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IEC commences Nominations for 2022 National Assembly Elections

Aspiring candidates for the 2022 National Assembly Elections have been filing in their credentials at IEC offices across the country. With a record number of political parties, this year's polls will pose the biggest challenge to election officials. The IEC had earlier indicated that it preferred the ballot paper to the traditional marble currently being used. This is mainly due to the huge logistical arrangements for ballot drums and marbles.Several outgoing national members have either pulled out of the race or replaced by their parties.  The NPP and the UDP are likely to fill in the most candidates this year. Many aspiring independent candidates have also emerged partly as a result of a split in the APRC. Other aspirants run on the independent ticket after failing to get the backing of major political parties.

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VP JALLOW RECEIVES GAMBIA GIRL GUIDES OVER SKILLS CENTRE CHALLENGES

The Vice President, His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, on Tuesday granted an audience to members of the Gambia Girl Guides Skills Centre at State House.The delegation met the country’s number-two office to discuss operational challenges facing the centre and to seek government support.The Gambia Girl Guides Skills Centre is one of the country’s first skills development facilities. It supports young girls in areas including tailoring, cuisine, hospitality, and tie and dye.However, over the years, the centre has deteriorated. The structures are old and dilapidated, activities have slowed, and authorities say they are losing both trainers and trainees.Faced with these challenges, the administration sought intervention from the Office of the Vice President.Following a closed-door meeting with the Vice President and senior officials, Chief Commissioner of the Gambia Girl Guides Association, Khadijatou A. Jobarteh, said the centre has done well but continues to face frustrations.(H.E Mohammed B.S Jallow - right - and Khadijatou A. Jobarteh, Chief Commissioner of the Gambia Girl Guides Association - left)Chief Commissioner Jobarteh added that the Association is also seeking an audience with First Lady Her Excellency Fatou Bah Barrow to discuss their concerns.Members of the Association said Vice President Jallow gave his full assurance that he will look into the challenges facing the centre. She said the Vice President has promised to engage the concerned Permanent Secretaries at the Ministries and the Office of the First Lady. In outlining the path to reviving the centre, Chief Commissioner Jobarteh highlighted key areas needing urgent assistance. She said they would need refurbishment of the centre and funding to be able to pay the trainers. Officials expressed optimism that the engagement with the Vice President will be a catalyst for change to restore The Gambia’s only Girl Guides skills training facility. 

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PRESIDENT BARROW HOSTS STATE BANQUET FOR GABONESE PRESIDENT NGUEMA

The President, His Excellency Adama Barrow, hosted a state banquet in honour of visiting Gabonese President, His Excellency General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, at State House.The banquet, attended by Gambian and Gabonese officials and invited dignitaries, marked the climax of President Nguema’s four-day visit to The Gambia.President Nguema was accompanied by First Lady Her Excellency Zita Oligui Nguema. They were received by President Barrow and First Lady Her Excellency Fatou Bah Barrow.The evening featured a toast to the enduring relationship between Gabon and The Gambia, followed by a dinner of traditional Gambian cuisine. Guests were entertained by a kora troupe and cultural performances showcasing Mandinka, Serer, and Jola music and dance.

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NPP AND GDC SIGN MOU, FORM ALLIANCE AHEAD OF DECEMBER 5 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

The ruling National People’s Party and the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising their alliance ahead of the December 5th Presidential election.The signing ceremony at State House drew hundreds of NPP and GDC supporters who gathered to witness what both parties described as a historic political realignment.NPP National President Musa Drammeh and GDC National President Momodou Pateh Bah signed the MOU on behalf of their parties. The event was witnessed by Hon. Sidi Njai and Momodou A.S. Mboob.Party leaders President Adama Barrow of the NPP and Hon. Mama Kandeh of the GDC looked on as the document was signed amid jubilation, ending years of rivalry between the two parties.While the specific terms of the MOU remain confidential, both parties committed to work together to support the candidature of President Adama Barrow in the upcoming election.Senior officials said negotiations had been ongoing for months to reach a workable agreement based on compromise and national interest.Hon. Seedy SK. Njie, described as one of the key architects of the rapprochement, thanked President Barrow, Hon. Kandeh, and senior executives of both parties for their role in the talks.GDC senior members including National Women’s Leader Ndey Fatou Jallow, KM Desk Officer Haruna Jallow, Jarra Ndaw, and Momodou Bobb endorsed the agreement, calling it consultative and reflective of the party’s will.GDC National President Momodou Pateh Bah said the party’s core values of democracy, inclusive development, and good governance remain intact.  “We came in good faith. We believe in partnership and collaboration. This MOU will not erase the party’s identity,” Bah said.NPP National President Musa Drammeh thanked stakeholders for their work and praised both leaders for “putting The Gambia first.” He urged supporters to ignore critics seeking to sow division and vowed the NPP would uphold the MOU to secure victory for the alliance.NPP Women’s Mobilizer Aja Maimuna Baldeh welcomed the GDC “with open arms,” describing Hon. Kandeh as a patriot who would help deliver a landslide for President Barrow.Hon. Mama Kandeh defended the alliance as a decision driven by national interest.  “This alliance is not a betrayal of our principles or a compromise of our values. We have chosen to place national interest above party interest,” Kandeh said.He reaffirmed his commitment to the alliance, expressed confidence in a landslide victory, and thanked President Barrow, whom he described as a longtime friend.President Barrow welcomed the GDC to the alliance, saying it reflects a shared responsibility to maintain peace and development despite political differences.  He described the NPP-GDC pact as “the beginning of a new dawn” that will “redraw the political map and usher in a new era of politics in The Gambia.”The President also spoke of his longstanding relationship with Hon. Kandeh dating back to childhood, and called for unity in the interest of the country.President Barrow expressed confidence in the broader 8-party alliance backing him and predicted a landslide victory in December. He further urged his political godfather to join the alliance and endorse his candidature.President Barrow and Hon. Kandeh exited State House to cheers from supporters.The alliance comes just four months before the Presidential election and marks a major shift in The Gambia’s political landscape. As parties continue to realign, attention now turns to how the NPP-GDC partnership will shape the race to December 5.

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LESOTHO PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VISITS THE GAMBIA TO LEARN FROM UNDP PARTNERSHIP

The President, His Excellency Adama Barrow, on Tuesday received in audience the Right Honourable Tiohang Sekhamane, Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Lesotho, at State House.Speaker Sekhamane was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serign Modou Njie, and the UN Resident Coordinator, Karl Frederick Paul.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Speaker Sekhamane said the visit was jointly organised by the Government of The Gambia, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Government of Lesotho.He noted that The Gambia has made significant strides through its partnership with UNDP on government development financing."Therefore, I came here to learn from The Gambia and see how Lesotho can adopt a similar partnership for the development of our people and country," he said.Speaker Sekhamane concluded by thanking President Barrow for his leadership, vision, and commitment, which he said have contributed to the success of the program in The Gambia.The engagement forms part of efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation and share best practices in governance and development.

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THE GAMBIA AND GABON SIGN 5 AGREEMENTS TO BOOST TRADE, DIPLOMACY AND AGRICULTURE

The Gambia and Gabon have signed five agreements to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, diplomacy, and agriculture.The signing followed a three-day visit by Gabonese President His Excellency General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to The Gambia, aimed at deepening bilateral ties. Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to African unity, Pan-Africanism, and South-South cooperation.President Oligui Nguema was received with full honours on arrival at State House for talks with President Adama Barrow.The two leaders held private discussions for nearly an hour before presiding over an expanded meeting with senior officials from both sides. They reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthen Banjul-Libreville relations.President Barrow welcomed the Gabonese delegation, describing the visit as “an important milestone” in the friendly relations between The Gambia and Gabon.He commended President Nguema’s leadership, saying it has made Gabon a bastion of democracy, peace, and development in Africa.  “The Gambia shares these values and is committed to working with other African countries, including Gabon, to strengthen cooperation in all areas of development,” President Barrow said.In his remarks, President Oligui Nguema thanked President Barrow for the warm hospitality.  “The Gambia and Gabon have dynamic and positive relations. I look forward to strengthening this partnership for the mutual benefit of our two countries,” he said.The Gabonese leader noted that both countries share common positions on many issues, and called for joint action to tackle piracy, illicit trafficking, and other illegal activities in West and Central Africa.The two leaders presided over the signing of five cooperation instruments. The agreements were signed by The Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, and Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeneny.The agreements are:1. General Cooperation Agreement between The Gambia and Gabon2. Agreement Establishing the Gambia-Gabon Joint Commission 3. Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports4. Memorandum of Understanding on Political and Diplomatic Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries5. Joint Communiqué reaffirming commitment to deepen cooperationA joint communique read by Ministers Jallow and Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeneny described the visit as successful, saying it has laid a “solid and concrete framework” for partnership.The communique reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to continue dialogue and consultations to deepen cooperation in education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure. It also pledged to increase exchanges to promote peace, African unity, Pan-African solidarity, and South-South cooperation.At the end of the meeting, President Barrow saw off his counterpart, who proceeded with other engagements, including a visit to the Katchikally Crocodile Pool in Bakau.

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NYIMANSATA JAWNEH KEEPS GAMBIA'S ATHLETICS HOPES ALIVE IN GLASGOW

Team Gambia endured mixed fortunes on the athletics track at the Glasgow Games today, with Nyimasata Jawneh delivering the highlight by advancing to the semi-finals.It was a day of highs and lows for the national team.Nyimasata Jawneh produced a composed and determined performance to book her place in the semi-finals, keeping Gambian medal hopes alive.Her qualification stood out on an otherwise challenging day for Team Gambia.Lamin Camara looked to have secured progress in the men’s 200m after clocking an impressive 21.19 seconds. Isatou Sey also delivered a strong run and appeared set to advance.But celebrations were cut short after both athletes were disqualified for lane infringements.The disappointment continued as Ebrima Camara and Alieu Joof bowed out in the opening rounds, bringing their campaigns to an early end.Despite the setbacks, Head Coach [First Name] Sallah praised the athletes’ commitment and determination.She acknowledged the disqualifications were tough to take, but said the performances showed the growing standard of Gambian athletics.  “The experience gained on this international stage will be invaluable as the athletes continue their development,” Coach Sallah said.With Jawneh still in contention, Team Gambia will now turn its focus to the semi-finals, where she will carry the nation’s hopes.Jawneh will be aiming to secure a place in the final as Team Gambia looks to end its athletics campaign on a high.  For the rest of the team, Glasgow has provided valuable experience and further proof of the country’s growing potential on the international stage.

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