1) Gambian leader approves anti-gay law

The president of Gambia has signed a bill into law that calls for life
imprisonment for some homosexual acts, the latest African country to codify
harsh penalties for gay people.
Guardian News & Media Limited, Fri 21 Nov 2014, Gambian leader approves
anti-gay law https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/21/gambian-
leader-approves-anti-gay-law

2) The Gambian president rejected the December presidential elections results

Yomi Kazeem December 10, 2016, The Gambian president rejected the
December presidential elections resultshttps://qz.com/africa/860083/yahya-
jammehs-decision-to-reject-gambias-election-results-draws-ire-from-african-
union-senegal-and-united-states/

3) President Yahya Jammeh's decision to offer scholarships to 15 contestants of

the just concluded Miss Africa Beauty Queen, is indeed in line with his
commitment to putting education at the center stage of nation-building.
The Daily Observer newspaper (Banjul), 24 October 2007, President Yahya
Jammeh's decision to offer scholarships to 15 contestants of the just concluded
Miss Africa Beauty Queen https://allafrica.com/stories/200710240759.html

4) President Jammeh Declares Free Basic Education By 2014.

The government of the Gambia under the leadership of His Excellency Sheikh
Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya Jammeh is committed to upholding the right of every
person to basic education regardless of gender, age, religion, or disability, by
making basic education in the Gambia free for all children starting from 2014.
Learning at this level will be geared towards the holistic development of the
individual for the positive realization of every person's full potential and
aspirations.
Musa Ndow & Sheriff Janko, The Daily Observer newspaper (Banjul), President
Jammeh Declares Free Basic Education By 2014
https://allafrica.com/stories/201306271517.html
5) The Gambia quits the Commonwealth: The announcement on the west
African nation's state television channel does not explain the reason for the
decision. The Gambia President has withdrawn from the Commonwealth, a
collection of 54 nations made up largely of former British colonies, saying it will
"never be a member of any neo-colonial institution".
Afua Hirsch, west Africa correspondent. Thu 3 Oct 2013, The Gambia quits the
Commonwealth: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/03/gambia-
quits-commonwealth-yahya-jammeh

6) President Yahya Jammeh sought to maintain personal control over the

government in 2010 by publicly threatening those in opposition to his rule.
Gambian security forces, who continued to harass and intimidate journalists
throughout the year, were implicated in a torture case against a newspaper
editor in late 2010. A number of dissenters were sentenced to death in July for
their alleged involvement in a coup plot against Jammeh in 2009.
Freedom House, 16 May 2011, President Yahya Jammeh sought to maintain
personal control over the government in 2010 by publicly threatening those in
opposition to his rule. https://www.refworld.org/docid/4dd21a45c.html

7) Gambia’s Leader Declares Plans for Mass Executions

The eccentric president of Gambia has warned that he will carry out a mass
execution of prisoners by mid-September, a threat local journalists and
opposition officials said must be taken seriously given his unpredictability and
long record of human rights abuses.
Adam Nossiter Aug. 24, 2012, Gambia’s Leader Declares Plans for Mass
Executions https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/world/africa/president-
yahya-jammeh-of-gambia-warns-of-mass-executions.html

8) President Jammeh Halts Executions Amid Outcry. The Gambian President

Yahya Jammeh has suspended further executions of prisoners following an
international outcry but warned that the halt could be only temporary.
Ghanaian Chronicle, 17 September 2012 President Jammeh Halts Executions
Amid Outcry https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00019208.html

9) The Gambia bans female genital mutilation. President Yahya Jammeh outlaws
practice that affects three-quarters of women in west African country
The Guardian news, Kate Lyons, Tue 24 Nov 2015, The Gambia bans female
genital mutilation https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/24/the-
gambia-bans-female-genital-mutilation

10) President Jammeh Pledges U.S.$100 million for Agricultural Development.

The Gambian leader has pledged to invest US$100M in agricultural
development, less than 72hrs after his announcement of a special package for
the country's youth.
The Daily Observer (Banjul), 14 June 2013, President Jammeh Pledges U.S.$100
million for Agricultural Development.
https://allafrica.com/stories/201306141307.html

11) The Gambia announces 20-year jail for under-18 marriage

President says parents of girls married young could also face imprisonment.
Child marriage is banned in The Gambia and I will place a very hefty sentence
against the practice,” Jammeh said. He added: “We are destroying the future of
our children, who should be going to school. I will jail even the imam who ties
the knot and destroy the marriage. And if anyone knows about this and refuses
to report it, we will send you to jail for 10 years.”
Mustapha K. Darboe, 06.07.2016, Gambia announces 20-year jail for under-18
marriage https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/gambia-announces-20-year-jail-for-
under-18-marriage/603618

12) Bissau foes tackle details of peace pact in the Gambia "This war in Bissau is
unacceptable," Jammeh told reporters, vowing: "I will use dialogue and
diplomacy to end the problem."
Thomson Reuters, 30 Oct 1998, Bissau foes tackle details of peace pact in the
Gambia https://reliefweb.int/report/guinea-bissau/bissau-foes-tackle-details-
peace-pact-gambia

13) Gambia's Gains Against Trafficking in Persons. The Gambia government

under the leadership of the president of the Republic, His Excellency Yahya
Jammeh, continues to demonstrate its strong commitment in the fight against
trafficking in persons and other related child and human rights violations. It
should not be forgotten that it was as far back as 2007 that the president
appended his signature to the Trafficking in Persons Act.
The Daily Observer (Banjul), 30 June 2014, Gambia's Gains Against Trafficking in
Persons https://allafrica.com/stories/201406301998.html

14) Gambia's Jammeh pulls out of race for African Union Assembly presidency.
following Jammeh’s reelection in November for a fourth term Yahya felt it
better to concentrate on domestic politics. “He wants to devote the first year of
his election to satisfy and meet the needs and aspirations of the Gambian
people,”
Laura Angela Bagnetto, 26th Jan, 2012, Gambia's Jammeh pulls out of race for
African Union Assembly presidency https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20120126-
gambias-gammeh-pulls-out-race-african-union-assembly-presidency

15) Gambia declared Islamic republic by President Yahya Jammeh. Gambian

President Yahya Jammeh has declared his Muslim-majority country an Islamic
republic, saying the move marks a break with the colonial past. Mr Jammeh told
state TV the proclamation was in line with Gambia's "religious identity and
values". He added that no dress code would be imposed and citizens of other
faiths would be allowed to practice freely.
BBC, 12 December 2015, Gambia declared Islamic republic by President Yahya
Jammeh https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35082343
16) Gambia announces withdrawal from International Criminal Court. The
government of Gambia said on Tuesday it was withdrawing from the
International Criminal Court, accusing the world body of ignoring the “war
crimes” of Western nations and seeking only to prosecute Africans.
Reuters Staff, October 26, 2016, Gambia announces withdrawal from
International Criminal Court, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gambia-icc-
idUSKCN12P335

17) Jammeh Defends Constitutional Amendment. Gambian President Yahya

Jammeh has defended his government's decision to amend the 1997
Constitution, saying it is a necessary step in the country's march towards good
governance. Addressing the opening of the 2001 legislative session of the
National Assembly, he said there was need to make the constitution dynamic.
Pan African News Agency, 29 January 2001, Jammeh Defends Constitutional
Amendment https://allafrica.com/stories/200101290397.html

18) Jammeh promises free university education in Gambia. President Yahya

Jammeh has promised to make university education in The Gambia free, come
2018. All non-Gambians including children of foreign diplomats will also be
allowed to benefit from the free university education, the President declared,
whilst delivering a speech yesterday at the National Assembly on the occasion
of the State Opening of the New Legislative Year 2016.
The point newspaper, Njie Baldeh, Apr 1, 2016, Jammeh promises free
university education in Gambia,
https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/jammeh-promises-free-university-
education-in-gambia

19) President declares year of science and technology. In an effort to transform

the Gambia into an economic success story, the West African country’s
President Yahya Jammeh has declared 2012 to be the year of science,
technology and innovation. The initiative is to be led by key ministries in
partnership with the University of the Gambia.
The University World News, Wagdy Sawahel, 29 January 2012, President
declares year of science and technology,
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20120129083521574

20) Gambia has announced that it has cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan. President
Yahya Jammeh's office said the move was for reasons of "national strategic
interest". The West African state was one of a few African countries to
recognise Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory. Correspondents
say it is unclear if the move is linked to the development of relations with China,
which has a growing influence in Africa.
BBC News, 15 November 2013, Gambia has announced that it has cut
diplomatic ties with Taiwan, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-
24951115

LAMIN B. SAWO
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