JANYANFARA: 08/20/11

Family Ties in Dictatorships best looters of their countries’ wealth

Family Ties in Dictatorships best looters of their countries’ wealth
Compiled and Edited by Bamba Mass (Human Rights Activist UK)
August 11, 2011 | Filed under: ADI |
Source: African Dictators.
You don’t have to draw up a family tree for a dictator- often their entire government, as well as other officials and key industries are run by their families and Tribesmen/women. Sometimes this leads to dynastic succession, as in the case of Gnassingbe Eydema and his son Faure, Omar Bongo and his son, Ali Ondimba, Lauren desire Kabila and son Joseph Kabila and others are trying to follow suit. Take a look at some of the First Families of Africa, and see the trend for yourself:
Angola:
The dos Santos – Van-Dúnem Family
José Eduardo dos Santos (President of Angola, 1979 – today)
• Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos ‘Nandó’ (cousin of José Eduardo dos Santos; Vice-President of Angola, 2010–today; Speaker of the National Assembly 2008-2010; Prime Minister 2002-2008)
• Isabel dos Santos (daughter of José Eduardo dos Santos; investor; owner of key mobile phone operator and bank, richest woman in Angola
• Cândido Pereira dos Santos Van-Dúnem (cousin of the president and Kopelipa and Jose Vieira Dias Van-Dunem; Defence Minister).
• José Vieira Dias Van-Dúnem (cousin of Kopelipa; Health Minister)
• Gen. Manuel Hélder Vieira Dias ‘Kopelipa’ (Minister of State and Chief of the Military Bureau of the President)
• Carlo Alberto Lopes (Finance Minister, brother-in-law of the president)
• Luzia Inglês Van-Dúnem Secretary-General of OMA, the women’s mass movement of the ruling party MPLA
o Afonso Van-Dúnem M’Binda (Husband of Luzia Inglês Van-Dúnem; Minister of External Relations 1985–1988)
o Fernando José de França Dias Van-Dúnem (cousin of Kopelipa; Prime Minister 1991-1992; 1996-1999)
o Pedro de Castro Van Dúnem, 1942-1997 (Minister of External Relations of Angola 1989–1992; Minister of Public Works and Urban Affairs 1992–1997)
Burkina Faso:
The Compaoré Family
Blaise Compaoré (President of Burkina Faso, 1987-present) who betrayed and killed his best friend Thomas Sankara just to become president.
• François Compaoré (economic advisor; brother of Blaise Compaoré)
• Simon Compaoré (Mayor of Ouagadougou)
• Jean-Marie Compaoré (Archbishop of Burkina Faso)
• Jean-Baptiste Compaoré (Finance minister)
• Franck Compaoré brother of president (Head of secret agency protecting the president)
• Chantal Compaoré (First lady; wife of Blaise Compaoré and daughter of felix Boigny first president of Ivory coast)
• Félix Houphouet-Boigny (former president of Côte d’Ivoire; father of Chantal Compaoré)

Cameroon
Paul Biya president of Cameroon (“assets stolen by this leader could range between 105 and 180 billion dollars) world’s most corrupt country” in 1998 and 1999
• FRANK Biya, son of the president (and owner of the largest business empire UTC a possible successor to his father)
• Paul BIYA Junior son of the president (owner of multibillion castles in Germany and France
• Anastasia Brenda BIYA EYENGA.( Bride of the richest man of Cameroon and herself a billion tycoon)
• Jeanne-Irène Biya first wife of President Paul Biya reportedly killed by Biya aides
• First lady Chantal Biya (founder of the Chantal Biya Foundation; African Synergy against AIDS and suffering; Circle of friends of Cameroon (CERAC), and the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.)
• Marafa Hammidou Yaya, cousin of Paul Biya (the current Minister of State in charge of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. Having also served as the Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic).

DRC
The Kabila Family (father-son)
• Laurent-Désiré Kabila (President, 1997–2001)
o Joseph Kabila (President, 2001 – )
The Kabila family is also related by marriage to the Sassou-Nguesso and Bongo families of the Republic of the Congo and Gabon, respectively.
Djibouti
The Aptidon-Guelleh Family
Hassan Gouled Aptidon (President of Djibouti, 1977–1999)
o Ismail Omar Guelleh (nephew of Hassan Gouled Aptidon; President of Djibouti, 1999– )
Equatorial Guinea
The Nguema Family (close relatives)
Francisco Macías Nguema (President, 1968–1979)
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo nephew of the assassinated president (President, 1979–)
• Ela Nguema (presidential aide)
• Eyegue Ntutumu (governor of Río Muni)
• Masie Ntutumu (minister of interior)
• Bonifacio Nguema Esono Nchama (vice president)
• Oyono Ayingono (finance minister)
• Maye Ela (head of the navy)
• Feliciano Oyono (leader of Macías’ PUNT party)
• Teodorín Nguema Obiang (forestry minister)
• Constancia Mangue de Obiang (first lady)
• Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue (infrastructure minister)
• Armengol Ondo Nguema (director of security)
• Antonio Mba Nguema (police chief)
• Agustín Ndong Ona (military inspector-general)
• Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima (mining minister)
• Demetrio Elo Ndong Nsefumu (first deputy prime minister)
• Alejandro Evuna Owono Asangono (chief of the presidency)
• Marcelino Oyono Ntutumu (transport minister)
• Lucas Nguema Evono Mbang (sports minister)
• Jaime Obama Owono Nchama (minister-delegate for infrastructure)
• Manuel Nguema Mba (minister-delegate for the interior)
• Pastor Micha Ondo Bile (foreign affairs minister)
• Rubén Maye Nsue Mangue (justice minister)
• Clemente Engonga Nguema Onguéné (interior minister)
• Baltasár Engonga Edjo (economy minister)
• Cristóbal Menana Ela (energy minister)
• Teresa Efua Asangono (women’s affairs minister)
• Francisco Edu Ngua Okomo (secretary of state for foreign affairs)
• Victoriana Nchama Nsue Okomo (secretary of state for foreign affairs)
• Francisco Mabale Nseng (secretary of state for energy)
• Melchor Esono Edjo (secretary of state for the treasury)
The Gambia
The Jammeh Family
Yahya Jammeh president of the Gambia (1994-now)
Mariam Jammeh daughter of the president (owner of a multi million trust house in Mary Land USA also lots of offshore projects in Guinea and Morocco)
Ansumana Jammeh half brother of the President (Gambia’s Ambassador to Qatar and Middle East)
Pahary Jammeh Cousin of the president (Solicitor General of the Gambia and owner of multibillion secret projects,)
Benedict Jammeh Cousin of President Jammeh (Head of the National Drug Enforcement Agency)
Zainabou Suma Jammeh Wife of President Jammeh
Alhaji Ibrahim Suma father of the first lady Zainab father in law of president Jammeh (Carrier Diplomat and close confident of late president Lansana Conteh of Guinea)
Mariam Suma sister of Zainab sister in law to president Jammeh (Business tycoon and owner of Diva fashions
Tibou Camara, Zeinab’s brother-in-law (former information minister of Guinea Conakry now the one running Jammeh’s secret empire)
Abdoulie & Numo Kujabi cousins of President Jammeh (former & present Head of the National Intelligent Agency)
Abdoulie Bojang uncle of the president (Speaker of the National Assembly)
Yusupha Bojang cousin to the president (Deputy High commissioner to the UK)
Ousman Jammeh cousin of the president (Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service)
Aziz Tamba nephew of president Jammeh (former head of Junglers Secret squad)
Fatim Badgie (a member of Jammeh’s Jola ethnic tribe, Minister of Health and Social Welfare)
Abdou Kolley (a member of the president’s Jola ethnic tribe, Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment)
Famara Jatta (a member of Jammeh Jola ethnic tribe former minister of finance and Governor of the Central Bank)
Alhagie Momodou Sanyang (a member of the president’s Jola ethnic tribe, Director General of GRTS)
Lamin SABI Sanyang (a member of the president’s ethnic Jola tribe, son of Momodou Sanyang Director GRTS and errand boy of the president)

Gabon
The Sassou-Nguesso Family
Denis Sassou-Nguesso (president of the Republic of Congo)
 Jean-Dominique Okemba (leader of national Security Council; nephew of Sassou-Nguesso)
Emmanuel Yoka (Congolese cabinet chief; uncle of Sassou-Nguesso)
 Edgar Nguesso (nephew of Sassou-Nguesso; director of estate)
 Hilaire Moko (director of government security; nephew of Sassou-Nguesso)
 Denis Christel Nguesso (nephew of Sassou-Nguesso; senior state oil company official)
 Wilfrid Nguesso (brother of Edgar; senior parastatal director)
o Gabriel Oba-Apounou (vice-president of National Assembly of Gabon; cousin of Sassou-Nguesso)
 Claudia Lemboumba-Nguesso (Sassou’s daughter; wife of M. Leboumba; communications director)
 Martin Lemboumba (husband of Lemboumba-Nguesso; son of J. Lemboumba)
o Jean-Pierre Lemboumba (finance minister; father of M. Leboumba)
o Antoinette Sassou-Nguesso (first lady of the Republic of Congo; married to Sassou-Nguesso)

Gabon
Bongo Family
Omar Bongo (president of Gabon and husband of Edith Sassou-Nguesso)

 Ali Bongo Ondimba (president of Gabon and son of Omar)
 Edith Nguesso-Bongo (Sassou-Nguesso’s daughter)
 Pascaline Bongo Ondimba (current Presidential Cabinet Director, and daughter of Omar)
 Paul Toungui (foreign minister of Gabon, husband of Pascaline)
 Martin Bongo (former foreign minister of Gabon, nephew of Omar)
Zimbabwe:
The Mugabe-Chiyangwa Family
Robert Mugabe (President of Zimbabwe, 1987–present; Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, 1980–1987)
• Sabina Mugabe (sister of Robert Mugabe; Member of Parliament)
o Innocent Mugabe (son of Sabina Mugabe; Director of the Central Intelligence Organisation)
o Leo Mugabe (son of Sabina Mugabe; businessman and Member of Parliament)
o Patrick Zhuwawo (son of Sabina Mugabe; businessman and Member of Parliament)
• Philip Chiyangwa (cousin of Robert Mugabe; businessman and ZANU-PF regional leader)

Politics must run in the genes, right? It certainly looks as if you’re made ofr life if you’re born into the right families on the continent, and doomed if you aren’t. African Dictator left out some of the other family dynasties such as Abdoulie Wade of Senegal, Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi and Paul Kagame of Rwanda to name a few- these we have covered extensively in other articles.
Bongo and his family are said to own 39 properties including luxury villas, 70 bank accounts and nine cars in France. Sassou Nguesso and his family own 24 apartments, 112 bank accounts. Obiang Nguema and his family own one apartment and eight cars in France. Obiang Nguema’s son has faced the court in South Africa over two luxury villas he owns there. Obiang Nguema himself also had problems in 2006 over a $35 million California beach house he owns there. Information on the properties in France was obtained from police reports.

• Indicators: The nepotism inherent in dictatorships is linked to controlling power and wealth, as well as a
• Cult of personality which desires the continuation of a family name by succession.
Most of them are considerably sick.
God save Africa
By Bamba Mass (UK)

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The writers relation with Sumanguru

Little is known with certainty about Sumanguru's life.What oral historians told about him most of which come from Mandingo griots was he was a powerful man who possessed magical powers and was most feared accross the region. Before he began his career of conquest, he was ruler of the kingdom of Kaniaga (located in what is today southwestern Mali), inhabited by the Susu (or Soso) people. After conquering many small states to the north and west, most of them former tributaries of Ghana, he captured (c. 1203) Kumbi, the capital of the Ghana empire and by capturing Kumbi, Sumanguru no doubt hoped to gain control of the rich trans-Saharan trade which carried on for centuries between Ghana and the Muslim states of North Africa. Soon after Sumanguru's conquest, however, Soninke (native peoples of Ghana) and North African merchants abandoned Kumbi and established other trading centres at Jenne (now Djénné) and Walata (or Oualata). These soon replaced the former Ghanaian capital as main centres of trade in the Sudan. In the 1230s Sumanguru conquared the small Mandingo kingdom of Kangaba and had its king Nare Magan killed and forced them to pay tributes to him. After Nare Magan died, his eldest son Dangaran Touman was allowed by Sumanguru to rule under his kingship as vassal ruler. The story that Sumanguru killed twelve sons of King Nare Magan cannot be true as Dankaran Touman, Sundiatta and Manding Bory were both sons of Nare Magan who lived even after Sumanguru died. What is true was the Mandingos were allowed little autonomy provided they remain under king Sumanguru's orders. The Mandinka new king Dankaran Touman was a weak ruler who feared Sumanguru that his younger sister Nana Turuban a wise girl decided to help him by agreeing to marry Suanguru.But Nana Triban had other ideas as well for marrying the powerful king who killed her father and held her people under his rule and that was to find out what was responsible for the magical powers of this great and most feared king. She with the help of one Balafasigi Kuyateh a griot of Sundiatta, her half brother, wanted to get to know sumanguru well in order to distroy him .Nana Turubang became Sumanguru's new wife. But according to oral tradition, Sumanguru who had a balafon with magical power, knew Nana Turubang did not marry him out of love. He suspected something but did not bother because he thought they would never find out about his magical power . So he chose to marryf her because one she was young and beautiful and also she could bore him children. So he married her and made sure she became pregnant . Luckily for Sumanguru, and whet most Mandingo oral traditionalist never reported, she indeed bore him twin children one a male called Jajary (Later killed by Sundiata) and the other female who was oreginally called sasumanding komba but latter after the war she was safed by the lether smiths and she was given the name Manga. Later Sumanguru's power deminished When his magic balafon was said to have been stolen by Balafasiki kuyateh who later kept it to play when he sings Sundiatta's praise and even today Sumanguru's magic balafon is still being kept by the Kouyate family in a village called Niagassola in present day Guinea. Balafasigi with the help of Nana Triban, succeeded in stealing the Balafon and because he was said to be a very good singer and when he left Kangaba to Kaniaga into Sumanguru's palace, he secretly entered the inner chamber of the king and found the Balafon in a celler where only Sumanguru was permitted to enter. So when sumanguru realised someone was in that celler and he rushed to find out. Upon finding Balafasigi, the king raised his sward to kill but Balafasigi with his melodious voice quickly played the Balafon and sing praise of King Sumanguru. From then on he became the king's own griot. That was how him and Nana Triban were able to steal the magic balafon but they could not succeed in taking the two children with them as they were closely guarded by Sumanguru. After taking the magic balafon and fleeing Sumanguru's court, Nana Turuban and Balafasi went to meet with Sundiatta who was preparing an army to attack Sumanguru. In those days Sumanguru Kante has his way in the western kingdoms, ruling them with an iron fist. Balla Fasseke and Nana Triban in their preparations to help Sunjata conquer the sorcerer-king, gathered all the informations they could get and passed it to Sundiatta who is also Nana Triban's half brother. Sunjata leaves Mema to become king of Manding after his brother Dankaran Touman died. His journey takes him to Wagadu and then to Tabon, the site of the first battle against Sumanguru. Sunjata's victory brings Balla Fasseke and Nana Triban to join the armies at Sibi. The armies under Sunjata's command move to Krina, where Sunjata and Sumanguru Kante finally met. Fakoli Koroma (commonly known as Fakoli kumba and Fakoli Daba), joins Sunjata, and together they defeat Sumanguru after a lot of deaths that nearly scared them all. At the Battle of Kirina (near present Koulikoro in the Republic of Mali) c. 1235, Sumanguru was said to have been shot with the hind toe of a male cock and he disappeared into the hills and some daid he died but no tradition could tell where his dead body was seen . All oral history told was he disappeared. After that the power of the western Sudan then passed to Kangaba, forming the nucleus of a new Sudanese empire, Mali. Sundiata did went to persue the children of Sumanguru to avoid any later revenge also because two of his half sister's children were at the soso king's palace he wants to save them and bring them to his half sister as part of their agreement. But when sumanguru's remnant soldiers heard that Sundiatta was comming to attack, they came out together to fight to death and most of them died with all the sons of Sumanguru. Tradition even had it that one of the generals of Sundiata ordered the killing of everyone not knowing Sumanguru's son who is also Sundiata's nephew was amongst the fighting soldiers in a mask so as to hide his identity. Sundiata later ordered the death of Nanamang Dansireh who was said to have shot the arrow that killed his nephew Jajary at the battle of Weba, who according to traditions, Sundiata himself gave others for his life to be spared as his own nephew. But fakoli kumba;s general fighting for Sundiata threw his arrow that strucked him in the neck and he died instantly. The house where sumanguru;s wives and daughters lived was burnt while captives thought to be Sumanguru's wives and daughters were all bounded and kept. The soldiers of Sunjatta serched the whole area to find Sasumanding komba but to no avail. What they did not know was some trusted friends of Sumanguru's the Tunkara kantehs who came from far away boarder village called Farba Counda, agreed to save her and her other half sister .Thats was why many thought she was amongst those who threw themselves into the big well. Oral Susu traditions had it that Sundiata himself ordered all Sumanguru's children be killed so that no soso would trace their descendant to Mansa Nare Magan. Susu tradition also had it that Sasumanding komba and her half sister who were saved by Leather smiths the Tunkarkantes to a far away from Kaniaga unkown to most people including Sundiatta and his half sister Nana Triban and even most of Sumanguru's inner circles was why nothing was heard about them inside Kangaba. Sasumanding komba was also a young girl at the time and didnot know anything much.The Tunkarakante leather smiths from Farba Counda a small bush village near the boarder with present day Mali and Senegal decided to hide Sasumanding komba's identity completely by giving her a new name called Manga which she became known. They claimed one of them had two daughters whose mother died during the Kirina battle. When Sasumanding komba grew old, she thought at first she was a daughter of the smiths and after she was told who she really was and what had happened to her family with all the terreble stories of how her family was wiped out and how Sundiatta personally ordered for her and brother to be killed, and realising also that her mother who never knew she survived the massacre, and who could probably use her position as Sundiata's sister to protect her, if she decide to go back to Nianiba capital of Mali, also died not knowing her fate. She chose to keep her true identity a secret for good and decided to keep her addopted name Manga so she can succeed in keeping her father's leneage alive. She blamed her uncle Sundiatta for killing her entire family and brother Jajary Conte who should have been protected. She begged the Tunkaras who brought her up to allow her to marry a very hansome man, son of a leather smiths from the Manka clan who she had fallen in love with. Despite the reluctance of the Tunkaras, she insisted and after their acceptance, they were married.She lived with him and bore him children. She had also made the two families who knew her true identity, swore never to reveal her true identity. But a griot who had been trailing ? Latter found out people spreading roumor that Sumanguru's daughter had married a wealthy leather smith. In those days,smiths and royals even worriors don't marry at all. So when the griot heard these story, he travelled far from village to village ubtil he came to farba counda. He investigated and investigated until one day he heard an old woman tell another that Sumanguru's daughter is indeed married to the Manka clan, the griot went straight to the Manka clan and started singing Sumanguru's song song by Balafasigi Kuyateh and seing Manga with tears confronted her. She denied it and said she is a daughter of the Tunkaras,The griot from the Sora tribe believed her but with doubts. That was why the family never trusted the griot so they fled further inland and founded Massina. Because of constant attacks, one of their son Mankajang took his family and went further inland toward gambi bolon andmanka kunda. One of his sons travelled even further inland and he too founded the village named after himself called Janyanfara . This Janyanfara had two sons all named after Manka. One is tall call Mankajang while the other short one is called Mankasutung. Mankajang is the ancestor of the Mass Mankajang which I am.Thats why we are called Mass mankajang Janyanfara. Mankajang's great grandson Sarjonding Mass is My Father Kemo Mustapha's biological Father. Sarjonding had three sons from his wife Nyama Kurung Jawara who is a close relation of Sir Dawda Jawara first president of the Gambia. Their children Jonfolo (Only daughter), Kemo Mustapha (my Father) Fodayba and Dembo. Sarjonding had another son called Lang Mass who was his first son and a brother of my father..

UDP Leaders message to Maafanta on its online news paper launching.

I am writing to congratulate you on the recent launching of your website Maafanta.com.I am especially pleased that you have chosen to orient your site to issues primarily focusing on women. As with most things in life, the reach and depth of women’s issues tend to impact society as a whole. It is myfervent hope that in the coming months and years, both men and women of goodwill can honestly discussgender roles in Gambian society with a view towards identifying unhealthy imbalances in our society. This will enable every citizen to fully participate in the life of the nation. We should not pursue a trajectory that consigns most women to a lifetime of deferred dreams with little or no access to education, opportunities in commercial activities, and equal protection under the law. It is simply unacceptable for such an important demographic group to endure such things. An acceptance of this situation would certainly deepen the impoverishment of the society as a whole.In my own experience as a practicing lawyer and politician, women have increasingly become the heart and soul of law and politics. When I started legal practice more the than 30 years ago there was no female lawyer in The Gambia. Today, the Gambian Bar is dominated by “ladies of the law” some of whom are very able and successful private practicing lawyers and others serving as judges of the superior courts and magistrate. These inspire young women to consider the profession. In the not too distant future, the women would dominate the legal profession in The Gambia.In the political field, the UDP takes particular pride in the strong and important role women play in every organ of the party from the ward to the national executive committee level. The party almost entirely relies on the women for grass root mobilization and social networking. They are the backbone of our mass rallies. It is amatter of regret that we have not registered great success is our efforts to recruit female candidates for elected offices.I wish you and your colleagues continued success in creating a marketplace of ideas.Sincerely,Ousainou Darboe

PDOIS SECRETARY GENERAL, HALIFA SALLAH

This is to inform all PDOIS members, supporters and sympathisers, that they have every rights to move about the country freely meet people at their homes, farms, vous, and other chatting places and engage them in discussion on the vision of the party for the country.Your constitutional rights as a Gambian are guaranteed by the Constitution under Section 25 subsection (1) paragraphs (a) and (d) which stipulate that every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression and freedom to assemble peaceably.There fear no police or soldier. It is the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens and to fight dictatorship, it needs courage.

Mullah Yahya Jammeh

A mad man who few years ago was seen to wear turban like the great Mullah or Nassiru Deen, now preaches even Imams of the Country. Religious leaders now take lesons from a vertually no body who knew barely five suras from the Quran now preaches Islam. He said he will cut off the heads of Gays and Lesbians any time they are found and those known to be and are away anytime they set foot in the Gambia. A great fool who said he is practicing his own democracy that is different from all other democracies. I belief Gambians would think about this man who now leads them and do evrything to capture him and put him in chains before he finishes killing them all.

Dayda Hydara a man of the people

Deyda Hydara, fearless and irrepressible, was martyred on the night of Thursday, 16 December 2004 in a drive-by shooting. Since then, his killers are still at large. The late Deyda Hydara devoted his life to the finest ideals of journalism, campaigning with uncommon zeal for an open society where the rule of law prevails. Despite threats to his life, and calls from his family to quit journalism, he stayed the course. "Journalism is my life," he would tell his wife. "I am a journalist and will keep the people informed at all costs, unless I die." Deyda Hydara was born on 9 June 1946 on Dobson Street, Banjul. His father Baba Hydara was a Mauritanian immigrant of the Moor extraction who ran a grocer’s shop at 8 Hagan Street, where Deyda grew up. On his maternal side, he descended from the Faal clan of Kaur, where Halima, Deyda’s mother, was born. When his father’s business slackened, he returned to Nouakchott, Mauritania, leaving the teenage Deyda and his younger ones - Lala, Mamana and Dawda - with their mother who later remarried one Papa Bila at Barra, where she lived until her death in 1992; two years after Deyda’s father had passed away in Nouakchott. This great man has cercrificed his life as promised to expose the devlish regime of butcher Yahya Jammeh. MAY HIS BLESSED SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE Amen.x

JANYANFARA

Family Ties in Dictatorships best looters of their countries’ wealth

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