experience both, as was the case this year in California, where record floods followed years of intense drought.

TOPEX/Poseidon, the first satellite to precisely measure rising sea levels, was launched two weeks before Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Florida 25 years ago. Those measurements have observed a global increase of 3.4 millimeters per year since then; that’s a total of 85 millimeters over 25 years, or 3.34 inches.

Rising and warming seas are contributing to the intensity of tropical storms worldwide. We will continue to live with the abnormal and often unforeseen consequences of existing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, for many, many years to come.

In 2009, Swiss Re published a case study focused on Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, which envisaged a moderate sea level rise scenario for the 2030s which matches what has already taken place today. If a storm on the scale of Andrew had hit this wealthy corner of the US today, the economic damage would range from US$100 billion to US$300 billion. Now the estimates suggest that the economic losses from Harvey, Irma and Maria could surpass those numbers.

Reduce disaster risk now; tackle climate change in the long-term

Miami is working hard on expanding its flood protection programme; US$ 400 million is earmarked to finance sea pumps, improved roads and seawalls. Yet, this level of expenditure is beyond the reach of most low and middle-income countries that stand to lose large chunks of their GDP every time they are hit by floods and storms.

While the Paris Agreement has set the world on a long-term path towards a low-carbon future, it is a windy path that reflects pragmatism and realities in each individual country. Thus, while carbon emissions are expected to drop as countries meet their self-declared targets, the impacts of climate change may be felt for some time, leaving the world with little choice but to invest, simultaneously, in efforts to adapt to climate change and reduce disaster risk.  The benefits of doing so makes economic sense when compared to the cost of rebuilding.

This will require international cooperation on a previously unprecedented scale as we tackle the critical task of making the planet a more resilient place to the lagging effects of greenhouse gas emissions that we will experience for years to come. Restoring the ecological balance between emissions and the natural absorptive capacity of the planet is the long-term goal. It is critical to remember that the long-term reduction of emissions is THE most important risk reduction tactic we have, and we must deliver on that ambition.

The November UN Climate Conference in Bonn presided over by the small island of Fiji, provides an opportunity to not only accelerate emission reductions but to also boost the serious work of ensuring that the management of climate risk is integrated into disaster risk management as a whole.  Poverty, rapid urbanization, poor land use, ecosystems decline and other risk factors will amplify the impacts of climate change. Today on International Day for Disaster Reduction, we call for them to be addressed in a holistic way.

Source: UNDP

Black History Month: Revisiting the Most Reprehensible Period in Human History

Source: BBC

The buying and selling of people as if they were commodities is undoubtedly the most shameful episode in the history of mankind. From the early 16th century right through to the 19th century, people of colour were captured and transported between continents and forced to work as slaves in very abhorrent conditions. According to UNESCO, ‘the slave trade and slavery constitute one of the darkest chapters in the history of the world’. This ‘dehumanising enterprise’ challenged the very basis of human civilisation and requires a somber reflection from every decent human being, regardless of race or skin colour.

Merchant ships loaded with goods such as textiles, weapons and gunpowder were often navigated between European and American ports targeting the African continent with the sole aim of trading such goods in exchange for indigenous people. As a consequent, innocent men, women and children were kidnapped and traded as slaves which ultimately led to the separation of millions of families. People whose only crimes happened to be the colour of their skins were chained and bundled onto ships, and then transported to unknown destination in journeys which often lasted for months.

From the seventeenth century on slaves became the focus of trade between Europe and Africa. Europe’s conquest and colonisation of North and South America and the Caribbean islands from the fifteenth century onward created an insatiable demand for African labourers, who were deemed more fit to work in the tropical conditions of the New World. The numbers of slaves imported across the Atlantic Ocean steadily increased, from approximately 5,000 slaves a year in the sixteenth century to over 100,000 slaves a year by the end of the eighteenth century (Bortolot, 2003).

The Transatlantic Slave Trade, often known as the Triangular Trade, connected the economies of three continents - Europe,America and Africa. It is estimated that between 25 to 30 million people (men, women and children) were deported from their homes and sold as slaves in the different slave trading systems. In the transatlantic slave trade alone the estimate of those deported is believed to be approximately 17 million. These figures exclude those who died aboard the ships and in the course of wars and raids connected to the trade (UNESCO, 2017).

It is disheartening to learn that such a cruel enterprise was allowed to run for hundreds of years. However, some common sense finally began to prevail in the late 18th century as an anti-slavery movement led by abolitionist - Thomas Clarkson garnered momentum in the United Kingdom. Owing to growing pressure, British member of parliament - William Wilberforce was persuaded to took the fight for abolishing slavery to  parliament. Following a tireless campaign which lasted for about 18 years, Wilberforce finally succeeded in having ‘The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act’ passed by the British Parliament on 25 March 1807. Subsequently, all the slaves in the British Empire were formally set free by 1838 (BBC, 2017).

The Persecution of the Rohingya

Government troops are slaughtering the Rohingya and driving them out of Myanmar. Why are these people so hated? Here's everything you need to know:

What's going on?

Hundreds of thousands of desperate Rohingya people are fleeing a vicious military purge in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). Troops have burned scores of villages, beheading men, raping women, and even killing children. In some places, Buddhist militias and mobs have joined in the attacks against the Muslim-majority Rohingya. The Myanmar army and government call their assault a counterterrorist operation, but the U.N. has labeled it a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing." With more than 420,000 people chased into Bangladesh since August and tens of thousands following them every week, the exodus is the world's most rapid and intense refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The influx of brutalized families has overwhelmed aid efforts, and thousands of hungry people are camping in the open, exposed to monsoon rains. About 60 percent are children, and many have lost their parents to massacres back home. "The sheer scale of it is beyond belief," Tejshree Thapa of Human Rights Watch told Newsweek. "I've never seen a group this devastated, this destroyed."

Who are the Rohingya?

They are often described as the world's most persecuted people. Muslims have lived in the coastal Rakhine area, separated from the rest of Myanmar by a mountain range, since at least the 12th century. The Rohingya are believed to be descended from those early Arab and Mughal traders. But since populations have been driven back and forth across the border of what is now Bangladesh at least four times since the late 1700s, there was significant mixing with South Asian Muslims. During more than a century of British colonial rule, from 1824 to 1948, many Muslims in what is now India and Bangladesh relocated to Burma, then a British Indian province, to work, and they, too, were absorbed into the Rohingya. The Rohingya language, Rohingyalish, is close to the Chittagonian dialect spoken in southern Bangladesh.

Why do the Burmese reject them?

Mistrust goes back decades, and has its roots in ethnic and religious enmity as well as political differences. During World War II, the Rohingya supported the British while Burmese nationalists supported the Japanese. The British promised the Rohingya their own state but did not deliver. In 1948 the Rohingya were left in newly independent Burma amid a Buddhist majority that now saw them as disloyal and potentially dangerous foreigners. When a military junta took over Burma in 1962, it labeled the Rohingya "Bengalis" and excluded them from citizenship, leaving them stateless, with no access to government health care, education, or most jobs. Periodic waves of mass persecution over the following decades have given rise to a Rohingya resistance movement, and growing radicalization among Myanmar's young Muslim men. In recent years, the radicals have formed the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), known locally as Al Yaqin, or the "Faith" movement.

How did the current purge begin?

ARSA militants killed nine border police last October. The enraged government sent troops pouring into Rakhine state, and refugees say the soldiers raped, killed, and burned their way through Rohingya villages. The current exodus began in earnest in August, after ARSA militants attacked police posts, killing 12 and sparking the ongoing massive crackdown. Many fleeing Rohingya are furious at ARSA, who remain a small minority of their population. "We are the ones who are suffering because of Al Yaqin," said refugee Noor Kamal. "They disappeared after the attack. We were the ones left behind for the military to kill." Even the country's civilian leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has cited the ARSA attacks in condemning the Rohingya as "terrorists."

What is Bangladesh's position?

Bangladesh is one of the few countries that never ratified the U.N. Convention on Refugees, and has consistently insisted that the Rohingya must return to Myanmar. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said last week that her country is currently sheltering more than 800,000 Rohingya. She has called on the U.N. to supervise safe zones in Rakhine so those families can "return to their homeland in safety, security, and dignity." But that will be difficult: In the same speech, Hasina accused Myanmar of laying landmines along the border to prevent the Rohingya from returning.

And the international community?

The U.S., Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other countries have strongly denounced Myanmar's crackdown and pledged millions in emergency aid. But Myanmar won't allow aid agencies in to help the 800,000 displaced Rohingya still trapped in Rakhine. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the U.N. refugee agency is rushing in supplies to feed and shelter the masses of people, mostly by expanding the existing camps housing Rohingya driven out in past purges. But caring for so many displaced people at once is an overwhelming challenge, and hunger and disease are rampant, while clean water and toilets are virtually nonexistent. "When you walk through the settlement, you have to wade through streams of dirty water and human feces," said Kate White, the emergency medical coordinator of Doctors Without Borders. "A public health emergency could be just around the corner."

An international icon's silence

Aung San Suu Kyi won international acclaim for her principled opposition to the authoritarian regime that has ruled Myanmar for decades, and for her demand for democratic elections. But the country's de facto civilian leader, now 72, has deeply disappointed many of her admirers by refusing to criticize the military for its brutal oppression of the Rohingya. Suu Kyi, a Buddhist nationalist, said the Muslim group had brought the crackdown on itself by supporting terrorism, and claimed, against all evidence, that security forces were exercising restraint and avoiding "the harming of innocent civilians." Critics say she has become complicit in the ethnic cleansing and did not deserve her Nobel Prize. Her defenders contend that Suu Kyi has to be circumspect, because the military would use the Rohingya issue to undermine her popularity and by extension civilian rule, only recently restored. "The army, they are watching her every word," said U Win Htein, a former Myanmar military officer. "One misstep on the Muslim issue, and they can make their move."

Reproduced Article, Source: The Week

Five Fundamental Mistakes that led to the Ultimate Downfall of Yahya Jammeh

A young Lieutenant Yahya A.J.J Jammeh

On the fateful day of July 22nd 1994, a fresh-faced 29 year old lieutenant from the Gambia Armed Forces going by the name Yahya Jammeh; overthrew the democratically elected PPP government and assume the mantle of leadership in the Republic of The Gambia. Roll on the years and here is a 51 year old man with the lengthiest name that ever exist, thanks by and large to his self-acclaimed and unmerited titles. Having controversially won 4 consecutive general elections and subsequently ruling the country for 22 odd years, his 5th attempt to the presidency was scuppered by a coalition of opposition parties including one independent candidate.

Jammeh waves a last good-bye

Having initially conceding defeat and congratulating President-elect Adama Barrow live on national television, Jammeh change his mind a week later citing irregularities on the part of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

After series of negotiations with ECOWAS for him to respect the verdict of the Gambian people, Jammeh insisted on annulling the election results and calling for a fresh election. To support his course, the national assembly tabled a bill in which the majority voted to extend Jammeh's grip on power. As a consequent, he blatantly declared a 90 days state of emergency. All the while, Mr.

Jammeh on his way to exile

Jammeh thought he was getting away with his unscrupulous plot. But with military intervention from ECOWAS forces looming large, he finally succumbed and relinquished power but not without causing a great deal of anxiety and panic in the country. Below we revisit five fundamental mistakes  that has ultimately led to the downfall of a leader who once vowed to rule The Gambia for ‘a billion years’ God willing  - as he loved to say:

The Death of Solo Sendeng

With elections on the horizon, political activist and commentators continue to call for a level playing field in the Gambian political arena. As a consequent, a handful of United Democratic Party (UDP) militants took to the streets on Thursday 14th April 2016 to exercise their constitutional right. Soon after displaying their banner at the Westfield Junction, which simply read ‘we need political reforms’, they were forcefully arrested by officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU). Bombarded in police trucks and whisked away to the National Intelligent Agency (NIA), they were reportedly tortured overnight which led to the untimely demise of Ebrima Solo Sendeng. This unfortunate incident greatly reshaped Gambian politics and in no small measure contributed to the downfall of Yahya Jammeh.

Clamp Down on the UDP

H.E Adama Barrow taking oath

Upon hearing rumours about the death of one of their militants in the hands of the security forces, the UDP party executive organised an emergency meeting and embarked on a reactive demonstration to demand the unconditional release of their party militants. They were similarly met with force leading to the arrest and subsequent incarceration of the party leader - Lawyer Ousainou Darboe together with most of his executive members. These events generated a lot of anger and resentments both within and outside The Gambia. Though sad at the time, it turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Because in the absence of Lawyer Darboe, cometh the saviour Adama Barrow who was subsequently chosen to lead the coalition which ended the 22 year reign of Yahya Jammeh and his APRC government.

Taking a Swipe at the Mandinkas

Throughout the history of mankind, tribal and racial divide have become synonymous with violence, instigating the most brutal of atrocities the world has ever witnessed. Too much blood have been spilt and so many innocent lives lost as a result of senseless and unprovoked attacks to certain groups in certain societies whose only crimes happened to be the tribe they belong or the colour of their skin. Accusing the biggest ethnic group in The Gambia of tribalism, and also labelling them as foreigners was therefore a catastrophic blow to Yahya Jammeh’s popularity. I said at the time that this will go down as one of the most miscalculated and misguided statement he has ever made and I have been proven right. Angered by such remarks understandably, the Mandinkas went out in their numbers on December 1st 2016 and expressed their concerns through the ballot box.

Declaring The Gambia an Islamic State

Declaring The Gambia an Islamic State was one of the dumbest mistakes Yahya Jammeh has ever made. The country has forever been a secular state even though its population is about 90% Muslim. It therefore goes without saying that Christians and people of other faiths in the country must have felt deeply marginalised by such proclamation. Despite his efforts to sugar-coat the type of Islamic State he envisioned for the Gambia, his popularity severely diminished amongst members of minority religious groups who have nothing but enjoyed the most harmonious of relationships with Muslims throughout the history of the Gambia.

Attacking Senegalese Leaders

Another fundamental mistake that came back to hunt Yahya Jammeh was to alienate himself from his Senegalese counterparts and publicly attacking them. During one of his so-called ‘meet the people's tour’ in 2015, Jammeh took to the podium in Farafenni town center right at the border with our sisterly neighbours and start trading insults to Senegalese leaders both past and present. From Abdou Diouf right down to Macky Sall via Abdoulaye Wade, Jammeh badmouthed them in the most undiplomatic manner ever imaginable. He accused President Sall of ‘sinister plots’ against his government and threatened to deal with him. That was a grave mistake Mr. Jammeh as the rest we all know is history!

A New Dawn in The Gambia as the Third Republic Sets in

Outgoing President Yahya Jammeh. Source: BBC

People in the Republic of the Gambia have elected a new President on December 1st, 2016 after a combined total of over half a century; during which time the country has only known two presidents. The President of the first Republic, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara's almost 30-year reign was halted by the incumbent - Yahya Jammeh in a military take over back in 1994, aged just 29. 

He later dropped his military uniform in 1996 to contest for the presidency after a two year transition period, and eventually managed to win four general elections in a row. However, his 22-year controversial rule has officially ended on December 2nd having conceded defeat to a coalition of 7 opposition parties led by Mr. Adama Barrow, a real estate developer.

According to official figures from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mr. Adama Barrow secured 263, 515 of the votes amounting to 45.5% while Yahya Jammeh got a total of 212, 099 which equals to 36.7%, . Meanwhile, the third candidate Mama Kandeh won 102, 969 votes equalling to 17.8%.

Adama Barrow, President elect. Source: BBC

Before declaring Barrow the winner, The IEC chairman, Mr. Alieu Momar Njie is quoted as saying "it's really unique that someone who has been ruling this country for so long has accepted defeat" confirming just what many feared. The unprecedented events has shocked most people, myself included. 

I, for one, never thought in my wildest dreams that the opposition will be able to pull it up. And even in the event they did, I was always of the view that the incumbent won't go down without a fight. So I am indeed pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Moreover, I am prouder than ever before of my fatherland. So kudos to everyone who has in one way or the other, contributed to this historic moment.

Gambia: That Elusive Opposition Coalition Flag Bearer Have Finally Been Unveiled!

The much-anticipated and long awaited convention on opposition coalition has finally come to an end at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Sunday 30th October, 2016. After a lengthy voting process, Mr. Adama Barrow of the United Democratic Party emerged victorious canvassing about 62% of the votes. Announcing the results, the chairperson for the occasion, Mrs. Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang revealed that a total of 490 votes were registered, out of which, 2 were declared null and void.

Mr. Barrow who secured 308 votes was respectively followed by Mr. Hamat Bah of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) with 75 votes, Mr. Halifa Sallah of the Peoples Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) with 65 votes and Dr. Lamin Bojang of the National Convention Party (NCP) with 40 votes. Surprisingly though, the independent candidate - Dr. Isatou Touray didn’t show up for the occasion, reasons of which are yet to emerge.

Convention on Opposition Coalition, Kairaba Beach Hotel - 30/10/16. Photo source: Gainako

As it stands then, 51 year old Adama Barrow who hails from Mankamang Kunda in the Upper River Region will lock horns with the incumbent; and possibly with the independent candidate - Dr. Isatou Touray and of course Mamma Kandeh of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) who had earlier pulled out of the coalition talks. It all depends however on whether all of them will make it through the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) nominations which is slated to take place between the 7th and 10th November, 2016.

While I deeply regret the fact that there is going to be more than one opposition candidate contesting the December 1st polls, I sincerely congratulate Mr. Adama Barrow for his victory and optimistically looking forward for him to replicate his triumph come December. I also wish to commend all the opposition candidates, civil society activists and all stakeholders who took part in this very difficult process. You have all done your best in the only way you know how! Therefore the onus is now on the Gambian electorates to repay your sacrifices. May December 1st 2016 usher in the 3rd Republic in our dear fatherland!

Rejoinder

The independent candidate Dr. Isatou Touray has since agreed to rally behind the coalition of opposition parties, meaning only two candidates are up for the running against the incumbent. Meanwhile the IEC has given the go-ahead to all three candidates aspiring to vie for the presidency. So all eyes are now firmly fixed on December 1st.

Gambia: Commemoration of Africa Humans Right Day

H.E. Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs.

Banjul 21st October, 2016: Today the African people commemorate the Africa Humans Right day across the continent under the theme, “women rights - our collective responsibility.”

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs issued a statement on behalf of H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission describing this year’s theme as timely and appropriate. Timely in the sense that it coincides with the Declaration of the African Union’s Heads of State and Government of “2016 as the African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women”. It is, therefore, a clarion call on Africa to do more to promote women’s rights, particularly the rights to development. It is in this context that the African Union Commission has concluded that the AHRD theme for this year is a reflection of a ray of hope that through empowerment of women in Africa, sustainable peace and development will be ushered in.

The Commissioner for Political Affairs stated that on 21 October 1986, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights came into force thereby forming the basis for the commemoration of the African Human Rights Day (AHRD). The AHRD, which is celebrated annually across the continent on 21st October, is an opportunity to reflect, take stock and recommit to the solemn declaration undertaken by the African leaders and the African people to promote and safeguard human and peoples’ rights on the continent. She further added that the commemoration is also to continuously awaken greater awareness of the African peoples and the international community on the value of life and humanity, and to renew our collective commitment to protect and uphold the fundamental human rights.

Dr. Abdulahi also indicated that despite all the efforts to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa, including women’s rights, the continent continues to face enormous challenges which if not urgently and adequately addressed, may erase the human rights gain recorded over the preceding decades. These challenges include, but are not limited to: inadequate allocation of resources to human rights institutions, inadequate capacity, insufficient political will, unwillingness by some States to cede part of sovereignty to supranational monitoring bodies, insufficient commitment by some States to domesticate and implement international and continental human rights treaties, persistent crisis and conflicts across the continent which result in loss of life, destruction of property and reversal of human rights gains, widespread poverty, ignorance and lack of awareness, vestiges of colonialism characterized by human rights unfriendly laws, bad  governance, corruption and disregard for the constitutionalism and the rule of law.

In conclusion, Dr. Abdullahi also added that in order to ensure that elements of the theme of this year have been achieved, the DPA in close collaboration and coordination with other AU Organs with a human rights mandate, has been carrying out a series of activities commencing in 2016 and spread across the next 10 years, which was declared by Heads of State and Government in Kigali, Rwanda in July this year as the “Human and Peoples’ Rights Decade in Africa”. These activities seek to initiate a lobby and advocacy campaign that generates increasing momentum, and reaches out to member states stakeholders and partners at all levels.

Source: au.int

Gambia: History Repeating Itself as Opposition Coalition Formula Brings Back Memories of 10 Years Ago

It is been widely reported on various online newspapers and social media outlets that opposition parties (bar the GDC) including an independent candidate, have finally agreed to an option on forming a coalition to take on the ruling APRC party for the upcoming December Presidential elections. The much anticipated negotiations concluded on Friday 14th October 2016 at the Kairaba Beach hotel. With agreement reached, the focus now shift on finding that almost-elusive unified opposition candidate amongst aspiring candidates to be the coalition flag-bearer for the December 1st polls.

In a statement issued to the press, the party leaders outlined that, they were “putting aside their differences in favour of the supreme national interest.” This agreement followed a week in which spirits were dampened as the talks once again became inconclusive. The latest setbacks were as as a result of UDP’s appeal for more time to consult with their executives prompting an unwelcome rescheduling of events. To say the negotiations were complex is indeed an understatement but the fact that some sort of consensus was finally met must be a welcome relief to all concerned.

Gambian Opposition Leaders & Activist. Source: Foroyaa

Although it is not the outcome most of us would have wanted, we still have to be contented with the result and commend the opposition leaders and civil society activist for their laudable efforts. We appreciate that such negotiations are always complex as participants tend to have different opinions about the modalities of how such unions should be formed. A party-led coalition, conventions and primaries were among the sort of formulas argued for. But what ever approach is taken, the ultimate goal remains the same.

Surprisingly, the difference in opinions at this round of talks pretty much resembles what happened during the formative years of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) some 10 years ago. Back then, the United Democratic Party (UDP), very popular at the time were accused of hampering efforts to form an opposition coalition for the 2006 Presidential elections as they thought they were capable of defeating the APRC on their own. Similarly, all fingers of blame are now pointing at the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) for being the only party who refused to sign the current agreement.

Like most UDP supporters back in 2006, the GDC surrogates are all pumped up with this wishful thinking that their party can unseat the incumbent on its own. I even once heard the party secretary in an interview with the Freedom Radio claiming that they can pull up 70% of the votes in this forthcoming elections, dream on I say! That is a very irresponsible thing to say even for a party militant let alone a party executive.

However, they have since come up with a strong worded statement to rebuff all accusations and put forward their stance and argument during the meeting  for the general public to see. Fair enough on their side but needless in my opinion! All we need is one single opposition candidate regardless of different points of view.

I must however reiterate that; it is against all odds for any single party to be able to unseat the incumbent on their own in this upcoming elections. So my appeal to the GDC is therefore to try and join the bandwagon for the sake of national interest. My understanding is, whoever emerge victorious in this conventions or primaries will just be a transitional leader. So even if the GDC candidate is not elected to bear the coalition flag this time around, there is surely plenty more time to come for the party. Please do not allow false hopes get in the way of your future aspirations. Please do not let yourself fall on the wrong side of history.

To conclude, the same appeal is also extended to all the signatories to the agreement. Please try and continue the dialogue with the GDC. Time is running out I know but it is never too late since the nominations are yet to take place. I am almost certain that, if more than one candidate is pitched against the APRC come December, it will simply be a case of history repeating itself all over again. Consequently then, the dream for a third republic in The Gambia will be laid to rest for the next five years at least. I genuinely hope that am proven wrong!

UNHCR: About 300,000 Cross the Mediterranean so far this Year

Geneva, 20 September 2016 - The number of refugees and migrants reaching European shores this year passed the 300,000 mark today, UNHCR figures show. This is considerably lower than the 520,000  registered sea arrivals during the first nine months of 2015, but higher than the 216,054 arrivals during the whole of 2014.

A closer look at the two main countries of arrival, Greece and Italy, reveals important differences. Arrivals in Italy this year follow the same pattern as last year, with 130,411 refugees and migrants entering in 2016, compared with 132,071 during the first nine months of last year. In both years, arrivals increased during May and peaked in July. However, more people arriving in Italy are staying there. As of today, asylum claims have more than doubled in Italy, in comparison to the same period last year. Over 158,000 people are currently accommodated in reception facilities in Italy.

In contrast, Greece saw a massive rise in the number of arrivals by sea last year, with 385,069 by the end of September. The surge began in August, with 107,843 arrivals, and peaked in October, with highest number of arrivals (211,663). This year, there has been a sharp drop from 67,415 arrivals during the month of January to just over 2,000 so far this month, bringing the total this year to 165,750, a 57% drop from the 385,069 arrivals registered in Greece during the first nine months of last year.

The main nationalities arriving in Greece (Syria 48%, Afghanistan 25%, Iraq 15%, Pakistan 4% and Iran 3%) are also different from those reaching Italy (Nigeria 20%; Eritrea 12%; Gambia/ Guinea/Sudan/Ivory Coast 7% each). In the Mediterranean as a whole, five nationalities account for 68% of all arrivals (Syria 30%, Afghanistan 16%, Iraq 10%, Nigeria 7%, Eritrea 5%).

Despite the number of crossings this year (300,000) being 42 % lower than during the same period last year (520,000), the number of people reported dead or missing so far this year (3,211) is only 15 % lower than the total number of casualties for the whole of 2015 (3,771). At this rate, 2016 will be the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea.

This situation highlights the urgent need for States to increase pathways for admission of refugees, such as resettlement, private sponsorship, family reunification and student scholarship schemes, among others, so they do not have to resort to dangerous journeys and the use of smugglers. At the same time, the plan agreed by the European Union (EU) and Member States a year ago to relocate 160,000 asylum-seekers mainly from Greece and Italy to other European countries need to be fully implemented. So far, less than 5,000 asylum-seekers have been relocated from Greece (3,791) and Italy (1,156), which constitutes only 3% of the original target. We have been calling on EU Member States to increase pledges, including for unaccompanied and separated children, speed up the registration and transfers of candidates, and for more nationalities fleeing war and persecution to have access to the scheme.

Effective relocation is key to increasing solidarity and responsibility sharing in Europe, and ensuring the better management of movements, including helping to address irregular secondary movement and reliance on smuggler networks. This is particularly vital given the humanitarian situation in Greece, and the increasing number of people staying in Italy and applying for asylum.

Source: UNHCR

Gambia: One of the most ‘Recalcitrant’ Countries Identified by US Homeland Security

The Republic of The Gambia is infamously occupying position number 11 on the list of nearly two dozen ‘recalcitrant’ countries identified by the United States department for Homeland Security. ‘Recalcitrant’ is a term referring to “refusal by home countries to take back their own citizens who are identified as illegal immigrants and therefore due for deportation.” This disturbing revelation was made by Jessica Vaughan, policy studies director at the Center for Immigration Studies as quoted in the Washington Times.

"The problem of countries refusing to take back their own citizens has been around for years, but it came into sharp focus earlier this year when a Haitian man was convicted of killing a young woman in Connecticut. That man, Jean Jacques, had previously served time for attempted murder but was out on U.S. streets because Haiti wouldn’t take him back, saying it questioned whether he really was Haitian. That’s the same excuse given in tens of thousands of other cases where home countries refuse to take back their citizens - including The Gambia."

So as result of The Gambia refusing to accept nearly 2,000 people the U.S. is trying to deport, the Obama administration has finally decided to pull the trigger and will deny visas to some Gambians hoping to visit the U.S., the State Department said Saturday. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson took the decisive move after years of prodding by lawmakers on Capitol Hill, signing a letter triggering the law that requires a halt in visas to countries that are refusing to accept their own citizens. Under the law the State Department had no choice but to comply (The Washington Times).

The move according to the Washington Times was first revealed by Sen. Charles E. Grassley, who said it was about time the administration targeted someone. He said he hopes more countries face the same punishment if they don’t begin to cooperate, and he said if The Gambia doesn’t straighten out, he hopes the U.S. broadens the visa sanctions to more than the government. “It’s time we make clear to these nations that blocking U.S. deportation efforts by refusing to take back their citizens has consequences,” said Mr. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (The Washington Times)

A State Department official is quoted in the same newspaper saying; “As of October 1, 2016, the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia has discontinued visa issuance to employees of the Gambian government, employees of certain entities associated with the government, and their spouses and children, with limited exceptions.” The law appears to call for an even broader response  - the denial of visas to all Gambian citizens. But stripping government officials and their families of visas is still a powerful lever, the official said.

Source: The Washington Times.

Gambia: The Mighty ‘Bai Faal’ Have Finally Fallen From Grace

Sonko, photo source: Foroyaa

The past week has shown a dramatic and a rather unexpected turn of events in the Gambia government. The Minister of Interior - Mr. Ousman Sonko, one of the longest serving cabinet official in the country have been terminated and replaced by a serving officer in the Gambia Armed Forces - Mr. Momodou Alieu (MA) Bah who was once sentenced to 25 years in prison for allegedly taking part in a coup plot in 2006 and later release on a presidential pardon in 2009. Sonko’s dismissal was aired on GRTS on Saturday 17th September, 2016 (unofficial working day) according to Foroyaa.

A self-proclaimed ‘Bai Faal’ (disciple) to his now ex-boss, Mr. Sonko have held the interior portfolio for the second time since 2012. He was first assigned the post in November 2006 and removed in February 2012, only to be reinstated three months later. Overall, he served for a combined period of 10 years making him seem untouchable in a cabinet where ‘hire and fire’ is as rife as the corruption embedded within.

It is widely reported that Ousman Sonko is seeking asylum in Sweden at the moment making one to wonder how on earth can that be possible. He is said to have arrived in Sweden on Tuesday 20th September via Senegal. Another episode that severely undermines the security situation in the country. How can a high ranking government official be terminated on a Saturday and reached a destination as far as Sweden within two days - only in The Gambia!

Talking of security, where are we heading Gambia? Barely two months to the most crucial elections, the most important ministry in terms of security is now occupied by a complete novice in government affairs. As far as I can remember, the Gambia was in military rule for just two years (1994 - 1996). So how an active army officer be elevated to a ministry portfolio in a civilian government is certainly beyond my comprehension.

For Ousman Sonko, as it is often said, surely ‘what goes around, comes around!’ Am pretty sure you never saw this coming when you proudly declared yourself a ‘Bai Faal.’ Notwithstanding though, we humbly welcome you to the real world, the world of ‘have-nots’ which is very different from the elite status you used to enjoy over the years. I must warn you though, it is really tough out there especially for a controversial character like yourself. So be fully prepared to reap what you sow!

Gambia: The Ambiguity in the Conference of Presidential Candidates

Following a constant public outcry for opposition parties in the Gambia to form a unified coalition in order to try and bring an end to the 22-year reign of the APRC government in the upcoming general elections, opposition party leaders have finally managed to organise a meeting aimed at finding modalities to that effect.

Spearheaded by the veteran politician and PDOIS flagbearer - Mr Halifah Sallah, the presidential aspirants and/or their representatives with some observers converged at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Wednesday 14th September 2016 to commence discussions on such a matter of national interest. It is reported that the meeting was held behind closed doors and lasted for about two hours.

Photo Source: sharonspano.com

According to foroyaa, the Presidential hopefuls in attendance at the meeting were Dr Lamin Bojang of NCP and Halifa Sallah of PDOIS. Mr. Hamat Bah of the NRP and Mamma Kandeh of GDC were represented by their deputies - Musa Sonko and Yusupha Jaiteh respectively. Both Bah and Kandeh were said to be out of town during the meeting.

Meanwhile, the two presidential candidates who did not appear or send representatives to hold briefs on their behalfs were Mr. Adama Barrow of the UDP and the Independent candidate - Dr. Isatou Touray. Similarly, Mr Henry Gomez of the GPDP promised to send two representatives but no one turned up for him. Also the PPP and GMC sent neither any representatives nor observers - foroyaa reported.

This meeting is undoubtedly a step in the right direction but its ambiguity badly exposes the division amongst Gambian opposition parties. The weakness in participation/representation level from the stakeholders was rather too obvious to formulate conspiracy theories around it.

However, since another meeting is scheduled to take place, we will give this one the benefit of the doubt for now and look forward to the second meeting. We hope for a more meaningful outcome next time around and look forward to a single opposition candidate come December 1st.

It must however be stressed that time is not our side since December 1st is just about 10 weeks away.  We therefore continue to plead with all opposition leaders to put their egos and personal interests aside and put the interest of the country first. May the forthcoming elections usher in a new dawn in Gambian politics and bring us the much sought after 3rd republic.