It’s a foreign policy slam dunk that the Gambia did not attend the illegal and unfortunate opening of the American embassy in Jerusalem yesterday.
But again, is sad how the Gambia government is still beholden to some warped ideas on foreign policy not publicly condemn the mass killing of Palestinian peoples by Israeli state sponsored terrorism.
Is it diplomatic niceties or political hypocrisy in our foreign policy in the Gulf states and in the Middle East? The Gambia Govt issued a press statement condemns missile attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthi Militias and silenced on Yemen, Syria and Palestinians. Contradiction: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia strongly condemns missile attacks on Saudi Arabia by Houthi Militias which took place on 25th March 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has gathered that Iranian-made missiles were used in a bid to terrorize civilians and damage the Kingdom’s infrastructure in Riyadh and other cities in Saudi Arabia. During this difficult time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia renews its full support and solidarity in standing with Saudi Arabia in its ongoing war against terrorism. The Ministry continues to stand by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for any measure it takes in defending its territory, maintaining its security and stability and the protection of its people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to extend its heartfelt and sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the Government and Peoples of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Why is the Gambia government always standing with the oppressor Israel and Saudi Arabia? The government of President Adama Barrow has not only embarrassed the Gambian people, but lack serious cohesive foreign policy blue print for the country as an independent and responsible member of the global community.
The government has repeatedly failed to show solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine with regards to the barbaric attacks on Palestine by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
With respect, Yorro Jallow, the saying goes that “beggars are not choosers”; and the other saying is that “when bulls fight it is the grass that suffers”. Of course, as a UK citizen I totally agree with both your premises that Saudi Arabia and Israel should be condemned – and the UK Govt still IGNORES me and some 60% of the UK population … because Saudi Arabia and Israel keep the UK economy afloat by buying our weapons. Ditto USA.
But as Africans we come back to the wisdom of the ages: “beggars are not choosers”; and “when bulls fight it is the grass that suffers”.
Saudi Arabia provides development funding to The Gambia, as does the USA (the father of Israel). It is foolhardy for us Africans to get involved in these “generational conflicts” between elephants when we are mere ants. Pjalo has nominated me for one of The Gambia’s diplomatic vacancies – and should I get the post my advise to the Govt would be:-
“We keep our views to ourselves most of the times, but on ocassions when Saudi Arabia or USA demand ‘WITH US OR WITH THEM!’ we say, sure we are with you boss”.
Same with China, our new friend. We keep quiet about Taiwan but if China demands we support Chinese takeover publicly, so be it – it used to be their country anyway!
Oouch Dida that hurts, but that’s about the size of it. Beggars have no choice but to look down and say “ yes sir”. If we are to make our own decision, what is best for our national security, then we must stop our reliance on aide. How do we do that:
1. Grow our own food.
2. Educate our citizens.
3. Strengthen our economy.
4. Protect our environment.
5. Build strong institutions.
6. Create a free and fair society.
Then and only then can we decide our own fate on the world stage. I think we have a generation of Gambians with the ability to accomplish our national security goals given the opportunity.
I am sure some smart guy will ask, how can we do this and where will the cash come from. It’s all there hidden in plain sight.
God Bless The Gambia
Dr, coming from you that “ouch” sounds like Millie Jackson in the classic sould track “It hurts so good”!
Dr.
What are you doing abroad when you have all these wonderful ideas that can hasten our arrival to the promised land. Come home the Madi Jobartehs, the Alagi Yorros, the Babu Solis to help rebuilt the society we can all live happily in and be proud of. In every corner of the developed world lives a Gambian intellectual who is prominent in the society he/she resides in. Your great ideas, discussions, debates in this forum are followed by maybe around 1% of our population. Your good intentions of enlightening, promoting good governance and enhancing the social and economical development of our people can’t be attained unless you are prepared to find ways to reach our majority laymen compatriots. Show our farmers how to self sustained from the land. Educate our kids and give them hope for a better tomorrow of strong economy, clean environment, strong institutions and a free and fair society.
BABU you kill me: “Your great ideas, discussions, debates in this forum are followed by maybe around 1% of our population” (LoL!)
Babu Solo you know better. I am a wife and a mother living under the roof of a Gambian man. I am obedient to my Lordship, I am not at liberty to get up and go as I please. You know how you Gambians men are. Don’t you.
I do believe that we are going to witness significant reverse migration in the next several years that will pull together talented Gambians from every corner of the universe to a welcomed and productive return to our beloved country. The Gambia future is bright.
Dr. I am saddened that you are not a liberated Bra-burning woman! I lived in hope – till now. I think Babu was using the “Dr.” with poetic license and was not referring to your good self. Yes Babu?
I am not.
Dida you have to read Robin Morgan interview with the NYT concerning “Bra-Burning” and the feminist movement. The truth of it all.
The Qur’an is replete with information on the duties and expectations of a woman in the marital context, and the instructions on making adjustment in our behavior with changing times and space. But the obedience and faithfulness of a woman remains sacrosanct to the establishment and stability of the family unit. Women roles varies. We are wives and mothers at home, but can easily be CEO’s and make executive decisions in our respective work place. We are mindful of conflict in those two roles and take great care to separate the two at our homes, especially in some instances where our spouse may no otherwise be as accomplished in the corporate world.
This is why I am so disgusted with those on this forum who are twisted in their minds and soul and use our peaceful religion as a weapon to confuse and wreck havoc on unsuspecting poor young Gambians. A great scholar an Imam just like Imam Fatty once told me. “In your home you clean, cook, care, love, and you OBEY. Not necessarily in those orders but I personally do my duties to my family with pleasure. What we/I get in return. I will tell you. A beautiful life. Contentment. No we are not liberated feminist, we are wives and we are mothers.
God Bless The Gambian women.
Dr, U R response below is AWESOME. I will show it to my daughter Jainaba. Promise no more flippant remarks from me.
Halake you are not serious at all let me remind you with Rev. Timothy Njoya’s quote “the reason Jesus refused to allow anyone he healed to become his disciple is because indebtedness is the worst kind of sycophancy; It kills reason”. Ramadan Kareem!!!
You lost me Brav – no idea what you are talking about! And I agree with you: I CAN NEVER BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE SPEND HOURS RANTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA – I RESPECT MORE THOSE WOMEN TOILING UNDER THE HOT SUN AT BAKAU GARDEN PROJECT (by Radio Gambia).
Watch Russia’s NEW BRIDGE to Crimea video @ “Sambagate Snr” on Facebook: that is how “serious” we need to get to develop Africa. How long have we been talking about the Senegambia Bridge – 50 years? The Russians built this 19KM bridge in under 2 years! All our writings and inflated sense of self-importance on Social Media will NOT put a SINGLE BRICK in the ground or erect a SINGLE SOLAR PANEL to develop Africa.
“Ramadan Kareem” to you too!
You need a life brother one of my colleagues has raised an interesting question: Did Halake always seek to attract hatred towards Mr. Amadou Samba? why, always stirring painful controversy and calumny against the Amadou Samba?
He was extremely gullible, and he exploded loudly on a regular basis, derailing serious discussions to veer off into what became his familiar realms of fantasy.
At the Daily Observer, Halake had become an onerous liability for Yahya Jammeh and an overwhelming impediment to the smooth functioning of the Daily Observer and to relations with other arms of government.
Thank God Halake and some others like him in the country, whose hearts contain the cold-blooded vengeance that gives them the ruthlessness to destroy anyone who stands in their way.
Halake’s writings must be seen in their true light. It is the sad light of vengeance – a personal, blinding, hate-filled vengeance of a kind that appears to have characterized so much of Halake’s life, and which, in his spite and malice against the man who gave him the rarest of opportunities to serve in the Gambia as managing editor of the biggest newspaper.
This is typical of your “journalism” Yorro! Amadou Samba is not an issue – he has suffered in Dakar and at the Commission. Leave him alone to meet his maker in peace.
Please debate with FACTS – not your fantasies!
1. You started by saying I attacked the Independent at Daily Observer;
2. I AGREED, and said how and why.
3. You said I am “LYING” about the “how” and “why”.
4. Tell the readers what YOU think is the TRUTH about Yorro, the Independent, the Gambian Lady and the Toubab. OR … are you afraid of the subject matter because you know that there are WITNESSES to the event who are reading this NOW?
Yorro, you changed the “thread” of the debate, so let me paste this here for “context”:
Luntango (Nijaye) MAY 15, 2018 AT 9:17 PM
Yorro, on the Daily Observer criticism, you know what the facts are: The Independent was paid by a TOUBAB to attack the Gambian Ex-Girlfriend who is supposed to have “fleeced” the toubab of a million dalasis. The Gambian lady came to the Daily Observer for to her say and you objected saying to Buba Baldeh the MD: “She should have her response in the Independent”. I asked Buba Baldeh to allow the lady to respond saying: “sending the lady back to the Independent is like sending a rape victim back to the rapist for justice!”. I wrote the editorial which asked: “What is the Independent’s beef anyway? If these toubab had spent to years with such a pretty woman in a London hotel he would have had to pay 10 million dalassis – not one”!
Yorro, you guys then warned the lady that you have more secrets on her!!!
But Koto, I am glad that Lamin and I are “not disturbing” your “sleep”! WE ARE JUST JESTING – DON’T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY!
Halake you are a master of exaggeration and fantastical ravings.
Ah well, goodnight.
Readers,
Please don’t mistaken this Babu Solo for my humble self BABU SOLI. I Babu Soli have not written the piece above! Please take note!
Luntango, Jollofnews 16th May 2018
You see how you can easily forget or deliberately forget. What happened to the Kombo Jambur mother of 5 kids who was detained beyond the 72-hour limit by a Fula magistrate at the Brikama courts for saying insulting statements at Barrow? She was only released upon public outcry after suffering days in the nasty police custody in Brikama. What happened to the Rasta boy from Kombo Brikama who sent an audio stating that the Gambia HAS NOT DECIDED but HAS REGRETTED? He was detained beyond the 72-hour limit without charges.
What happened to the 9 former NIA officers who were abruptly arrested by Mai Fatty on return from Dakar and only charged after months in custody?
What is happening to the Jola military officials who are still held on charges of suspicion? They were held for months without charges on suspicion that they were plotting against the CORRUPT, TRIBALIST, INCOMPETENT and USELESS Barrow administration.
What information have you gathered about the investigations (if at all any) about the APRC beatings, injuries in Mankamang Kunda and Busumbala? And until recently after the Mayoral/Chairmanship election results were read on Saturday 12th May? Didn’t Ousainou Darboe give credit to the UDP onslaught on the FaBakary Tombong Jatta compound where APRC militants were gathered? Where are your democratic literacy and democratic dispensation?
Come on Luntango, Barrow has never been branded a BASTARD, an ILL-GOTTEN child by Pa Nderry and Madi Jobarteh. Barrow’s mother has never been branded a prostitute by Pa Nderry. Barrow’s wife has never been branded a gold digger, a lady who sleeps with other men by Pa Nderry. Both Pa Nderry and Madi Jobarteh have never INSULTED Barrow as they did with President Jammeh. We have the records!
Indeed, Barrow’s Minister of Information will welcome criticisms. But what calibre of criticisms? They are not INSULTS, are they? When it got tough in the Fatou GRTS programme, that put Ousainou Darboe in the hot soup, the programme was immediately squashed off. It was against all sensibilities of the UNDEMOCRATIC Barrow administration that talks much about “transparency”.
Obviously Babu Soli your postings are always identifiable as their contents convey strong messages with vigour.