Gambian-born Fatou Bensouda has emerged as the consensus candidate for the high-profile job of chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, a diplomat at the center of the selection process said on Wednesday. Bensouda, 50, is deputy to the current chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo of Argentina, whose term ends next year. An informal meeting of ICC members was held in New York yesterday to discuss the appointment, said Liechtenstein’s U.N. Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, president of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute that set up the court. “I will recommend to the meeting that, based on my... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa Gambia Correspondent – The Commonwealth expert team to the just-concluded presidential election in The Gambia yesterday issued its preliminary statement highlighting, among others, that despite peaceful and technically sound elections, democratic reforms are needed in The Gambia. The team, headed by Professor A. Bolaji Akinyemi, former Foreign Minister of Nigeria, commended political parties and the people of The Gambia for the peaceful manner in which the campaigns were generally held and also the role of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for regulating the campaign under the Code on Election Campaign Ethics. The six-page report also highlighted key findings... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa Gambia Correspondent – Leaders of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) and Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) alliance have highlighted what they called the ubiquitous presence of armed security personnel, senior local government officials such as regional governors, district chiefs and alkalolu, among others, as some of the reasons that cast an enormous doubt and imposed a pernicious influence on the just-concluded presidential election. In a statement issued yesterday at a press conference held at UDP leader Ousainou Darboe’s residence at Kairaba Avenue, the UDP-GMC alliance said the processes leading towards the election were not free and fair, and... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa Gambia Correspondent – The United Democratic Party and Gambia Moral Congress alliance have rejected the results of the 24th November presidential election announced by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission. In a preliminary statement issued Friday, shortly after the results were announced, Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party, described the results as bogus, fraudulent and of constituting what he called a capricious usurpation of the will of the people. Below we reproduce the full text of the UDP-GMC alliance statement: The UDP-GMC United Alliance vehemently and unconditionally rejects the results of the just concluded Presidential... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa Gambia Correspondent – President Yahya Jammeh on Friday secured a new five-year term after the Independent Electoral Commission declared him winner of 24th November 2011 presidential election. Results announced by the returning officer and Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Mustapha L. Carayol, showed Jammeh polled 72% of the total votes cas,t while main opposition leader Ousainou Darboe polled 17%. Independent candidate Hamat Bah scored 11% of the total votes cast. Voter turnout was 83%, showing a massive jump from that of the 2006 elections, which was about 59%. According to the IEC chairman, out of a total... Continue Reading
