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| Momodou |
Posted - 22 Jan 2014 : 21:27:18
EU poised to boost Gambia aid despite rights violations
By Misha Hussain
DAKAR, Jan 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The European Union may double aid to Gambia to 150 million euros over the next seven years, creating a split between EU members on whether to fund countries with poor human-rights records, diplomats said.
Gambia has received some 75 million euros of aid over the past six years from the European Development Fund (EDF). But in talks known as Article 8 dialogues, it has shown little interest in engaging with EU policy on governance, diplomats say.
President Yahya Jammeh drew international condemnation by executing prisoners in 2012, subjecting political opponents to torture and forcing them to confess to sedition on television. At the U.N. General Assembly in September, he attacked gay rights as a threat to humanity.
"The EU is seriously concerned about human rights and governance in Gambia," Alexandre Polack, a spokesman for the EU Development Commissioner, wrote in an e-mail. "For the next two years, the EU intends to allocate a limited envelope of up to 25 million euros to support the Article 8 dialogue."
Polack said longer-term funding was under discussion. If EU members agree, up to 150 million euros is available over the next seven years. The exact amount would depend on the outcome of an Article 8 meeting scheduled for early February. Funding could be blocked if enough EU member states oppose the proposal.
That has created considerable tension within the bloc, diplomats said. Spain and Italy have a vested interest in Gambia's development, said one EU diplomat who asked to remain anonymous, because they are the destination for poverty-related migration from West Africa.
Northern EU nations, including Britain, say Jammeh's disregard for human rights must be addressed and suspending aid might be used to punish the government, said the diplomat.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation has learned that Burundi and Madagascar, which have poor human-rights records as well, also stand to get more aid over the bloc's 2014-2020 development plan. Their funding illustrates the flaws in trying to use EDF to bargain for improved governance in sub-Saharan Africa.
Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup and has been elected four times since then. He has said repeatedly his government will not make policy concessions based on promises of aid. In October, he pulled out of the Commonwealth, which groups Britain and most of its former colonies. The same month, he accused London and Washington of plotting to overthrow his government.
EU diplomats agree that a halt to funding might hurt the Gambian population. But they worry that continuing it may help prop up Jammeh's regime. Development aid accounts for 12.6 percent of the national income.
"The EU needs to set concrete objectives within the Article 8 dialogue to show improvement," said Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, Gambia researcher for Amnesty International. "If the EU made these public, civil society and the media could hold both parties accountable."
Source: Reuters
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| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kobo |
Posted - 15 Apr 2014 : 02:20:47
 Government of The Gambia and The European Union Talks Resumed
Talks between the government of The Gambia and The European Union resumed on the 8th of April 2014, the EU-Gambia Political Dialogue took place in Banjul. This follows an impasse when the EU came up with the 17 points. This is a press release sent to the Daily News from the EU after the meeting. Below is the full text of the press release.
"The cooperation between the EU and The Gambia is broad and deep. The political dialogue stipulated by the Cotonou agreement provides a platform for discussion on matters of mutual concerns. This dialogue is an integral part of the EU-Gambia cooperation. The meeting held on 8th April 2014 allowed for a frank discussion on an array of issues in a spirit of partnership and in good atmosphere.
Amongst other things, we addressed:
1) Follow up to the EU-Africa Summit held in Brussels on 2 and 3 April
2) Political and economic situation in both the EU and The Gambia
3) Issuing of Schengen visas for Gambian officials
4) Security challenges in West Africa
5) Governance and Human Right issues
6) EU – Gambia development cooperation
While progress on common concerns was made and acknowledged, further discussions are needed and provisioned. The EU looks forward to pursuing the political dialogue on all subjects discussed and wishes to thank the Government of The Gambia for the organisation of the meeting.".....
Source: Full Report Daily News |
| kobo |
Posted - 24 Jan 2014 : 21:00:42
1. This is welcome news and a blessing in disguise for the common good of ordinary Gambians benefitting; as Jammeh/APRC government may not survive another five years. A fitting quote;"A Man May Die! Nations May Rise And Fall But An Idea Lives On!"
2. Chunk of aid may cover curbing immigration and repatriation programmes benefiting Italy and Spain from the statement quoted that "Spain and Italy have a vested interest in Gambia's development, said one EU diplomat who asked to remain anonymous, because they are the destination for poverty-related migration from West Africa." It would be interesting to find out other areas where "Spain and Italy have .. vested interest in Gambia's development"
3. It is important to note that it appears from the report above, all the campaigns, activism and petitions against Jammeh/APRC government by Gambian dissidents were effective and taken very seriously by only British government. The position of France is not indicated in the report but when President Jammeh withdraw from The Commonwealth to provoke the British government he turned his attention to France. For Spain and Italy there is a stronger APRC militants wing and this news may be considered victory for them and would be use for propaganda
4.Interesting opinion and a technocrat's analysis on Why EU plan to boost aid to Gambia not a bad idea
By Sidi Sanneh
Source: Gainako Online News for full report |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 24 Jan 2014 : 10:47:29
"There is a local believe that when you away from your homeland you tend to make better economic progress because of the social dependency culture. Example, if I live in Gambia and earning meager salary, a whole host of people come to live with me and I have to feed and provide for them. But if I am in another country I cater for myself and send my folks the little I can, but I can save more money that we. So that may be another contributing factor."
I agree with your words above ,as usual it is all about MONEY ! |
| dbaldeh |
Posted - 24 Jan 2014 : 01:42:14
Toubab, good question. From what I learned, It was and I believe still easier to obtain a US visa from the Gambia than many other countries in Africa. This is as a result of US visa restrictions on certain countries. Every year a certain number of US visas are allocated per country. Gambia was one of the countries with lesser citizens who travel to the United States. This may have changed now but has been in the case.
So many West African nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Siera Leone and Guinea comes to Gambia, settle and look for Gambian passports and apply for Visa and make it out to the US and other countries. There was a time when there was no visa between Gambia and certain countries like the UK until the Military take over.
Some of our teachers in high school in the early 90s from Ghana, Nigeria etc obtain visas from Gambia.
Another reason may be that Gambia has less restrictions on residency requirements until again recently... Anyway, there is more on this issue but you also need to look at how many Gambians also travel to regional countries like Senegal, Mali, Siera Leone, Ivory Coast etc.
There is a local believe that when you away from your homeland you tend to make better economic progress because of the social dependency culture. Example, if I live in Gambia and earning meager salary, a whole host of people come to live with me and I have to feed and provide for them. But if I am in another country I cater for myself and send my folks the little I can, but I can save more money that we. So that may be another contributing factor.
Here is a link about how US visas are allocated. A little more research you can find how much each country is allocated.. This is just a related link:
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/how-united-states-immigration-system-works-fact-sheet
Thanks |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 22 Jan 2014 : 21:41:53
I will pose this question as a responce to this posting:
Why is it that so many people from many countries in West Africa choose to travel to Gambia from their own homeland?
Will anybody bother to post on this?
Plenty of reads I bet but discussion,I doubt it!
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
EU poised to boost Gambia aid despite rights violations
By Misha Hussain
Source: Reuters
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