- Three Gambians - Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe and Omar Faal - have been convicted and sentenced to 20 years with hard labour by a High Court in Banjul after they were found guilty of treason. Demba Dem, a former lawmaker, was acquitted and discharged for lack of sufficient evidence.
The three have been charged with treason, conspiracy to commit treason and providing accessory after treason. Their charges stemmed from the 21 March 2006 abortive coup plot hatched by a handful of Gambian soldiers. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
But the trial judge, Justice Anin-Yeboah, said after perusing through the evidence of both prosecution and defence, the court was convinced that former had proven its case beyond reasonable doubts against Jasseh, Jobe and Faal. She said the prosecution could not prove a case against Dem.
On 19 April, 10 military officers were found guilty of the same crime by a military tribunal. They were sentenced from 10 to life in prison.
Last month, six security top brass, including the former Chief of Defence Staff, Col. Vincent Jatta, were released on presidential amnesty after spending more than a year behind bars. The officers were accused of conspiring to commit treason but they were never brought before any court of law.
Their arrest and detention was connected to the 21 March coup plot, believed to be orchestrated by the army chief, Col Ndure Cham who has since been at large.
The fate of five other coup suspects is still not known. Gambian authorities said the suspects escaped while they were being transferred to a regional prison but most people hold the belieft that they have been tortured to death. Since then, nothing has been heard from them.
Right activists have blamed The Gambia government for hiding behind the coup to get to its “perceived enemies”. The aftermath of the foiled coup saw a mass crack down on innocent soldiers, politicians, journalists, lawyers and others.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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