University of Limoges Signs Masters Degree MOU With The University of The Gambia.

According to a release obtained by The Gambia Echo, two academics, France’s University of Limoges president, Professor Jacques Fontanille and the Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, Professor Andreas Steigen jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding officially agreeing to work together towards the establishment of a joint-Master of Arts degree beginning September 2009. The signing ceremony was on Wednesday, 25^th June 2008 in Professor Fontanille’s faculty offices in Limoges, France.

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The Verdict

Neneh Macdouall-Gaye: What goes around comes around

By Adama Hawa

The recent appointment of Neneh Macdouall-Gaye as Managing Director of the pro-government Daily Observer, barely three months after her sacking as Secretary of State for Communication, and Information Technology, is quite reminiscent of what happened during the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the early 1960s when senior members of the Chinese Communist Party and the government used to be deployed to the country-side to do manual labour in state run collective farms.

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The “46664” Concert Launched Nelson Mandela’s 90^th Birthday

BY TIJAN NIMAGA, Bronx, New York

The Gregorian calendar date of June 25th 2008 was the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela, the former South African leader. From the harrowing walls of Robben Island jail to the busy street of Johannesburg, millions of people from various parts of the world watched and listened to this remarkable, historic and sombre moment via radio and television. In Hyde Park in central London, the world came out together and celebrated the birthday of one of the greatest politicians and the most humble of humanitarian figures of the 21st the century.

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Mesquite Letter Writer Calls Ex-Banjul Major’s Trial “Malicious & Deceptive”

Dear Editor:

On his recently concluded, “Dialogue with the People Tour”, President Yahya Jammeh told people in Banjul that he was happy they elected a Mayor from his APRC party adding that the previous Mayor they elected on an Independent ticket did not do anything except selling of a public toilet. May be we should start by reminding the public this issue was long resolved by the Courts.

Ex-Banjul Mayor Pa Sallah Jeng

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MOJA-G: The Slow, Painful Death of A Once Potent Clandestine Movement In The Gambia

--An Insider’s Memoirs

By **Abdoukarim Sanneh, UK

Many Gambians who have been following the post 1994 military takeover of Government continue to lament that it’s MOJA-G (Movement of Justice in Africa- The Gambia) that contributed to strengthening the hand of the devil. MOJA-G was once the most radical underground movement, very critical of PPP in the 1980s and its painful Structural Adjustment Programme. Even with the fact in some quarters that Gambia's Structural Adjustment was embraced as a success, many have witnessed the gradual removal of agricultural subsidies in poor farming communities, masse redundancy in the public service, sectoral reforms of the Public Works Department,

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Tribute to my brother: MBYE BABOUCARR MBOGE (February 8th, 1971- May 15^th 2008)

By Momodou Olly Mboge, Oslo, Norway

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Speech to the Third Congress of Kombo Sillah Association, City of Bristol, UK                        

Topic: Education, Development, and Public Life in The Gambia.  

**Lamin J Darbo, UK  

Mr President, the Executive Committee, the general membership of Kombo Sillah Association–United Kingdom (“KSA-UK”), distinguished guests. Even as I confess some bewilderment at the factors underlying my invitation to Congress 2008 as chief guest of honour, I am nevertheless thrilled to be in Bristol with Dabananians and their friends from far and near. Many a compatriot not physically able to attend this gathering may nevertheless be present with us in spirit. In any case, I convey my profound thanks to KSA-UK. I also wish to welcome, and thank the international attendees in the persons of Mr Alhaji Ebrahim Mbowe, a retired Gambian educationist, Mr Buba Barrow from Germany, and our man in Helsinki, Mr Bob Touray.

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Breaking News: Gambian Ambassador Tamsir Jallow Returns this Weekend; first lady Zainab Jammeh & Baby in Washington

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

No sooner had he been redeployed as Gambian ambassador to Washington, DC than Tamsir Jallow was recalled, (in fact barely  a week after he delivered his letters of credence) and today, we report with unassailable evidence that the educator turned diplomat returns to Gambia this coming weekend.

Jallow presenting his letter to Ambassador Brinker, US Dept. of State

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MFWA urges ECOWAS Leaders: "Pressure Jammeh to Respect Court Order"

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is asking Heads of state for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), meeting for the 34^th Ordinary Summit in Abuja, particularly its current chairman, President Blaise Compare to ensure that the government of President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia releases detained Gambian journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, unconditionally.

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Gambia UPDATE: Halake case dismissed, he remains in detention

A Banjul Magistrate court presided over by Buba Jawo on June 23, 2008 dismissed the case of sedition preferred against Dida Halake, detained former Managing Director of the pro-government Daily Observer newspaper. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that it followed a request by Halake’s counsel Lamin Jobarteh.

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The Gambia-ECOWAS-Summit

Gambian leader attends ECOWAS summit in Nigeria

APA-Banjul (The Gambia) The Gambian president Yahya Jammeh left Banjul on Sunday morning to attend the 34th ECOWAS summit, which takes place on Monday in Abuja, the Nigerian federal capital.

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Jammeh: What to do with his Rogue Regime?

By Mathew K Jallow, Associate Editor

Zimbabweans are experiencing the worst crisis of their post-independence history, and the volatility of the political situation there is threatening to tear that country apart. President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for almost three decades, has refused to step down after losing the presidential election held two months ago. But, Mr. Mugabe is going against the grain, because unlike the past few decades, much of Africa’s political leadership is no longer in the mood of tolerating or rewarding failure and the kind of bad behavior being exhibited by him.

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Gambian Sports Minister Mass Axi Gai Calls Threat Allegations to Journalist Ebou Manneh, “Ridiculous” & “Malicious” Reporter Ebou Manneh & Pap Saine Weight in This Echo Exclusive

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

It all began with a simple phone call in the early hours of Thursday morning, June 19, 2008 when our lead Banjul reporter Kissy Kissy Mansa asked that we call back instantly. When we returned the call Kissy had just finished compiling notes on very serious allegations that among other things, Gambia’s recently appointed Sports Minister, Mass Axi Gai had allegedly threatened to take the life of a sports journalist with the independent daily, The Point Newspaper.

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The African Dilemma: Hunger & Poverty Reduction Through Economic ‘Growth’; The Paradox of The Market System.

 By Alasana Njie, London, UK.

"Twenty percent of Africa's children will die before the age of five." Every year, six million children in Africa die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday’.

‘More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day and of these, 300 million are children. Of these 300 million children, only eight percent are victims of famine or other emergency situations. More than 90 percent are suffering long-term malnourishment and micronutrient deficiency’. The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which attempts to guide, not determine, the economic development agenda of developing countries for the medium term, and which should serve as the foundation for long term development, encompassed the following:

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             Dida Halake Finally Fired

According to the Daily Observer Newspaper, it's errant Managing Director Dida Abdi Jallow Halake who was earlier this week demoted to the rank of Chief Editor has been "finally removed." Halake who was picked up by state security agents Saturday and whisked to the Kuto police station remains in detention there under circumstances described by our correspondent as rough.

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Karim Exposes Disgraced Observer Chief Dida Halake

By Abdoukarim Sanneh, UK

Dida Halake has been keenly following the Gambian debate on the Internet. Just like the way he used the good and humane nature of James Alkali Gaye and Gambia's most proud legal professional Hassan Jallow, both former Cabinet Ministers in the deposed PPP government, this empty barrel uses Jammeh's regime for speaking or writing against progressive Gambians in Diaspora. Dida Halake thinks he was doing a good job. Failing to realize that most of us make the best of our stay here in United Kingdom to

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Media Foundation for West Africa Says Dida Halake Still In Detention  

The Gambia Alert: Managing Director Arrested and Detained

Contrary to reports that Dida Halake, now former managing director of the Banjul-based pro-government Daily Observer newspaper had been released; The Gambia Police Force is still detaining him. Although there has not been any official explanation from either the police or the Daily Observer management for his arrest and subsequent detention, he has been linked with several allegations including financial misappropriation and sexual harassments of female staff of the newspaper. 

Dida Halake in hot soup in The Gambia 

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Breaking News: As Dida Halake Wept Before Kotu Police, Foroyaa Reporter Saikou Ceesay detained

       By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

According to highly placed police sources, Dida Halake, the sacked Managing Director of the Gambian Daily Observer Newspaper & Company has began to express remorse over his numerous tirades against the Gambian press corps following what our sources described as a grueling interrogation by police at Kotu station over the weekend. According to our sources, Halake wept profusely as he was grilled on his dubious nationality, his religion and his mission in The Gambia.

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Breaking News: Nenneh Macdouall Gaye Takes Over Daily Observer, Halake Demoted, & Faces Million Dalasis Probe

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

Today we confirm with overwhelming evidence that The Daily Observer’s errant Managing Director Dida Halake was indeed arrested over allegations of serious financial impropriety to the tune of over a million Gambian Dalais. Says our most competent source, Halake was with the Police Serious Crimes Unit and was released on parole this morning.

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Dear Editor and staff of The Gambia Echo,

I am delighted to once again observe with you another anniversary.

Your work is hard, your load heavy.

Your disposition is benevolent

Your resources limited.

With unending zeal and honour

You trod on. The road less travelled

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News Just In: Dida Halake, Managing Editor of Gambian Daily Observer Newspaper Arrested

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In Chief

 According to our highly competent sources within the corridors of state power, Deda Halake, Daily Observer's Managing Director-cum-Editor- In-Chief was reportedly arrested Saturday June 14, 2008 and is currently detained at the Kotu Police Station. His arrest is in connection with alleged financial impropriety at the pro-government Daily Observer’s ill-fated Bakau offices. If the allegations are true, Halake will add up the statistics of the paper’s erstwhile managers who were found to be kleptocratic.

Dida Haleka, Observer Editor allegedly arrested Saturday

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A Happy Secondary Anniversary to

The Gambia Echo

Dear Editor:

I wish to join your numerous readers and well-wishers in wishing The Echo and its dedicated editorial staff a happy second anniversary and more grease to your elbows. Indeed, the existence of The Echo and the other online newspapers has made quite a significant contribution to the Gambian media landscape. With the media climate in The Gambia not being quite conducive for the dissemination of divergent views, The Gambia Echo and the other online publications

Veteran Gambian journalist Demba Ali Jawo narrowly escaped assassination by Gambia's current Interior Minister Ousman Sonko.

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The Echo Turns 2 Years Today

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Founder & Editor-In-Chief

Certainly, “the only thing that does not change is change itself” as long noted by linguists, precisely because change is change. Given the rapidity with which things happen these days, it is sometimes very difficult to realize that time and tide wait for no man and as we observe, not celebrate two years of cyber journalism, we are all too conscious of this time element vis-à-vis the transient developments in The Gambia.

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Jammeh’s Legacy: Greed, Cruelty & Tribalism

By Mathew K. Jallow, Associate Editor

In his effort to be an apologist for Yahya Jammeh’s criminal tribal activities, and judging from the reading public’s reaction, Mr. P.K Jarju’s opinions have not sat well with a majority of Gambians who are watching Jammeh’s unfolding tribal drama play out from the distance. In his piece carried in the allgambian website defending Jammeh’s tribal politics, there were also insinuations alleging a sense of tribal superiority in reference to my piece.

y

Yahya Jammeh a President or a rascal?

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Reporters Without Borders

Press release

9 June 2008

GAMBIA

Regional court orders Gambia to release journalist missing since arrest in July 2006

Reporters Without Borders welcomes a regional court ruling ordering Gambia to release Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter who was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency on 7 July 2006 and has been missing ever since. The ruling, issued on 5 June by the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), is the first of its kind concerning a journalist.

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S. M. Dibba: Tribute to A Departed Icon

By Mathew K. Jallow, Associate Editor

He came of age at a time when The Gambia, like a blind person, was feeling its way through the cruel and harsh labyrinth of international politics. It was a time when neither he nor the person who led the country to independence, the venerable Sir Dawda Jawara, knew what course to chart for a newly independent nation.

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A Tribute to Sheriff Mustapha Dibba Pioneer of Gambian Politics

BY TIJAN NIMAGA, Bronx New York

It is with profound shock and sadness that I pay tribute to Honourable Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, who departed this world last week. Hon. Dibba was doubtless to say, one of The Gambia’s colonial and postcolonial politicians who did so much to proof to the colonial masters that we were capable enough to rule ourselves. The 71-year-old veteran politician allegedly died of heart attack and was laid to rest at Kanifing’s old the Jeshwang Cemetery.

The late Hon. S. M. Dibba with Gambian tyrant Yahya Jammeh

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Norway accuses Gambian couple of circumcising daughters: report

OSLO (AFP) - Norwegian police accused a Gambian couple on Friday of subjecting five daughters to genital mutilation in the country's first-ever case against the illegal act of female circumcision. "The father and mother are accused under laws against genital mutilation because they are suspected of contributing to the circumcision of five of their six daughters," Hanne Kristin Rohde, a police official told NRK radio.

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The Gambia Newsflash: Court orders The Gambia to immediately release journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh

In a landmark decision delivered on June 5, 2008, The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria declared the arrest and detention of Chief Ebrima Manneh illegal and ordered the Gambian authorities to immediately release him. The court also awarded damages in the sum of US$ 100,000 in favour of Manneh against the Gambian Government.

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AMMREN Names President Jawara Its National Patron

    BY TIJAN NIMAGA, Bronx New York 

The African Media Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) has chosen The Gambia’s former president, Alhagie Sir Dawda K. Jawara as its national patron. This is an honour for the former President as the organization begins part of its activities to mark World Malaria Day 2008, and its decision to name Sir Dawda is perhaps one of the wisest the organisation has ever made, since he is one of the few remaining African political leaders to pioneer a campaign against Malaria during his time in office.

Sir D.K. Jawara, first President of the Rep. of The Gambia

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Full text: Obama victory speech

Here is the full text of Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama's speech in St Paul, Minnesota. Tonight Minnesota, after 54 hard-fought contests, our primary season has finally come to an end. Sixteen months have passed since we first stood together on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.

AP, Photo

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