Ten long years

Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of a popular election that brought incumbent Senegalese president, Abdoulaye Wade, to power.

By Sheriff Bojang Jnr.

On March 19 2000, Wade defeated Abdou Diouf in the second rounds of the ballot, ending 40 years of socialist rule in the former French colony. He won the race with the help of other major opposition parties that went into alliance with him under the banner of Sopi (change) 2000. He finally won the race after trying in vain four times starting from 1978. Wade defeated Diouf on a promise of sound and effective policies and programmes in the areas of economy, education, infrastructure, democracy and the rule of law. There was an optimism that the new president would live by his promises and keep the hopes of the nation alive.

Gambia's secret torture chambers

“My hands were tied together, my head covered with a black plastic bag… they poured cold water on me and the four men from the State Guard started beating me… until I became unconscious”, says ex-Gambian parliamentarian.

By Sheriff Bojang Jnr.

The Gambia is one of West Africa’s major tourist destinations. Every winter season, thousands of tourists from mainly Britain, The Netherlands and Scandinavia visit the country to escape the freezing weather in Europe.

For the holiday makers it is a paradise, one of the most peaceful and relaxing countries on the African continent. But there is another side of The Gambia that is worlds apart from the one presented to the tourists and the one they fall in love with.

Enemies of the state

Less than 15km away from the Tourism Development Area, a vast area where most of the hotels are located, are the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Mile 2 Central Prison. These are The Gambia’s two most notorious and hostile detention centres where the authorities illegally detain and torture people they perceive as enemies of the state.

Demba Dem was a National Assembly member who won his parliamentary seat under the ticket of the President Yahya Jammeh’s ruling party. Unlike his peers on the ruling bench, Dem was renowned for challenging and voting against controversial pro-government bills. This had put him on a collision course with his peers and top government officials who confronted and threatened him on various occasions.

Demba Dem