JANYANFARA: 04/13/12

DRUG ADDICTS IN UNIFORM HAVE SHAMED AFRICA AGAIN WITH ANOTHER MILITARY MADNESS IN WEST AFRICA! OH GUINEA BISSAU COUP AGAIN?

AN OTHER MILITARY MADNESS IN WEST AFRICA? OH GUINEA BISSAU COUP AGAIN? By Bamba Mass Human Right Activist (UK) The violence came just weeks before the country's presidential runoff vote, which Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr was favoured to win. There have been fears of a coup ever since Guinea-Bissau's president Malang Bekai Sanyang died of complications associated with diabetes in January, leaving an interim leader in charge of the unstable country, which is known as a conduit for the cocaine trade between Latin America and Europe. The US has accused two senior military men from Guinea-Bissau of drug running. Air force head Ibraima Papa Camara and former navy chief Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto has been named "drug kingpins". One question which many fail to ask about Guinea Bissau is, are the soldiers taking drugs? Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde joined forces under Americal Cabral to chase the Portuguese out and gained independence after much struggle. Now after breaking away from mainland Bissau, look at Cape Verde today! One of the most stable nations of Africa and a model for democracy. While the fellow comrades in the struggle butcher each other for control of power. Kumba Yala who was onetime president of this poor country, need some questions answering as well. This stupid constant drunken man of a professor who never hesitates to urinate on a public highway even while being head of state is using ethnic card to plunge his nation in stream of blood. He has called for the annulations of the just concluded first round elections and said he was withdrawing from a supposed second round between him and former Prime Minister Carlos Gomez. He said there would be consequences if the electoral commission and the courts failed to implement his challenge of a cancellation of the first round and hold fresh elections. He alleged that the election had been fraudulent. Now Alberto Dabo reporting for Reuters News Agency in the Capital Bissau reported that: Only hours before the shooting, Yala, a former president who claims ethnic ties with the mostly Balanta military, had warned of "consequences" if campaigning for the second round went ahead. And his threats went into motion when shooting started on Thursday after the state radio station signal inexplicably went dead. The whereabouts of the interim president, Raimundo Pereira, were unknown A military official, who like the diplomat requested anonymity, said the soldiers had encircled Gomes's home and were attacking the building with grenades. It was not clear if Gomes was at home when the shooting started. "I'm out of it, I don't know who's behind this," Daha Bana, a military spokesman and assistant to armed forces chief of staff Antonio Indjai, told Reuters. "The Military Command does not want power but it was forced to act in this way to defend itself from the diplomatic maneuvers of the Guinea-Bissau government, which aims to annihilate the (country's) armed forces using foreign military force," the communique said, according to the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Local resident Edmond Ajoye, who works for a Dutch NGO, said: "There was panic. Women were running … There were rockets being launched, and the soldiers were shooting with guns mounted on their trucks." "The soldiers took downtown," he continued. "The shooting lasted from 7pm until 9pm. They then went from embassy to embassy to make sure that the politicians couldn't seek refuge there." The violence took even seasoned diplomats by surprise. "I am at the office and I am prevented from leaving," said one diplomat. "The downtown area has been sealed off by the military … I can also tell you that all Guinea-Bissau radio has been taken off the air since 8pm local time and the whereabouts of the prime minister and interim president are unknown." Guinea-Bissau has weathered successive coups, attempted coups and a civil war since winning independence from Portugal in 1974. It has been further destabilised by a growing cocaine trade. Latin American traffickers began using the nation's archipelago of uninhabited islands several years ago to land small aircraft carrying drug consignments, which are then divided up and shipped north for sale in Europe. The traffickers, according to analysts, have bought off key members of the government and the military, creating a narcostate. Guinea Bissau has 88 remote islands off its Atlantic coast, out of which only 21 are inhabited, mostly by fishermen and farmers. So these Islands have been used by powerful military as a transit route for drug smuggling and any civilian know to those powerful military of trying to undermine their only source of becoming somebodies, is what is leading to constant toppling of politicians by Guinea Bissau army. The prime minister and frontrunner in this election Carlos Gomez Jnr is no stranger to soldiers’ arrest few years back he was arrested and detained in an attempted coup but later freed. Today he is under their custody once again.

ECOWAS’ STANCE: Ivory Coast’s Foreign Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan announced in Abidjan at a meeting of the regional bloc foreign ministers who converged on the Ivorian Capital to discuss Mali another West African country few weeks ago plunged into a military coup. The situation in Mali however was restored to sanity when the coupist bowed to international pressure and handed the country back to civilian rule with the speaker of the national assembly taking over as interim Head of State. When informed about the Guinea Bissau situation, he said that the region would never tolerate coups in Guinea Bissau. “ECOWAS formally and rigorously condemns such an attempted coup d’état,” he added. Guinea-Bissau Foreign Minister Mamadu Djalo Pires, who was at the meeting, called for an "energetic reaction" from the international community against what he called "a coup d’état". It remain to be seen what ECOWAS would do next but what is the realities on the ground is that the military were at odds with the front runner in the elections who was former Prime Minister and would do everything to prevent him from becoming President. A statement from an unidentified military commander said Friday that soldiers who attacked the prime minister's home don't want to take power in Guinea-Bissau, claiming they intervened to halt foreign aggression in the tiny coup-prone African nation. "The Military Command does not want power they lied. They said they were forced to act in this way to defend itself from the diplomatic manoeuvres of the Guinea-Bissau government, which aims to annihilate the (country's) armed forces using foreign military force," the communiqué said, according to the Portuguese news agency Lusa. It claimed it possesses a "secret document" drawn up by the Guinea-Bissau government mandating Angola to attack Guinea-Bissau's military. It was impossible to independently verify the claim. Angolan Defense Minister Candido Pereira Van-Dunem said Thursday in Luanda that his country would "continue to provide full support" to Guinea-Bissau, with which Angola has "excellent ties," Angop reported. He said a calendar for the return of Angolan troops to Luanda was being negotiated with the Bissau authorities.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

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

DRUG ADDICTS IN UNIFORM HAVE SHAMED AFRICA AGAIN WITH ANOTHER MILITARY MADNESS IN WEST AFRICA! OH GUINEA BISSAU COUP AGAIN?

Blog Archive

Popular Posts