29 March 2019

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

29 March 2019 The Commission of Inquiry COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITES OF PUBLIC BODIES, ENTERPRISES AND OFFICES AS REGARDS THEIR DEALINGS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH AND CONNECTED MATTERS REPORT VOLUME 9 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILTY FOR CIVIL AND CRIMINAL WRONGS 10th AUGUST 2017 - 29th MARCH 2019 1 The Commission of Inquiry CONTENTS Page Chapter 1 - Introduction 5 Chapter 2 - Individuals 6 - 277 (1) Ex - President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh (2) Financial Dealings of Ex – First Lady Zineb Souma Yahya Jammeh (3) General Sulayman Badjie (4) Isatou Njie Saidy (5) Amadou Samba (6) Tarek Musa (7) Mohamed Bazzi (8) Fadi George Mazegi (9) Nicolae Buzainu and Dragos Buzainou 10) Illeja Reymond and Martin Keller 11) Ali Yousseh Sharara 12) Ansumana Jammeh 13) Woreh Njie Ceesay 14) Alhagie Ousman Ceesay 15) Fatou Njie 16) Toni Ghattas 17) Sira Wally Ndow Njai 2 The Commission of Inquiry 18) Amadou Colley 19) Basiru Njai 20) Oumie Savage Samba 21) Baboucarr Sanyang 22) Balla Jassey 23) Njogou L. Bah 24) Momodou Sabally 25) Noah Touray 26) Kebba S. Touray 27) Fatou Mas Jobe Njie 28) Feryale Diab Ghanem 29) Mohamadou Lamin Gibba 30) Momodou O. S. Badjie 31) Edward Graham 32) Abdoulie B. Cham 33) Manlafy Jarju 34) Ismaila Kabba Sambou 35) Momodou Aki Bayo 36) Ebou Jallow 37) Edward Signhatey 38) Yankuba Touray 3 The Commission of Inquiry Chapter 3 - Commercial Banks 278 - 289 1) Trust Bank Limited 2) Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Limited Chapter 4 – Others 290 - 291 1) M.A. Kharafi & Sons APPENDICES 292 - 297 Appendix 1 - ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 4 The Commission of Inquiry RESPONSIBILITY FOR CIVIL AND OR CRIMINAL WRONGS CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION The Commission is required to identify institutions, persons and groups of persons directly involved in the financial dealings and activities of Ex-President Jammeh, his family members and close associates. It is also required to identify whether any offences were committed by any persons, and to make recommendations as to the ways and means of recovering and restoring of assets, monies or other resources that may have been illegally taken, misappropriated, misapplied or lost. The investigation has been wide ranging. As is apparent from the preceding Volumes disproportionate amounts of resources were wasted, misappropriated and diverted during the 22 years of the Ex-President Jammeh‘s Government. At the same time the meager resources at the disposal of the country were managed at the whim and caprices of the Ex-President without regard to the structures and processes in place to ensure coherence and accountability, as can be seen from the transfer to OP of the management of key institutions, the appropriation of SOE revenue, for instance, in the case of the International Gateway or the GNPC accounts, the failure to comply with procurement rules, and the creation of OP controlled bank accounts for the diversion of resources to them. The Ex-President‘s financial dealings/activities were at all stages facilitated, assisted or even guided by a number of people. The Commission in the preceding Volumes has endeavored to identify those who were involved in any matter investigated and reported on. During the course of its inquiry the Commission identified seventeen persons as close associates of Ex-President Jammeh based on the evidence before it at any stage. These include military officers who left with the Ex-President into exile, private individuals and companies that had business dealings with the Ex-President either directly or indirectly through companies in which the Ex-President has an interest. The investigations have however shown that apart from persons who fall in the said category there are others who worked with the Ex-President by virtue of the offices they held, many of whom were also involved in the Ex-President‘s financial dealings and activities. This Volume sets out the responsibility of the Ex-President, Family Members, Close Associates and any other persons found to be liable to make restitution to the State or any other institution under this Report. It also identifies the offences that the evidence shows may have been committed and the persons who there is probable cause to believe committed the offences or were parties to their commission. 5 The Commission of Inquiry CHAPTER 2 - INDIVIDUALS 1. EX-PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH 1. BACKGROUND A. Limitations on the Office of the President The primary subject of our inquiry is the Ex-President. This Chapter sets out its findings as regards the Ex-President‘s civil and potentially criminal liabilities. The Commission has adverted its mind to the duty of a President to uphold and defend the Constitution and the law1 in accordance with his or her Oath of Office, and the limitations on the Office of President to undertake private business activities2. Section 69 of the Constitution makes it clear that with regard to civil proceedings against a President for acts committed whilst in Office, the time during which he was in office is not counted for the purpose of bringing a valid action against him within the limitation period. After he leaves office no court may entertain any action against him or her in any civil proceedings in respect of any act done in his or her official capacity as President. There is no restriction on holding the Ex-President responsible and liable for actions done by him in his private capacity or outside the scope of his office as President or those that are unlawful or irregular, or done for his personal interest. All acts of the Ex-President for which the Commission finds him liable in this Report and summarized in this Chapter were found by the Commission to have been done in his private capacity, or outside the scope of his office as President, or otherwise illegal. 1 See section 61(2) 2 Section 68(4)(5) of the Constitution which provides that ―The President shall not while he or she continues in office as President, hold any office of profit or emolument whether public or private, occupy any other position carrying the right to remuneration for rendering of services, be undertake any activity inconsistent with his or her official position or expose himself or herself to any situation which carries the risk of a conflict developing between his or her official concerns and his or her private interest.(C) Used his or her position as such or used information and entrusted to or received by him or her in an official position directly or indirectly to enrich himself or herself or any other person. Where the President was engage in any trade business or other undertaken before assuming the office of President he or she shall if he or she wishes to continue such trade, business undertaken do so under a trusteeship‖. 6 The Commission of Inquiry With regard to criminal liability, section 69 of the Constitution makes it clear that any prosecution must be sanctioned by two thirds of the members of the National Assembly if they deem it to be justified in the public interest3. B. Profile Ex-President Jammeh was born on the 25th May 1965. He came into power on 22nd July 1994 at the age of 29 as a Lieutenant in the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF). His Employment No. was 30050614. He was first married to Madam Tuti Faal (divorced), then Madam Zineb Souma, and lastly Madam Halima Sallah (divorced). He has two children with Ex-First Lady Zineb Jammeh, namely Mariam and Muhammed Jammeh. His only other known dependent was his mother Aja Asombi Bojang (deceased). He was in power for 22 years 6 months, first as Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council 22nd July 1994 to January 1997 when he was sworn into power as the 2nd President of The Gambia. C. Emoluments According to the records of the Accountant General, in July 1994 when he took over power, his salary was D2,744.20 per month. The Accountant General has not provided details of his salary and allowances for the period between July 1994 to June 1997. From correspondence from the Accountant General to the Ex-President‘s bankers Trust Bank Limited, his emoluments from July 1997 were as follows5: Total Emoluments paid from 18/1/2007 to 5/12/2013 including per diem is D14,290,394 28/1/2014 to 31/12/2016 – D10,941,000 including gratuity but excluding per diem. - Total Salary D23,514,999.42 -15/7/1997 – 31/12/2016 - Gratuity D4,821,000.00 - Per diem D1,126,394.80 (up to 5/12/2013) Between the period August 1994 to July 1997, there is no evidence of monthly salary being paid into his account and for the years from 1997 to 2006, there is no record of gratuity being paid or per diem shown. 3 Section 69(3) - (3) - After a President has vacated the office of President---a criminal court shall only have jurisdiction to entertain proceedings against him or her in respect of acts or omissions alleged to have been perpetrated by him or her while holding office as President if the National Assembly has resolved on a motion supported by not less than two-thirds of all members that such proceedings are justified in the public interest. 4 Exhibit MS315A 5 Exhibit MS315A-C 7 The Commission of Inquiry PER DIEM was paid from Security Account Number 1101003565 at Central Bank.6 as from 2011. The account was opened and operated from the Office of the Secretary General. According to the financial records from OP from 2011 to 2016 D260, 820, 345.99 was spent on travels, per diems and others from the Security Account Number 1101003565 at Central Bank.7 The account was never audited and did not have an internal audit system.8 D.
Recommended publications
  • Volume 5 -GOVERNMENT LOANS, GRANTS & DONATIONS
    The Commission of Inquiry COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC BODIES, ENTERPRISES AND OFFICES AS REGARDS THEIR DEALINGS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J JAMMEH AND CONNECTED MATTERS REPORT VOLUME 5 GOVERNMENT LOANS, GRANTS & DONATIONS 10th AUGUST 2017 - 29th MARCH 2019 The Commission of Inquiry CONTENTS Page Introduction 3 Chapter 1 EXIM Bank of India (MAHINDRA TRACTORS) 4 - 12 Chapter 2 Taiwan Loans and Grants 13 - 25 Chapter 3 Japanese Grant 26 - 30 Chapter 4 Qatari Grant (State Aircraft) 31 - 36 Chapter 5 Nigeria Budget Support (Oil Liftings) 37 - 41 2 The Commission of Inquiry INTRODUCTION This volume focuses on various resources—including grants, donations and loans (collectively, the ―Resources‖)—intended for the people and Government of The Gambia that were diverted, converted or misappropriated by, or at the direction of, ex- President Jammeh. The Resources that are the focus of this volume include a credit facility from the Export-Import Bank of India, grants provided by the Republic of China on Taiwan, Japan, and Qatar, and a donation from the Nigerian government. These Resources are each discussed separately in the five chapters that follow. Broadly, as the evidence herein shows, Ex-President Jammeh misappropriated these Resources mostly through his private companies, particularly Kanilai Group Investment (KGI) International and Kanilai Family Farms (KFF). Once improperly diverted, the Resources were then channeled into accounts that were beneficially controlled by the former President. In addition, although the Gambian people did not benefit from the Resources, interest and principal payments on particular loans were repaid using taxpayer and public funds.
    [Show full text]
  • THE GAMBIA COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service
    THE GAMBIA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 9 June 2011 (reissued 17 October 2011) THE GAMBIA 9 JUNE 2011 (REISSUED 17 OCTOBER 2011) Contents Preface (includes explanatory note on why the report was reissued) Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 1.09 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.13 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY (1965 TO 2011) .......................................................................................... 3.01 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (JANUARY 2011 TO MARCH 2011) ....................................... 4.01 5. CONSTITUTION .......................................................................................................... 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 6.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 6.01 The Executive Branch .......................................................................................... 6.05 The Legislative Branch .......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations in the Gambia
    DOCUMENTING DICTATORSHIP: Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations in The Gambia J u n e , 2 0 2 0 Centre for Democracy & Development Centre pour la Democratie/ et le Developpement/ Contents Executive Summary 2 Towards a 'new Gambia' 6 Creating the commission 10 Approach 12 KEY FINDINGS: Matching expectations? 13 Uncovering the truth 13 Perpetrators on trial 18 Compensation concerns 22 (Re)Building The Gambia 25 The political backdrop 27 Towards a conclusion 27 Recommendations 29 References 31 Boxes: Box 1 – Gambia's complicated political overhaul 08 Box 2 - What is transitional justice? 10 Box 3 - Essa Faal: Interrogating the truth 15 Box 4- Giving voice to women 20 03 Acknowledgements The report was authored by Idayat Hassan and Jamie Hitchen. Alhassan Ibrahim, researcher at the Centre for Democracy and Development, offered invaluable assistance during interviews in The Gambia in February 2020. Our profound thanks to Sait Matty Jaw for all his support in arranging interviews and focus group discussions in Banjul in February 2020 and for his invaluable insights and editorial support in the development of the report. To Robina Namusisi for her support in helping us with logistical arrangements in The Gambia. And to Mohamed Suma at the International Centre for Transitional Justice for his feedback on the draft. Most importantly our thanks are due to the interview and focus group respondents who took time to share their thoughts and insights about the work of the TRRC with us. The report was funded by the Mac Arthur Foundation. Front cover photo credit: © Jason Florio Executive Summary The Gambia's Truth, Reconciliation and contested presidential polls in late 2021, the Reparations Commission (TRRC) has heard TRRC is just one part of a complicated public testimony from over 200 individuals transitional justice process.
    [Show full text]
  • Joint News Release the GAMBIA JOINS OTHER
    Joint News Release THE GAMBIA JOINS OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN UNDERTAKING GROUND- BREAKING STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF CHILD UNDERNUTRITION Banjul Gambia, 12 December 2018 – The Government of The Gambia today launched the ground-breaking study of the impact of child undernutrition on the economy - its theme, ‘Eliminating stunting in The Gambia is a necessary step for sustained development’. This is the latest in a series known as the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study which examines the effects of child undernutrition on health, education and national productivity on a country. COHA is a pan-African initiative led by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). “The Gambia Government recognizes the crucial role nutrition plays in economic development” said H.E the Vice President and Minister for Women’s Affairs, Ousainou Darboe, as he launched the COHA study. He further noted that the Cost of Hunger in Africa study provides the necessary evidence base needed for directing urgent investment to advance human capital and more specifically, nutrition. So far, 15 countries have completed the study, namely Burkina Faso, Chad, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Swaziland, Uganda, and most recently in Niger. The findings show that countries are incurring significant losses raging between 1.9 and 16.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually due to the effect of malnutrition. Speaking on behalf of the African Union and NEPAD Agency, Bibi Giyose noted that Cost of Hunger in Africa study should not be an end in itself but the beginning of something much bigger.
    [Show full text]
  • Level: Bachelor's 2006-2016: the GAMBIA's FOREIGN POLICY
    Level: Bachelor’s 2006-2016: THE GAMBIA’S FOREIGN POLICY THE GRADUAL SHIFT TOWARD CHINA AND THE GULF Author: Amat Jeng ([email protected]) Supervisor: Docent Amr G.E Sabet Examiners: Docent Amr G.E Sabet & Docent Kjetil Duvold Subject/main field of study: International Relations Course code: SK2010 Date of examination: At the Dalarna University it is possible to publish the student thesis in full text in DiVA. The publishing is open access, which means the work will be freely accessible to read and download on the internet. This will significantly increase the dissemination and visibility of the student thesis. Open access is becoming the standard route for spreading scientific and academic information on the internet. Dalarna University recommends that both researchers as well as students publish their work open access. I give my/we give our consent for full text publishing (freely accessible on the internet, open access): Yes ☒ No ☐ Dalarna University – SE-791 88 Falun – Phone +4623-77 80 00 ABSTRACT After coming to power in a bloodless coup in 1994, Yahya Jammeh gradually established himself as a controversial leader of a country less than half the size of Dalarna, home to the Dalarna University. During the last decades of his rule, he became known for his controversial speeches at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and his anti-Western rhetoric. Jammeh broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan after two decades of a marriage of convenience; he became ever more hostile to the West; and sought cooperation with China and the Gulf states of Qatar and Kuwait. At the domestic front, he embarked on establishing an Islamic identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Janneh Commission White Paper-3
    THE GAMBIA GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER ON THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC BODIES, ENTERPRISES AND OFFICES AS REGARDS THEIR DEALINGS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH AND CONNECTED MATTERS Introduction 1. On 22nd July, 1994, the democratic government of President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, was toppled in a military coup d‟état by a small group of young lieutenants led by Yahya Abdul Aziz Jamus Junkung Jammeh. The coup makers quickly established the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) consisting at first of Chairman Lt. Yahya Jammeh, Lt. Sanna Sabally, Lt. Edward Singhateh and Lt. Sadibou Hydara, who were soon after joined by Lt Yankuba Touray and Captain Lamin Kaba Bajo. 2. Following the introduction of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh retired from The Gambia National Army, transformed himself into a civilian and contested successive presidential elections which he won as candidate for the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) party. In a historic election held on 1st December, 2016, President Jammeh for the APRC was defeated by the current President, Mr. Adama Barrow, who was supported by a coalition of opposition political parties. 3. A tense and dangerous political stand-off ensued when President Jammeh refused to hand over power to President-elect Adama Barrow, culminating in a threat of the use of force by ECOWAS member States to compel President Jammeh to quit power. He ultimately succumbed and left the Country on 21st January, 2017, following the swearing-in of President-elect Adama Barrow on 19th January, 2017, in Dakar, Senegal.
    [Show full text]
  • (SNF2) Report – Jun 2019
    Consultative Dialogue Organised by GK Partners & Office of the President (Government of The Gambia) SNF2 REPORT OF THE SECOND STAKE IN THE NATION FORUM Incorporating notes on the Second Diaspora Finance Technical Roundtable (DFTR2), held on 6 March 2019, at the National Assembly Building Presidential Keynote Address Delivered By: His Excellency Vice President Ousainu A.M.N. Darboe Saturday, 12 January 2019 (09.00 to 19.00 ), Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, Bijilo, The Gambia SECOND STAKE IN THE NATION FORUM (SNF2) Front cover photos: Photo 1: Plenary speakers from left to right: Dr. Ruby E.M. Randall, IMF Country Representative; Hon. Hadrammeh Sidibeh, Minister of Youths and Sports; Prof. Gibril Faal, D irector of GK Partners & MSDG Project Director; H.E. Ousainu A.N.M. Darboe, Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia; Hon. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hon. Mariama Jack Denton, Speaker of the National Assembly; H.E. Dr Marion Wei chelt Krupski, Swiss Ambassador to The Gambia; Ms. Oumie Andrews,Vice President, Gambian Diaspora Healthcare Initiative. Photo 2 & 3: Cross section of the SNF2 audience. Photo 4: Cabinet ministers from left to right: Mr James Gomez, Minister of Fisherie s and Water Resources; Mr Ebrima Camara, Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service; Mr Ebrima Mballow, Minister of Interior; Mr Hamat Bah, Minister of Tourism a nd Culture; Dr Isatou Touray, Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Mr Lamin N. Dibba, Minister of Agriculture; Mr Mambury Njie, Minister of Finance; Mr Musa Drammeh, Minister of Lands and Regional Government; Mr Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Informat ion and Communication Infrastructure.
    [Show full text]
  • General Introduction and Ex-President Jammeh's
    The Commission of Inquiry COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITES OF PUBLIC BODIES, ENTERPRISES AND OFFICES AS REGARDS THEIR DEALINGS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH AND CONNECTED MATTERS REPORT VOLUMES 1 & 2 GENERAL INTRODUCTION & EX-PRESIDENT JAMMEH’S FINANCIAL DEALINGS & CORRUPTION (BANK ACCOUNTS) 10th AUGUST 2017 - 29th MARCH 2019 The Commission of Inquiry CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3 - 4 VOLUME 1 General Introduction 5 – 40 VOLUME 2 Introduction 41 Chapter 1 Central Bank Accounts 41 - 132 Chapter 2 Accounts with Guaranty Trust Bank Limited 133 - 156 Chapter 3 Accounts with Trust Bank Limited 157 - 193 Chapter 4 Accounts with Other Banks 194 Chapter 5 Gambia Embassy in Washington – Procurement Accounts 195 - 196 Chapter 6 APRC Accounts 197 – 200 APPENDIX 1 201 - 203 Chapter 7 Recommendations 204 - 212 2 The Commission of Inquiry ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A few of us are ever given the opportunity or occasion to serve our country in some unique way during our lifetime. This Commission of Inquiry has been unique in many ways. Of these, we believe the most important is its potential to help shape the future direction of our country by avoiding some of the exposed pitfalls and follies of the past 22 years. We recognize the honour of having been given the opportunity to serve, and in this regard, would like to express our gratitude to the President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency, Adama Barrow, for the great honor we have been accorded in our appointment to this national assignment. Many Commissions of Inquiry preceded this Commission. However, no other Gambian Commission is yet to be confronted by a task of such magnitude and complexity, as is apparent from this Report.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights Abuses on the Rise in Already Repressive Gambia
    Human Rights Abuses on the Rise in Already Repressive Gambia Since seizing power in a 1994 military coup, President Yahya Jammeh has made Gambia one of the most repressive countries in all of Africa. In two decades of Jammeh’s rule, state-sanctioned torture, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, murders and arbitrary executions; incommunicado detentions without charge; and routine denials of freedom of expression, association, and other basic human rights have become commonplace. Gambia’s security and intelligence services are directly involved in these violations. In 2014, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, and UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Juan Méndez, traveled to Gambia, the first visit to the country made by experts from the Human Rights Council’s fact-finding body. Though they were prevented from completing their investigation, the Special Rapporteurs were able to gather a significant amount of information about the Jammeh regime. Mr. Méndez in particular found that “torture is a consistent practice carried out by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA),”1 which is the Gambian government’s main intelligence gathering unit. Authorities in Gambia have imprisoned countless individuals over the past two decades, targeting journalists, political opponents and dissidents, government critics, and human rights defenders. These acts are often carried out by Gambia’s infamous NIA, as well as the “The Jungulars,” a government death squad that operates with impunity. It is widely believed that President Jammeh exercises full command responsibility over both units. A failed coup attempt, which took place on December 30, 2014, has further emboldened the already brutal Jammeh regime, making the necessity for the international community to act all the more urgent.
    [Show full text]
  • The Statesmanls Yearbook 2020
    The Statesman’s Yearbook 2020 The Statesman’s Yearbook 2020 The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World Springer Nature Limited Published annually since 1864 The Statesman’s Yearbook 2020 ISBN 978-1-349-95939-6 ISBN 978-1-349-95940-2 (eBook) ISBN 978-1-349-95941-9 (Bundle) https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95940-2 © Springer Nature Limited 2020 The author(s) has/have asserted their right(s) to be identified as the author(s) of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Commissioned B
    Review of the June 2011 UK Border Agency Country of Information Service The Gambia Country of Origin (COI) Report Commissioned by Dr Khalid Koser, Chair of the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) Prepared by Stephanie Huber and Elizabeth Williams (Asylum Research Consultancy – ARC) and Dr Pamela Kea (University of Sussex) August 2011 Content Background p. 2 Scope of the review p. 2 Methodology p. 3 Executive Summary p. 4 Review p. 6 1 Background Stephanie Huber & Elizabeth Williams – Asylum Research Consultancy (ARC) Stephanie and Elizabeth, specialist COI researchers, both have over four years experience of conducting COI research to support individual asylum and human rights claims at the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS). Upon leaving IAS in September 2010 they set up ‘Asylum Research Consultancy’ (ARC) in order to continue to provide a case-specific COI research service and to undertake research, advocacy and training to improve the quality of refugee status determination (RSD), and in particular, the use of COI. ARC also produces a free bi-monthly COI Update which provides notification of new UK Country Guidance cases, new UKBA COI publications and developments in the top refugee-producing countries. For further information visit www.asylumresearchconsultancy.com or email ARC at [email protected] Dr Pamela Kea – University of Sussex Dr Pamela Kea, an anthropologist with a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology, has carried out research on gender and processes of socialisation in West Africa and particularly in The Gambia since 1993. She has also lived in The Gambia from 1993 to 1995 and from 1997 to 1998 to undertake research and returns to The Gambia on a regular basis to carry out further research.
    [Show full text]
  • Provisional List of Delegations to the United Nations Conference on Sustanable Development Rio+20 I Member States
    PROVISIONAL LIST OF DELEGATIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT RIO+20 I MEMBER STATES AFGHANISTAN H.E. Mr. Zalmai Rassoul, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Representatives H.E. Mr. Wais Ahmad Barmak, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development H.E. Mr. Mohammad Asif Rahimi, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Animal Husbandry H.E. Prince Mustapha Zahir, President of National Environment Protection Agency H.E. Mr. Jawed Ludin, Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. Sham Lal Batijah, Senior Economic Adviser to the President H.E. Mr. Zahir Tanin, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mr. Mohammad Erfani Ayoob, Director General, United Nations and International Conferences Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ershad Ahmadi, Director General of Fifth Political Department Mr. Janan Mosazai, Spokesperson, Ministry for Foreign Affairs Mr. Enayetullah Madani, Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the UN Mr. Aziz Ahmad Noorzad, Deputy Chief of Protocol, Ministry for Foreign Affairs Ms. Kwaga Kakar, Adviser to the Foreign Minister Ms. Ghazaal Habibyar, Director General of Policies, Ministry of Mine Mr. Wahidullah Waissi, Adviser to the Deputy Foreign Minister 2 ALBANIA H.E. Mr. Fatmir Mediu, Minister for Environment, Forests and Water Administration of the Republic of Albania Representatives H.E. Mr. Ferit Hoxha, Ambassador Permanent Representative to the United Nations H.E. Mrs. Tajiana Gjonaj, Ambassador to Brazil Mr. Oerd Bylykbashi, Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister Mr. Glori Husi, Adviser to the Prime Minister Mr. Abdon de Paula, Honorary Consul to Rio de Janeiro Mr. Thomas Amaral Neves, Honorary Consul to São Paulo Mr.
    [Show full text]