Senegal MFWA condemns conviction of three Ivorian Journalists - Sub-regional rights body, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), on Tuesday condemned the conviction and heavy fines handed down to three Ivorian journalists, PANA reported from here.The Plateau Criminal Court in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Cote d'Ivoire, on 26 July, convicted three detained editors of the privately-owned Le Nouveau Courrier newspaper over a charge of an "administrative theft".
The trio - Saint Claver Oula, Stephane Guede and Theophile Kouamouo, editor-in-chief, publisher and managing editor respectively - were fined five million CFA Franc (about US$ 9,647) each and a two-week suspension of the newspaper with effect from 26 July.
"MFWA condemns the criminal conviction of the journalists. We are also worried about the exorbitant fines that have been imposed on them," the press freedom watchdog said in a statement.
The journalists were arrested and detained for refusing to reveal their sources of information over a 13 July leaked report on corruption in the cocoa and coffee sector of Cote d'Ivoire that Le Nouveau Courrier published on its front page.
Media Foundation for West Africa condemns conviction of three Ivorian Journalists
Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Emmanuel Adebayor lead race for best west African footballer - Goal.com
The Union of west African Federations (UFOA) has launched the process of picking the best footballer of the region, with Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Michael Essien among the front-runners for the accolade.
Debuted in March 2010, the programme, dubbed the 'Best of the Best', will reveal the 'Most Valuable Player' of west Africa, a region endowed with confirmed football talents.
The voting process is opened to the public, with the use of text messages and IVR (Interactive Voice Response) mechanism allowed.
Fans from the 16 west African nations will be voting for their favourite players, including locals and professionals. The countries concerned are Cape Verde, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Benin, Nigeria and Guinea Bissau.
According to the secretary general of UFOA, Ivorian-born Aka Malan, supporters and analysts from each country will nominate players of their choice at a national level before a final merging will produce the best from the best.
Stars plying their trade in the Premier League are the early front-runners for the coveted award, including the Ivory Coast and Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Togo and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Others expected to do well include John Mikel Obi, Frederic Kanoute, Kader Keita, Pascal Feindouno, Stephane Sessegnon, Moumouni Dagano, Michael Essien, Yaya Toure and Andre Ayew.
“Our goal is to enable those who, every weekend, take their time to watch our players evolve in their various leagues be able to designate who they think is best. We believe that their choice will be more objective,” said Malan.
The winner will be known in the coming weeks, according to the secretary general, and the trophy ceremony rewarding the best west African player from 2010 will attract a number of important personalities from the sub-region.
Today Newspaper - Online Edition - Gambia humiliates Sierra Leone by 4-1
The Gambia U-20 team Saturday thumped shooting stars of Sierra Leone 4-1 in the Africa U-20 championship qualifier held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
The Gambian team made a cagey commencement to the clash with a handful of miscued passes and defensive laxity which handed their Sierra Leonean adversaries command and control of proceedings for long spells in the first half.
Omar Jassey, better known as waterman, hit back for The Gambia six minutes after as he made a striding sprint down the left flank and dribbled past their opponent’s rear-guard only to place his shot over the bar. Ebrima Camara piled on the pressure with a decent goal-scoring chance in the 15th minute at close measure only to see his labored effort deviate off the mark whilst Alassan Camara’s sizzling shot was tipped away in the 24th minute.
Donald Wilson of Sierra Leone latched onto a defensive laxity and wafted his way through the rear-guard past two defenders and The Gambia guard-man. Musa Camara was none the wiser what direction to take a swing at the ball as he stashed it at the back of the net.
Ebrahim Kallay had a chance to double the lead for Sierra Leone nine minutes later as a string of passes got him teed up deep in the penalty box but he blasted off the target.
Mamut Saine sprang to The Gambia’s rescue and hauled them back on level terms in the 45th minute on the dot with a scorching low-shot that rattled the net, prompting wild celebration in the stands.
The second half witnessed better play from The Gambia as they regrouped and looked to take advantage of the substantial home support at their disposal which saw the manufacturing of an opportunity in the 52nd minute when Omar Jassey unleashed a powerful shot which was deflected for a corner.
Alagie Sarr soon switched tactics with the introduction of forward players like Buba Jallow alias Meles and Mustapha Jatta presumably with a view to scoring more goals to bolster their chances of winning the tie.
Coach Alagie Sarr reaped immediate benefits from his tactical detour as Buba Jallow tapped across into the net 22 minutes into the second half.
Donald Wilson roared into action again with some sense of urgency and managed to wriggle his way into the nether regions of The Gambian half in another bout of defensive inertia but his miscued shot went out for a throw.
Alassan Camara was set up at a short distance from the target through a cross from the industrious Mustapha Jatta which he shoved at the back of the net with minimum effort.
Buba Jallow hugged a brace in one of his better performances for The Gambia and poured more misery on the shooting stars of Sierra Leone thanks to a goal in the 93th minute which all but sealed and delivered a 4-1 triumph for The Gambia U-20 in the encounter of a two-legged tie.
The Gambia U-20 gaffer, Lamin Sarr declared his delight over the victory and noted that it was a satisfactory outcome considering the fact that The Gambia had late preparations.
He added that the desire of Gambians to qualify for the competition and make an indelible mark was not lost on him as he pledged to do everything possible to bring such aspirations to fruition.
“I know what Gambians want and I will do everything I can to make that possible by the grace of God,” he said.
Mr. Sarr also revealed that the task ahead of him and the team is not a rudimentary undertaking, tossing into perspective the reality that they have three more matches to play, the outcome of which will decide whether they would qualify or not.
On a more optimistic note, he said that they can work on the shortcoming of the team and prepare it well for the hostilities awaiting them in the subsequent games with the help of senior squad tactician, Paul Put.
“I am very thankful to Paul Put for his assistance. He has helped me a lot in my work a lot to make this victory possible. He is a great coach and I can never forget him for the rest of my life,” he asserted.
Mr. Sarr finally thanked The Gambia Football Association under the stewardship of Seedy MB Kinteh for the trust and confidence reposed on him by appointing him the coach for the team with the clear-cut goal of qualifying them for the Africa U-20 championship to be held in Libya 2011.
Local Derby!
allAfrica.com: Gambia: Local Team Back From Morocco Games
Gambia: Local Team Back From Morocco Games
The Gambian delegation to the inaugural edition of African Youth Games, dubbed 'Rabat 2010' arrived in Banjul last Wednesday from Rabat, Morroco, were the Games were held.
Initiated by ANOCA, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and targeting 15 to 17 year old African athletes the Africa Youth Games came about as a motive to build on the concept of the Youth Olympic Games which will be held for the first time in Singapore this August. The Gambia was among 42 African countries that participated at the maiden Games held between July 13 and 18, under the patronage of HM King Mohammed VI.
A record number of 1008 athletes competed in 16 sports disciplines, including athletics, cycling, swimming, football, judo, taekwondo, fencing, shooting, rowing, canoe kayak, weightlifting, tennis, boxing, table tennis and basketball.
The Gambia was represented in athletics by Omar Ceesay, Fatou Sowe and Baba Gibba who competed in 100M, 200M boys and girls, 1000M individual events and the zonal Medley Relay (4 X 100M, 200M, 300M, and 400M) for boys.
Omar Ceesay was the only Gambian athlete to land a medal after clinching a bronze medal in the 200M individual event for boys, according to a statement issued by the Gambia National Olympic Committee who funded the trip. The Gambian delegation was led by Mr Abdul Shyllon, while Ms Mary Pedro-Decker served was the Chef de Mission. Ms Mam Keway Ceesay was the coach for the Gambia athletic team.
Gambia holidays: Sun, sand and ceremony in Africa's rising destination | Mail Online
It is 45 years since The Gambia became independent, and the celebrations to mark this event coincided with my family's visit to the country. Across the aisle from me on a crammed Monarch Airlines flight from London to the Gambian capital Banjul, incongruously surrounded by bearded and sandalwearing bird-watchers, sat the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, studying her itinerary intently.
I wondered if she was visiting the country to take part in the celebrations, as some relic of the colonial past that The Gambia had left behind.
Into Africa: Local life in all its vibrancy is close at hand in The Gambia
The noise, heat, smells and vibrant colours of Africa assault you as soon as you get off the plane. These are followed closely by an assault from the bumsters - a local term for the young men who hang around hotels and beaches trying to earn money from holidaymakers. Not surprisingly, these men wanted to be my daughters' special friends, and show them a good time during our week-long stay.
We were staying at The Coco Ocean Resort in Bijilo, a 15-minute drive from Banjul. It is a haven from the hustle and hassle of daily Gambian life. If you choose, you can spend your days in the resort's elegant grounds, lounge by the pools and gaze out over the beach to the crashing Atlantic waves. The rooms and villas are cool and comfortable, and there is a restaurant built just above the ocean where you can eat lunch and escape the midday sun.
But we chose to use The Coco Ocean as a base camp, somewhere gloriously luxurious to which to return after our many excursions and adventurous dinners (I can recommend a Lebanese restaurant called Al Basha in nearby Kololi, and a particularly good seaside bistro called The Sailor in Kotu).
We spent one morning walking around the market in Serrekunda, The Gambia's largest town. The hubbub and constant motion are in sharp contrast to the elegant ladies in blinding colours selling their wares.
And it is the women who are the most important here - they are called Boss Lady. When we were negotiating to buy a multi-coloured raffia basket, the man running the stall said: 'I must ask the Boss Lady.' She was fast asleep under the table. Heavily pregnant, she emerged with feline ease, struck a deal with us, and then crawled back from whence she'd come.
Drum circle: Domenica and Mr No Problem beat out a rhythm
My daughter Domenica was astonished by the way all the women carried everything on their heads, from vast sacks of potatoes to impossibly large steel containers overflowing with vegetables and fruit. Many had babies tied to their backs too, and all swayed along with marvellous natural rhythm and innate grace.
Only once did we see men carrying things on their heads - and this appeared to be rubbish contained in black plastic sacks. Domenica thought it would be a good way for her father to do the same thing. I readily agreed.
That evening, we visited the Bijilo Forest, next to the resort, and were lucky to see several monkeys, even glimpsing an elusive colobus swinging high in the branches. Green monkeys were far more curious, following us around and allowing us to get very close.
Seeing two of them sitting side by side on a log, with their feet on the ground and their beady eyes missing nothing, they looked for all the world like any old couple perched on a park bench. It was a true Darwinian moment.
There were several of the strange, upside-down-looking baobab trees in the forest, which are thought to have magical properties and which survive for hundreds of years because of their ability to store rainwater in their trunks. Our guide told us that the fruit from the tree could be made into a drink with an extremely high alcoholic content - a few sips could make you 'see all the way to England!'
Meandering back from the forest, we came across a group of drum-beating locals surrounding an adolescent boy dressed in white. Then we spotted two other men dancing manically by the side of the road. They wore weird, brightly coloured fringed costumes, with masks over their faces, and they brandished a curved knife in each hand. Sometimes they dashed in front of cars, flashing the knives.
Our driver told us this was a circumcision ceremony, which takes place when a boy is between ten and 12 years old. Only recently has the actual circumcision been done in hospital. Perhaps boys in the past could have done with the anaesthetic qualities of whatever alcoholic drink can be made from the baobab tree!
The music from the ceremony enthused Domenica, so the following day we went to the market in the town of Bakau in search of a musical instrument. There we encountered a man known as Mr No Problem, his name writ large on a sign above his stall.
Mr No Problem and Domenica became instant friends, and after an impromptu jamming session she became the proud owner of a bongo drum and a giant seed pod, with her name written on it in black paint and shoe polish, to rattle as an accompaniment.
Hideaway: The Coco Ocean Resort offers a slice of luxury
My eldest daughter Savannah found the perfect gifts for her closest girlfriends: three carved monkeys in the classic see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil format. I didn't ask.
After so many excursions, we chose to spend the next day at the hotel, on the beach and in the spa. Until the opening of luxury hotels such as the Coco Ocean and its sister venue, the Coconut Residence, The Gambia was known primarily for cheap package deals and as a holiday destination for bird-watchers.
The Coco Ocean Group is co-owned by a local man, Farid Bensouda, and a German called Walter Loehn. Farid is the interior designer and Walter the architect, and theirs is an inspired partnership. Having visited one or two other hotels in the country, I would say they have certainly created an oasis in a hinterland of dubious taste.
The landscaping at the Coco Ocean is perfect. Within the grounds is a vast vegetable garden run with immense pride by Moor Faal - the delicious produce is served in the hotel's three restaurants.
There are other bonuses that The Gambia offers British visitors: the flight takes only six hours, there is no time difference, and the sun shines all year round. What's not to like?
The hotel spa is spectacular, with treatment rooms overlooking the ocean. I had a hammam - an exfoliating session in a Moroccan-inspired steam room - while Savannah had a back massage. I only wish that instead of piped music we could have listened to the roar of the ocean. It's ironic that in many city spas you have to listen to taped ocean music. What is wrong with the real thing when it is right outside your window?
No trip to The Gambia would be complete without spending a day on the River Gambia, so we set off on the hotel boat, a pirogue, accompanied by Lamin, one of the hotel chefs.
During the trip we ate probably the most delicious food of our week. It was so delicious that it didn't matter in the least that our boat broke down - or that the crucial spare part required to mend the engine disappeared into the river after being thrown from a neighbouring boat. We were much too busy enjoying our fish marinaded in ginger, coriander, oyster sauce and chilli.
Messing about on boats: Guests enjoy a ride on the Coco Ocean's boat
When the fault was finally fixed, we went to the fishing port of Tanji and a nearby village. It was like a journey to a past century. The fishing continues as it has for aeons, with the smokery under a hut on the beach, amid the clamorous noise of gulls and children. The villagers, meanwhile, live in one-room houses and have no running water.
Our last day was Independence Day, and the president of a neighbouring African country arrived at our hotel with his entourage. The red carpet was laid out as his vast cavalcade approached, drums rolled and dancers in splendid costumes put on a marvellous performance. For a few glorious moments, it was like being in a scene from Evelyn Waugh's Scoop.
I looked out for the Lord Lieutenant, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Travel Facts
Specialist tour operator The Gambia Experience (0845 330 2087, www.gambia.co.uk) offers seven nights at The Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, part of The Gambia Experience Luxury Collection, from £989pp. This includes B&B accommodation in a junior suite, a complimentary foot massage and return flights from Gatwick.
Departures from other airports are also available.
SA, not China, Africa's biggest investor: study | DefenceWeb
South Africa, not China, was the biggest emerging market investor in Africa between 2006 and 2008 with US$2.6 billion (R19.3 billion) in average annual foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, the 2010 World Investment Report says.The research, undertaken by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), however shows China is among the most active investors in Africa, but developed countries still account for most FDI into the continent. It also shows developed nations accounted for by far the bulk of estimated inward FDI flows into Africa, contributing 72% of inflows between 2000 and 2008, and 92% of inward stock in 2008.
"The notion that Chinese investment is somehow the dominant foreign investment in Africa is quite misleading," said Stephen Gelb, a professor of development economics at the University of Johannesburg and a contributor to the report. "China is far from being the dominant investor. But it is growing faster from a low base." China invested $2.5 billion in Africa between 2006 and 2008, a fraction of its overall investment outflow, the Business Report says.
Africa’s Eastern Promise | Foreign Affairs
Washington need not worry about China's economic boom, much less respond with protectionism. Although China controls more of the world's exports than ever before, its high-return high-tech industries are dominated by foreign companies. And Chinese firms will not displace them any time soon: Beijing's one-party politics have bred a timid business culture that prevents domestic firms from developing key technologies and keeps them dependent on the West.