Yusupha, Yaya is not worth protecting

The former Deputy Ambassador of The Gambia to the United Kingdom, Yusupha Bojang six others of his former colleagues are presently in remand waiting to be sentenced tomorrow, Wednesday.

What struck everyone, even to the ordinary non-legal person is the huge quantity of loose tobacco product that Yusupha and the others were able to order uninterrupted and interfered with for three years. 

Deputy head of the Gambian Diplomatic Mission in Kensington, Yusupha Bojang, and his colleagues ordered 29 tonnes of rolling tobacco over three years.  They imported more than half a million 50g pouches at tax-free rates for personal or High Commission use and they are not smokers.

Speculation was rife throughout the trial, including this blog, that Yusupha Bojang is taking the bullet for his boss, Yaya Jammeh, and he is taking the rest of his co-defendants to the gallows. 

The after effect of the guilty verdict is beginning to reverberate.   According to sources in London, co-defendants and their relatives "are blaming Yusupha Bojang for their sloppy defence and there is talk of him lifting the lid so he can claim asylum after release."

We hope Yusupha Bojang will garner enough moral courage to step forward, however late in the day, to step forward and speak the truth.  Yaya Jammeh is not worth protecting. 

Scam artists who call themselves diplomats

The futy-free scam that saw seven of the eight members of staff of The Gambian Embassy in the United Kingdom being found guilty in an East London court is one more example of how a once proud diplomatic service has been brought to it knees.  

The scam that netted them 5 million pounds sterling at the expense of the British taxpayers span a period of three years and 32 tonnes of rolling tobacco were ordered tax free.  It was revealed in court that there no evidence that any one them was a smoker.  The extent of the scam has caused the British press to refer to them as " a gang of Gambian diplomats."  All seven are in remand and will appear in court on Wednesday for sentencing. 

The dictatorship under Yaya a Jammeh has transformed the service from one that served the interests and people of The Gambia to a service tailored to serve the interest of the Jammeh clan abroad. 

In countries like the UK where Jammeh only set foot once in 1995, the Embassy is staffed by purely family members who are there to carry out unsavory commercial deals that is not commensurate with their diplomatic status.  And the UK Embassy is not the only one.  There are other diplomatic outposts, like those in France and India where diplomatic staff is engaged almost exclusively in pursuing the commercial and private interests of the Gambian dictator.

In the case of the United States, the Gambian Embassy is pretty much occupied in monitoring the activities of Gambian dissidents and to receive and see off Zeinab Souma Jammeh, Gambia's First Lady who visits the US, at least, once a month to shop.  The Embassy staff's role is limited to providing protocol service to and from Dulles International airport only.  They are not permitted to escort her to and from her $3.5m Potomac home nor to accompany her shopping.   Her drivers and aids are all of Moroccan nationality.

BREAKING : Gambia Deputy Ambassador and seven others found guilty

A jury in a London Southwark Crown Court has returned a verdict of guilty on one count for all of the eight accused in the 5 million duty-free loose tobacco scam.

Gambia's Deputy Ambassador to United Kingdom, Yusupha Bojang (aged 54) and 7 others found guilty as charged in the duty-free scam.

During the trial, Mr. Bojang surprised the court by he was "happy to make profit wherever it came from" suggesting lack of remorse in engaging in criminal acts that netted him and his co-defendants an estimated £ 5 million at the expense of the British taxpayers. 

The eight found guilty are Deputy Ambassador. Yusupha Bojang, First Secretary, Gaston Sambou, 48, Finance Attaché Ebrima John,38, Welfare Officer Georgina Gomez,29,  Receptionist Ms. Audrey Leeward, Secretary Noah, 60, driver Mr. Ramarajaha and Tourism Authority official Ms. Ida Njie, 42.

Correction:  Ida Njie was not found guilty.  She was thus acquitted and discharged.  Error is regretted.

This is a developing story.  Stay tuned......

An Appeal for information on PetroGambia

We are soliciting information from our readers on PetroGambia.  It is an entity that is being described in petroleum industry as " a state company of the Government of The Gambia. 

PetroGambia and Venezuela's state oil firm PDVSA agreed to continue offshore exploration and production (E&P) activities  for oil and gas in The Gambia, a PDVSA official was quoted by BNamericas. 

According to a statement by PDVSA the two companies started offshore E&P in The Gambia  in July 2006 without specifying where in The Gambia the E&P was taking place. 

That was then and this is now.  African Petroleum's exploration contracts for Blocks A1 and A4 have suddenly been reinstated after Jammeh nullified them in January accusing the company of speculation.  AP filed for  arbitration in Washington DC which has apparently been withdrawn. 

The Gambia's petroleum sector is shredded in secrecy and it is being treated as the personal property of the Gambian dictator.  Any deposit of petroleum or any other resource within the borders of The Gabmbia belongs to the people of The Gambia.  It in this vein that we are appealing to Gambians and non-Gambians alike to help us shed light on this very murky world of Yays Jammeh.  

We are on Facebook and other social media platforms in case you have some information to share with us as we try to piece together this story.

My thoughts on the White House press release

It is safe to say that the expression of "deep concern" about reports of continued human rights abuses by the Jammeh regime opens up a new chapter in the struggle against a vicious, corrupt and highly inept government - a government that continues to flout international law at every turn. 

The reference to the aborted UN Rapporteurs Mission to Banjul, and the fact that one of the members of the two-person mission was at the press conference to give an account of their frustrations encountered at the hands of Isatou Njie-Saidy and her cabinet Ministers are signals that both the U.S. Government and the UN attach great importance to the work of the Rapporteurs.  It just so happened that a group led by Amadou Janneh has been following up, and actually collaborating with the UN team, to facilitate the work of the Mission - a work that is expected to continue well beyond February 2015 when their Final Report is expected to be released. 

Forced disappearances and arbitrary arrests of journalists, human rights advocates and civil servants continue to be of concern to the United States.  The White House press release appears to be referencing Gambia's Foreign Minister's ill-advised, undiplomatic and immature statement targeting the LGBT community in The Gambia when it cites "the continued call by senior officials for the persecution of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community."

The failure of the Jammeh regime to investigate the disappearances of two Gambian-Americans could prove fatal for a regime that has no regard for international law nor places high premium on human life and human rights.  

The US has always pursued rogue governments to the ultimate end to rescue or account for its citizens, and there is no reason to deter this administration or the next, regardless Democratic or Republican, from finding out whatever happened to Ebou Jobe and Alhagie Mamout Ceesay.

Jammeh is finally being reminded that if Gambia wants to be a respected member of the international community, he must, at least, share in the fundamental and universal values of the rights of humans that guide US foreign policy.  Harmful practices must be stopped and so must obnoxious legislations that target specific groups that the regime dislikes. 

This may signal a new chapter for The Struggle and a mark of significant progress but it should also serve as a springboard to getting rid of a very bad government in Banjul.  To achieve this, all must come together in a team format to build on the momentum.  Anything less may set us back.

Excellent job Fatu Camara, Banka Manneh, Amadou Jammeh, Coach Pa Samba Jow and all those nameless folks who have contributed, in their own little way, to making it all happen.

I have posted the Release on my blog. 

Thank you. 

Sidi Sanneh

White House expresses deep concern about human rights abuses in The Gambia

Following some very important meetings today between Diaspora Groups in the United States and the U.S. government facilitated by and coordinated through the Robert Kennedy (RFK) Center, the White House issued the press release through President Obama's National Security Council.

The Disspora Group was led by Fatu Camara that comprised Banka Manneh and Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh.  Coach Pa Samba Jow was at the RFK Center press conference and attended some closed door meetings with US officials.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 

December 04, 2014 

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan on Human Rights in The Gambia

The United States is deeply concerned by continued reports of human rights abuses in The Gambia.  Since October, the Government of The Gambia has denied access to UN Special Rapporteurs investigating reports of torture and extrajudicial execution, targeted individuals for arrest and detention because of their perceived sexual orientation or political position, and enacted legislation that imposes a possible sentence of life imprisonment for the so-called crime of “aggravated homosexuality.” 

We remain concerned about ongoing reports of forced disappearances and arbitrary arrests, including of journalists, human rights advocates, and civil servants, as well as continued calls by senior officials for the persecution of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.  We remain deeply disappointed in the Gambian government’s failure to investigate the disappearance of two U.S. citizens missing since June 2013. 

Protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, and we will be guided by these values as we respond to these negative developments in The Gambia.  Such actions are inconsistent with international standards and deal a setback to the Gambian people and all people who value human rights. The United States calls on the Government of The Gambia to respect all human rights, repeal discriminatory legislation, and cease these harmful practices.

                                          # #  # # #

NOTICE : Regarding publication of the blog

We wish to inform our esteemed readers that due to circumstances beyond our control, we cannot bring you the sidisanneh blog as regularly as you've grown accustomed to.  We hope you will bare with us.

Because we value your patronage, we will do our best to be back online as soon as we can while the latest news and analysis about The Gambia.  For instance,  a lot of international and local interests have been generated as a result of our reporting on the recent decision by Gambia's Yaya Jammeh to reactive the exploration contract after terminate it last January.

At the time, the press release from the Office of the President accused African Petroleum and Buried Hill Gambia B.V as partners and Onshore Lower River Oranto of speculation.  Well, things appear to have changed.  We well be delving into the matter, hopefully, soon.

The blockbuster D 2 billion Supplementary Appropriations Bill passed into law couple of weeks before the regular budget for 2015 is tabled before the National Assembly.  Infact the Finance Minister introduced it this week.   So we will be looking into it in detail and we will be following the deliberations and the budget debate keenly because it is resonating with the public.

In closing, we'd like to express again our sincere apologies to all of you for not being able to bring you the blog in its usual format.  We promise to do so soon.

Thank you for your understanding.  Just a reminder that you can follow my periodic postings on my Facebook page.