President Adama Barrow: I am very pleased to announce to you all my Cabinet of Ministers

I am very pleased to announce to you all my Cabinet of Ministers. #Gambia pic.twitter.com/tnhPOTq7CB

— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) February 11, 2017

ECOWAS Forces Moves Into Gambia without any resistance

Economic Community of Waest African States (ECOWAS) coalition forces who have been on stand by in Senegal have moved into Gambia with a view to securing strategic positions.

Ecomog Force commander, Air Commodore Tajjudeen Yusuf confirmed that the troops met no resistance as they moved into the country. The Gambian security forces are said to have rather been friendly and welcoming.

The Nigerian air-force also conducted armed Reece of the the country from the base in Dakar Senegal without any hindrance. Correspondent Macham reports that the troops are expected to prepare the grounds for the return of president ADAMA BARROW to the country.

Yahya Jammeh Bows Down To Pressure, Agrees To Go Into Exile In Mauritania

Barely a few hours before his mandate expires, President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia is reported to have accepted a last-minute deal to relinquish power peacefully and go into exile. According to reports from Banjul which are yet to be independently confirmed, Mr Jammeh agreed to step down in the interest of peace and stability of the Gambia after a tense closed door meeting with the visiting president of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

Reports added that Mr Jammeh will leave for Mauritania tonight with President Aziz. It is not clear whether he will settle there permanently or move to another country.

Mr Jammeh’s mandate expires at midnight of Wednesday after his surprised defeat in last month’s election by opposition candidate Adama Barrow.

Nigeria on standby to evacuate citizens from Gambia

Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the president on foreign affairs and diaspora, says the federal government is “on standby” to evacuate Nigerians in Gambia if the need arises.

Crisis is brewing in Gambia over the refusal of President Yahaya Jammeh to step down after losing the election, with supporters of Adama Barrow, the winner, vowing to swear him in on January 19 when Jammeh’s tenure will elapse.

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the situation in Gambia.

PRESIDENT JAMMEH, THE DRUG CARTELS AND GAMBIAN PEOPLE

President Jammeh

Gambia is the most suitable stopover for drug trafficking from South America to the lucrative drug markets in Europe. This is as a result of the flourishing drug trade, corruption and arms trade which goes right to the top.
The impoverished, chronically unstable country is an island and has a ‘Jammeh’ monitored coastline, literally making the country a perfect hotspot for drug smugglers. Interestingly, President Jammeh who took power of the country through a military coup in 1994 was elected in 1996, and reelected in 2001, 2006, and 2011 but lost the 2016 polls, and other high-ranking Gambian officials to include those in the Police and in the Army have been linked to different drug cartels and arms trade.

War Against Terror: 186 Junior Military Officers Get Counter-terrorism Training

The Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna State, has conducted a special training course for junior military officers on counter-terrorism and peace support operations.

The training equipped them with appropriate skills to function as Grade Three Staff Officers and Junior commanders in their various military services and organisations.

During their graduation ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, said the training had become necessary due to the emerging security challenges.

Pius Adesanmi: No Wonder Rere dey Run

Aso Rock Villa. Living Room of the President’s private residence. Israeli, American, French, Chinese, Cambodian, Somalian, Sudanese, and Ghanaian security operatives protecting the Nigerian president are in the background. They try to make themselves unobtrusive. Also in the background, chanting Quranic hymns on mats imported from Chad, are marabouts from Niger, Senegal, and Gambia. At the centre of the living room, some distance away from all the foreign intelligence and spiritual protectors of the President, the usual suspects gather, wearing gloomy faces: President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Tony Anenih, Baba Iyabo, Ayo Oritsejafor, Mohammed Adoke, Doyin Okupe, Reuben Abati, and other inconsequential AGIPs. Nobody is talking. Soft music oozes from a central entertainment system. An old school Yoruba tune probably supplied by Doyin Okupe and Reuben Abati:

Nigeria , Other West African Leaders Disagree with EU Trade Plans

ECOWAS leaders has  disagree with the European Union free trade deals . Nigeria and the rest of the regional block refused to open their economies to free trade with the European Union at a summit on Saturday.

Nigeria, the regional heavyweight Nigeria voiced concerns which stalled the deal of any further negotiations over the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) since ECOWAS countries resisted lifting tariff barriers over fears that they could crush nascent industries unable to cope with European imports.