Gambians and Senegalese were cut off from the rest of the world for over 24 hours, during the last weekend, as communication services in either country came to an abrupt halt. In Gambia, while there was no internet connection throughout Thursday, the telephone lines were intact. - In neighbouring Senegal, however, both inbound and outbound communications were greatly disrupted with internet connections as well as telephone connections going dead, totally impeding the flow of information from and into the country. There is no immediate evidence to link the development in the two countries. But the situation in Senegal was as a direct effect of a strike by telecommunications workers. Wor…

The fourth and youngest GSM operator in Gambia, Qcell, has formally unveiled the most advanced product in the country's cell phone industry. Qcell, as part of celebrations marking President Yahya Jammeh's 1994 coup that brought his government to power, inaugurated its 3G services. - It would for the first time allow Gambian subscribers access to services such as wireless voice telephone, internet, video calls and mobile TV in their palms. The unveiling of this sophisticated product was done alongside the inauguration of the company’s headquarters in the form of a magnificent building. Located along Kairaba Avenue, Qcell House was inaugurated at a colorful ceremony presided…

Gambia has become the sixth African country to host the continental telecommunications giant, Globacom. The company, a 100 percent Nigerian owned, received its sixth license, on Monday, to operate in Gambia, just four months after it won a similar license in neighbouring Senegal. - Glo which presently operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, Ivory Coast and Senegal, prides itself as one of the fastest growing multi-national carrier in the world with the vision of becoming the biggest and best carrier on the African continent. In the words of the Glo Executive Director, Adewale Sangowawa, the Gambia license would enable the telecommunications giant to stimulate world class telecommunic…

Karim Wade, son of Senegalese president, has denied accusations that he is poised to 'inherit' power from his dad. "It is not the intention of the President of the Republic, Mr Abdoulaye Wade, nor my intention to make a monarchical devolution of power," he said. "'Power is not inherited it is merited." - With elections less than two years away, the issue of who succeeds the 84-year-old president is the subject of heated debate in the Senegalese press. Opponents of Wade accuse him of preparing his son for a possible takeover due to the fact that the African statesman has openly endorsed the “good leadership qualities” of his son. The Senegale…

Riot broke out in the city of Mbour, about 80km from the Senegalese capital Dakar when protesters took to the streets denouncing frequent power cuts. The protesters settled for the local branch of the national water and electricity company, Senelec, where they destroyed materials belonging to the company in demonstration of their anger. - Outnumbered by the rioters, the few police present at the scene failed to prevent the damages. Power cuts have become a chronic problem in Senegal, with the authorities hardly able to give any plausible explanation. However, the local media Thursday reported that officials of Senelec blamed “bad weather” for the current spate of outages. …

In defiance of international opposition, the authorities in Guinea Bissau, Tuesday, inaugurated mutinous army General, Antonio Indjai, as head of the country's military. Gen Indjai led a mutiny in April, ousting the head of the army, who is still in custody, and briefly detaining the prime minister. - A controversial choice as army chief of staff of what is widely viewed as West Africa’s must undisciplined military; General Antonio Indjai made international headlines last April when he came close to overthrowing the government of ‘puppet’ President Malam Becai Sanha. He led a lawless group of army hooligans who seized and detained both the country’s Prime Ministe…

The United States President Barack Obama has invited 18 African leaders to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independences of their countries. An anonymous senior U.S. administration source, speaking on the sidelines of the just concluded G8 Summit in Huntsville, Canada, that the presidential gathering is scheduled for August in Washington. - A report by French magazine, Jeune Afrique, said that Obama embarked in an extended engagement during the first day of the Summit in Canada, holding sessions in the afternoon with several African heads of states, including the presidents of Senegal, Malawi, Algeria and Ethiopia. Alongside those of Nigeria and South Africa, the leaders of these Afric…

European nation France has reassured Senegal of its support to bring to trial the former Chadian leader, Hissene Habre, for crimes against humanity. "Senegal has the capacity to try Hissene Habre," French human rights ambassador Francois Zimeray noted. About 40, 000 opponents died during his brutal reign. - He told AFP: "France will do everything to encourage Senegal to take on this case." Habre, who rose to power in 1982, has since been living in exile in Dakar after pre-empting a commission of enquiry report in his country, accusing him of responsibility of the murders. In 2006 the African Union mandated Senegal to try the former military leader, but the case coul…

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has promised to create a special court for economic crimes to ensure speedy prosecution of cases as a means of curtailing what he termed a "scourge of modern times." Sounding rather philosophical, Wade said "a corrupt soul is a soul that does not fix," because it has broken away from the principles of ethics. And he added: "A corrupted soul has no benchmarks." - Wade told a sub regional forum in Dakar on the implementation of the UN convention against corruption and strengthening capacity of national institutions in West Africa that theft and misappropriation have more negative effects on Africa than the developed world, …

Scary revelations from Banjul indicate that a joint operation between Gambian police and UK investigators have resulted in the discovery of a huge cocaine smuggling ring in Gambia. Reports say at least two tonnes of the drug worth over $1bn was seized just outside Banjul. It was headed for Europe. - Accordingly, a number of suspected traffickers, including foreigners, have also been arrested and are under custody. The investigators also seized large quantities of cash and arms, the report added. A BBC report said that the Gambian authorities made the first arrests before calling in British agents to gather forensic evidence. Reports say agents from the UK's Serious Organized Cri…

Mali has reached an agreement for the establishment of new schools that will employ the digital education system. The project is an initiative of the French government, and it is part of a bigger one geared towards enhancing efforts towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of education in Africa. - Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure signed the agreement with officials manning the project, at the fringes of the recently concluded Africa-France Summit in the French city of Nice. The project entails usage of digital equipment like computers in classes which allow teachers to access a wealth of digital resources and to share with their students. The organizers argue …

The Senegalese police have allayed fears of a bomb explosion in the offices of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). Bank officials have assured staff of their safety as the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police intensifies their investigations. - AfricaNews reporter said the bank has received anonymous calls informing them of imminent bomb explosions but have been described as a hoax. The staff are panic stricken despite assurances from their management of their wellbeing. The president of the Dakar-based bank Philippe-Henri Dacoury-Tabley told staff in a video-conference: “This false bomb threats will be put under arrest," describing Senegal as a stable…

Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade has renewed calls for a United States of Africa. The West African leader, who was speaking at the inauguration of the African Renaissance monument, described the contentious multimillion dollar bronze statue as marking the moment for the continent to "take-off". - He said: “The slave traders have left, the last colonialist has left. We have no more excuses. We must seize this opportunity so that history does not repeat itself.” According to President Wade, “The time has arrived for Africa to take-off”. He added that “after five centuries of ordeals, slavery, Africa is still there, folding sometimes, but never breakin…

The authorities in Senegal have prohibited protest march set for Saturday as a show of disapproval for President Abdoulie Wade's multimillion dollars monument. On Friday, the prefect of the city of Dakar issued a decree banning all demonstrations in Dakar set for the day, April 3, the eve of the celebration of the 50th year of the country's independence. - The march initiated by the coalition Benno Siggil Senegaal against the monument of the African Renaissance is prohibited, the statement, as published by Seneweb, stated. The authorities cited reasons of security linked to the risk of disturbance to public order. The opposition had intended to interrupt the monument’s u…

The Gambian government has expelled the country representative of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to the Gambia, Min Whee-Kang. An executive order served to the UN diplomat in the form of a letter officially declared her persona non grata, last week, and she was given just 72 hrs to leave the country. - The South Korean born Kan reportedly left Banjul for Dakar by road. Confirming the story, UNICEF communication specialist in Gambia, Sally Sadie-Singhateh, was quoted by online newspaper Jollofnews.com as saying that “UNICEF received a letter last week from the government stating that the Country Rep., Ms Min-Whee Kang, was no longer welcomed in The Gambia.” Sadie…

Adja Andre Touré, the widow of Guinea's former independent leader, Ahmed Sékou Touré, has expressed dissatisfaction over the situation in her country. She described the situation in the nation as 'destroyed'. The country has gained headlines for drug trafficking among other social vices. - “Everything has been destroyed in Guinea: justice, military, health, education, etc.,” Touré said in an interview with Dakar based Walfadjri newspaper. The former Guinean first lady narrated how she and her family went through ill-treatment in the hands of the successors of her husband; her experience in jail and subsequent exile in Morocco, Ivory Coast and then Senegal, up t…

The Senegalese Minister of Health and Preventive Medicine, Modou Diagne Fada, confirmed that the country had been hit by the epidemic AH1N1 influenza. According to earlier reports, the first cases were detected in the religious city of Touba and nearby Diourbel (located in the central part of the country). - These places where the scene of religious festivities, as hundreds of thousands of followers of the Mouride Muslim Brotherhood, last week gathered to celebrate the 115th edition of “Grand Magal” of Touba, in memory of the departure into exile in Gabon in 1895 of the founder of the Brotherhood, Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba. Serign Bamba, as the religious leader as called, is a revered…

About 600 villagers in the Southern Senegalese region of Casamance have fled their villages after rebels suspected to be from the secessionist MFDC group descended on them, according to reports late Wednesday. The attackers were alleged to have looted food supplies and razed down homes. - The fleeing villagers told local authorities in neighboring Guinea Bissau where they sought refuge that their attackers struck last Friday night too, reported the AFP. Djin Alen, the deputy prefect of Begene in northeastern Guinea-Bissau, told AFP that 69 families, a total of 579 people, had arrived in his village since last Friday. "They say they were forced to leave their villages by rebels&quo…

Gambia has towed the line of generosity, in response to the increasing global call for support to the people of earthquake ravaged Haiti. The Gambian government announced Friday evening that it had offered one million dollars ($1M) in support of humanitarian efforts in the traumatized Caribbean Island. - ‘‘Following the catastrophic disaster that claimed the lives of people in Haiti, the president, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, on behalf of the people of the Gambia, have donated the sum of 1m dollars to the people of Haiti,’’ the release, as read on GRTS, said. This follows the unveiling, earlier, of the ‘‘Gambia one million fo…

A renowned female Senegalese musician is blazing a plan for African musicians to team up to produce a single track, the proceeds of which will go towards helping suffering earthquake victims in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. Singer and songwriter, Coumba Gawlo Seck, revealed this epic proposal through a press statement. - Coumba Gawlo Seck is ''very deeply affected by the tragedy that struck the people of Haiti,'' the statement, signed by the singer’s manager, read. As part of the proposal being put forward by the Senegalese superstar, a mega concert is also in the making, to be staged in Senegal sometime in February. Among the artist expected to be part of t…

The United Nations has said it would hand over to the government in Guinea-Bissau a former navy chief accused of leading a failed coup in 2008. Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto fled to Gambia after the failed coup against former President Joao Bernardo Vieira, and he had since been living there under full protection from the Gambian leader. - But the Admiral showed up at the offices of the United Nations in Bissau where he sought asylum. It is still not clear under which circumstances he left his former safe heaven. The Gambia has characteristically remained tight-lipped about the development. There had been reports of several meetings between UN officials and the Bissau Guinean gove…

Angola has signed a lucrative but potentially dangerous oil deal with war-torn Iraq. The state-owned oil company, Sonangol, signed the deals which will see it take over oil fields in Qayara and Najmah, in the restive Nineveh province, described as one of the most dangerous regions in Iraq. - The Angolan state run oil company will receive between $5 and $6 a barrel, one of the highest fees awarded in Iraq's oil deals, the BBC reported. The two fields combined are said to contain an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil. Reports also say that Sonagol is one of several oil companies which were awarded deals as part of Iraq's second bidding round for oil contracts, held earlier last…

Christian youth took to the streets in Dakar expressing anger over ''insulting'' comment Senegale's president, Abdoulie Wade made about Jesus Christ. The predominantly youth mob were angered by the president's comment, earlier on Tuesday, making unpalatable comparisons between his highly controversial monument of the Renaissance and the cross. - The octogenarian Senegalese leader who appears to enjoy floating in a sea of controversies of late was defending the construction of the multi-million dollar monument that has come under constant attack by Muslim clerics in the country who do not appear to be relenting. The remarks He told a gathering at a nationa…

Liberia has passed an executive order that would protect and compensate anyone that comes forward with information on corrupt practices in the West African country. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has given the law that touches on both the government and private sectors her presidential assent. - President Sirleaf said the main aim of the law is to protect whistle blowers as well as stem the negative practice in the country. It also gives protection to persons employed in both public and private institutions who disclose information about actions that are against the public interest in all sectors. A bill regarding the decision is set to go to the Liberian legislature, which is on recess…

Senegalese president, Abdoulaye Wade, has made a proposal that could turn the phenomenon of global warming into a 'treasure' rather than the curse it has always been associated with. He is suggesting the building of a solar power plant that would cater for the energy needs of the entire African continent. - President Wade who was speaking in the ongoing climate talks in the Denish capital of Copenhagen, Wednesday told the plenary session of the UN climate talks that such a massive project could be housed in the Sahara Desert, and that it could provide free energy to the whole continent and beyond. "We, African politicians, we want to create a solar power plant in the Sahar…

The Gambia government has deported a number of foreign nationals for non-payment of 'Alien permits'. The deported nationals who include Senegalese, Guineans, Ghanaians, Nigerians and other nationals, were reportedly 'dumped' in the Senegalese border village of Karang, where local authorities have been expressing consternation over the rational behind the move. - The mayor of Karang, Ousmane Sene, described the move by the Gambian authorities over the week end as a ‘provocation,’ while condemning the silence from his government side in Dakar. ‘‘It surprised us that the Senegalese police let people in like that. I have been here since 1990, but it…

Gambians are trying to come to terms with recent revelations surrounding the future of their capital, Banjul. The country's Environment minister told a UN conference that the entire city of Banjul would be completely inundated and rendered totally inhabitable with only a 1 metre rise in sea level due to the impacts of climate change. - Jatto Sillah said that climate change and variability would have significant social impacts on the livelihoods of most Gambians, and that includes their dependence on tourism, fisheries and agriculture. He was speaking at the launch of the Human Development Report Youth Version on climate change (2008). "Being a low-lying country, it has been proj…

Africa has the lowest internet penetration rate in the world, spending over USD500 million a year on internet local traffic transit, stated the Regional African Satellite Communications Organization (RASCOM). - Speaking at the 11th Ordinary Meeting of RASCOM, the Director General Dr Jones A Killimbe, stated that the meeting was taking place at one of the most crucial moments in the history of RASCOM because after the official launch of its first Pan-African satellite in 2007, it had transformed itself from a concept into a reality. “People are today living in a global information society where communication and knowledge are vital tools for the creation of wealth and prosperity. …

A second site for the Regional African Satellite Communication (RASCOM) is under construction in Gambia. The foundation stone for the site was laid Monday, at a ceremony presided over by Gambia's Vice President, Aja Dr Isatou Njie Saidy, who said: "The Gambia is proud to be associated with the lofty and commendable goals of RASCOM." - A Pan-African Organization established in 1993, RASCOM has the objective of creating a Pan-African connectivity network across the continent, and it has over the year’s plaid a leading role in enhancing the continent’s telecommunication infrastructure landscape. Prior to its formation, African countries pay millions of dollars a y…

Major stock exchanges in West Africa, all of them members of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA), have taken a major move geared towards fully integrating all the stock exchanges in the sub region. The Stock Exchanges of Nigeria and Ghana, alongside Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), signed a MOU to go ahead with the deal. - Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), who is also the new president of ASEA, said the move signifies the commitment of the sub-region to integrate their markets and trading systems, the Punch Newspaper in Nigeria reported. Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke who signed on behalf of Nigeria said the NSE had…

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth has reassured human rights groups that Gambia is under investigation for death threats made by its leader, Yahya Jammeh. Kamalesh Sharma made this revelation at a news conference, on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. - Yahya Jammeh has been under pressure to withdraw a statement he made last September, threatening to kill people who identifies with human rights defenders ‘‘to destabilize my country.’’ Kamalesh Sharma told journalists at the International Financial Centre in Port-of-Spain that respect for human rights is a core value of the Commonwealth. “I would like …

South Korea has become the latest to join the so-called scramble for Africa, hoping to forge closer cooperation and boosting economic ties with Africa. As part of its second ministerial South Korea-Africa Forum, the Asian nation pledged to double its development assistance to Africa to US$214m by 2012. - The pact also include allowing a greater number of Africans -- as many as 5,000 – to undergo industrial training in South Korea, which also announced an increase in the number of its aid workers on the continent to 1,000 by 2012. "We agree to strengthen our partnership in order to support Africa in eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development as well as to promote …

The Gambia faces the prospect of expulsion from the Commonwealth for death threats made by its leader, Yahya Jammeh on national television in that country. The Commonwealth Secretariat has reportedly made recommendations for discussion with the Government of the Gambia surrounding the development. - Gambia’s president, Yahya Jammeh, has since come under series of condemnations for a statement he made last September, threatening to kill anyone who sought to destabilize his country in the name of human rights. The Caribbean Centre for Human Rights based in Trinidad, and the India-based Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative have been championing calls to have any invitation for Jammeh …

Cape Verde is under the threat of the biggest ever outbreak of Dengue Fever on the continent. The Health Ministry reported over 13,000 suspected cases between October and November 2009. According to Medecins Sans Frontieres it is the first in the West African county and quite devastating. - Dr Iza Ciglenecki, MSF Emergency Coordinator in Cape Verde said: “With globalization, dengue fever is appearing in places where it has previously been unknown, it is the most rapidly spreading mosquito born disease in the world.” Dengue is a viral disease, transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. Its symptoms are similar to flu or malaria, characterized by high fever, headache and muscle pain. Mo…

Upcoming World Super Power China has pledged $10bn in new low loans to Africa over the next three years. This was revealed by the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who was addressing a gathering of business men and officials on Sunday, at a summit in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. - This is part of a two-day forum on China-Africa cooperation, and it was attended by officials from 50 nations. "The Chinese people cherish sincere friendship toward the African people, and China's support to Africa's development is concrete and real," Wen said at the forum. He noted that China wants to help Africa build its financing capacity and that it would provide the contin…

The former Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, has confessed to sending armed men to fight during the civil war in Sierra Leone. The UN Special Court reported: "In a surprising move, Charles Taylor reinforced the truthfulness of his former vice president's testimony against him earlier in the trial." - The UN-backed court for Sierra Leone in The Hague quoted him to have said: “To a great extent, Moses Blah (Taylor’s former Vice President) told the court the truth.” Taylor’s statement was in response to evidence earlier provided by prosecution witnesses, attempting to dispute their claims that he provided support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)…

About 50 prisoners who tried to escape from the Monrovia Central Prison have been re-arrested. According to the United Nations, police officers serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Liberia (UNMIL) helped foiled the attempted mass jail break in the capital, Monrovia over the weekend. - The incident occurred over the weekend when an inmate stole a set of keys from a prison warder. The police officer whose keys were confiscated by the prisoners was lucked inside a cell, according to the UN Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, before the dozens of detainees moved into the prison yard from where they tried to scale over the perimeter fence of the facility. However, the would-be escapees were inter…

Armed men gunned down Liberia's head of Public Procurement and Concession Commission, Chief Keith Jubah. He was killed last Sunday while visiting his rubber farm, 35 miles north of the capital Monrovia. Investigations are ongoing and the police is yet to pronounce on the motive behind the incident. - According to the Daily Observer newspaper in Liberia, Jubah’s outfit is one of the sensitive institutions set up at the end of Liberia's civil war in 2003 to fight corruption. It reviews business deals and scrutinizes government expenditures. The BBC quoted a relative who said the body was set on fire but failed to totally consume because of rains.

The International Criminal Court came under fierce criticism from the African Union for focusing too much on African leaders. The AU Commission chairperson, Jean Ping, queried: "Why Africa only? Why were these laws not applied on Israel, Sri Lanka and Chechnya and its application is confined to Africa?" - Addressing a press conference at the fringes of the Pan African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, Ping suggested that an unnamed former US president be prosecuted for invading Iraq in 2003, adding that war was waged on the basis of “false claims” and that it was a “violation of international law”. The ICC has indicted the Sudanese President Omer Al Ba…

African Champions, Gambia, might be among the first teams to return home after a rather disappointing performance at the ongoing Under 17 World championships in Nigeria. They lost 2-1 to Netherlands at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar. The reigning Africa champions clashed with the Dutch Wednesday. - The match which commenced at 1530 GMT, saw the Dutch team took the lead at the 19th minute, when Luc Castaignos took advantage of a low pass across, taking goalkeeper Ousman Darbone totally unawares. But the Baby Scorpions would manage an equaliser about six minutes later, through its widely respected captain, Ebrima Bojang. Ebrima’s goal however came as a result of a penalty awarded to…

Senegalese president, Abdoulie Wade, has come under intense pressure for what the opposition in Senegal is characterizing as corruption. He is being condemned for extending a huge sum of money to a departing IMF official. Local media reported that the Senegalese government had bribed the IMF official with the money, about $200,000. - But the government then denied giving anything to the official. The incident occurred last September 25, when the then country representative of the International Monetary Fund, Alex Segura, who was set to leave Senegal at the end of his three year tour of duty, was given what the Wade government now insist was just a parting gift, in keeping along with trad…

The Gambia's Under 17 team, Baby Scorpions, suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of their Iranian counterparts, during one of the opening matches of their Group C game, at the ongoing U-17 championship in Nigeria. The match which was played in the city of Calabar saw the continental champions went down 2-0. - The young scorpions, along side Burkina Faso, another losing side in the Group D match on the same day, together with the host team Nigeria, who are also the defending champions, have been identified by many football pundits as the continent’s best hope for the tournament. But so far both Gambia and Burkina Faso have defied hopes of meeting the continent’s expectatio…

The remains of six Ghanaians murdered in Gambia, alongside a number of other West African nationals, some four years back, have been exhumed and returned home. The remains of the murdered Ghanaians were accompanied by a Gambian delegation headed by its Health Minister, DR Mariatou Jallow. - Earlier reports put the number of people murdered alongside 8 Ghanaians to about 150, although this has been strongly refuted by the Gambian authorities. The victims were said to include Nigerians and Senegalese. The Gambia government has strongly denies responsibility of the murders. The incident which occurred near a coastal settlement called Brufut, predominated by native Ghanaians, had restrained r…

The winner of the 2009 Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership will be announced on Monday, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, who is the Chair of the Prize Committee of the Foundation, is set to make the announcement of the winner to the world's media, in London. - This prize awarded by a Foundation established by a Sudanese-born businessman, Mo Ibrahim, is described as the largest individual annual award in the world. The prize on offer for a lucky winner is said to be ‘‘worth US$5,000,000 over ten years and US$200 000 a year for life. A further US$200 000 a year, for ten years, is also available for public interest activi…

The top echelon of the Gambian Armed Forces has been axed by President Yahya Jammeh. The Chief of Defense Staff, General Lang Tombong Tamba, was sacked on Friday while on official assignment outside the country. His deputy Brigadier General Massaneh Kinteh, who is schooling in the UK, replaced him. - The then third in command in the army, Lt. Col. Yankuba Drammeh, is now the deputy CDS. The state-run broadcaster, the Gambia Radio and Television Services aired a release said to have come from the office of the president, stating that the Gambian leader was acting on powers vested on him by section 190 sub-sections 1 and 3 of the country’s 1997 Constitution. It empowers the Head of State…