Amie Bojang-Sissoho

Last updated

Amie Bojang-Sissoho is a Gambian journalist, women's rights activist and politician. She emerged Gambian first woman government's Director of Press and Public Relation [1] following her appointment by president Adama Barrow.

Contents

Background and education

Bojang-Sissoho was born in Gunjur. Her father was Imam Hatab Bojang (1937-1984) [2] and her mother was Ya Khan Jobe. Bojang-Sissoho studied for a bachelor's degree in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom. [3] [4]

Career

She began her professional career with the Gambia Radio & Television Service (GRTS) and worked there for a long time. She was the manager of the presidential campaign of Isatou Touray in the 2016 Gambian presidential election until Touray withdrew his candidacy to support Adama Baroow, who went on to win the election. After taking power, Barrow named her government's Director of Press and Public Relation. Bojang-Sissoho is a Programme Coordinator of the Gambia Committee for Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP). she was arrested along with Touray, on October 11, 2010, on charges of embezzlement of 30,000 euros and imprisoned in Mile 2 prison but were cleared of all charges against by the court. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gambia</span> Country in West Africa

The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland Africa and is surrounded by Senegal, except for its western coast on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of The Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the centre of The Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean, and elucidates the long shape of the country. It has an area of 11,300 square kilometres (4,400 sq mi) with a population of 1,857,181 as of the April 2013 census. Banjul is The Gambian capital and the country's largest metropolitan area, while the largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yahya Jammeh</span> 2nd president of the Gambia (1996–2017)

Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh is a Gambian politician and former military officer who was the leader of The Gambia from 1994 to 2017, firstly as chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) from 1994 to 1996 and then as President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Democratic Party (The Gambia)</span> Political party in the Gambia

The United Democratic Party is a political party in the Gambia, founded in 1996 by 3 political parties and choose the human rights lawyer, freedom fighter, ANM Ousainou Darboe to be the party leader and Secretary General. As a candidate in the presidential election of 18 October 2001, he came second with 32.6% of the popular vote; he took second place again in the 22 September 2006 presidential election with 26.7% of the vote. The 17 January 2002 parliamentary election was boycotted by the party. In the 25 January 2007 parliamentary election, the party won four out of 48 seats.

Deyda Hydara was a co-founder and primary editor of The Point, a major independent Gambian newspaper. He was also a correspondent for both AFP News Agency and Reporters Without Borders for more than 30 years. Hydara also worked as a Radio presenter in the Gambia called Radio Syd during his early years as a freelance journalist.

Aja Nyimasata Sanneh-Bojang was a Gambian politician. She was the first woman to be elected to the Gambian National Assembly, when she won the seat of Northern Kombo for the People's Progressive Party. Although she kept the seat in 1987, she was deselected by her party and did not contest the 1992 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Gambian presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in The Gambia on 1 December 2016. In a surprise result, opposition candidate Adama Barrow defeated long-term incumbent Yahya Jammeh. The election marked the first change of presidency in The Gambia since a military coup in 1994, and the first transfer of power by popular election since independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isatou Touray</span> Vice President of the Gambia

Isatou Touray is a Gambian politician, activist, and social reformer. A noted campaigner against female genital mutilation (FGM), she became the first female Gambian presidential candidate in 2016, before dropping out to endorse Adama Barrow and Coalition 2016. She then served in Barrow's cabinet, as trade minister, and then as health minister. On 15 March 2019, Touray became Vice-President of The Gambia, replacing her predecessor, Ousainou Darboe in a major cabinet reshuffle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adama Barrow</span> 3rd President of the Gambia

Adama Barrow is a Gambian politician and real estate developer who has served as President of the Gambia since 2017.

Gambia Coalition 2016 was the governing coalition of The Gambia in the late 2010s, consisting of seven Gambian political parties, civil society groups and one independent candidate created to field and support a unity ticket for the opposition in the 2016 presidential election. The coalition selected real estate developer and deputy treasurer of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Adama Barrow as their candidate. Barrow officially left the UDP to allow him to run as an independent candidate, although his candidacy continued to be supported by the UDP through its membership in the coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of Adama Barrow</span>

Following his victory in the presidential election on 1 December 2016, the newly elected President Adama Barrow appointed a new cabinet to succeed the cabinet of Yahya Jammeh, his predecessor. Barrow was formally inaugurated on 19 January 2017 at the embassy of the Gambia in Dakar, Senegal, and was able to return the Gambia on 26 January. He made the bulk of appointments in February 2017, and conducted a major reshuffle in June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omar A. Jallow</span> Gambian politician (1946–2023)

Omar Amadou Jallow was a Gambian politician who was the Minister of Agriculture in President Adama Barrow's cabinet. Jallow was also the leader of the People's Progressive Party, which held two seats in the National Assembly at the time of his death.

Mariam Jack-Denton, also known as Ajaratou Mariam Denton, is a Gambian lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the National Assembly of the Gambia from April 2017 to April 2022.

The April 2000 Gambian student massacre was the killing of 14 people by Gambian police officers and soldiers on the 10 April 2000 at a student protest in Banjul, the Gambia. The protest had been called following two separate incidents - the beating to death of secondary school student Ebrima Barry by firefighters, and the rape of a 13-year-old girl by a uniformed police officer - and the lack of investigation of both of those incidents. Despite firing live ammunition into the protesters after government buildings had been damaged, no charges have been brought against those involved, and the Yahya Jammeh government suppressed commemoration of the event. Adama Barrow's government has since promised to investigate the shooting.

Three Years Jotna was a political advocacy group in the Gambia between 2019 and 2021 that advocated for the resignation of President Adama Barrow.

Events in the year 2020 in the Gambia.

Events in the year 2021 in the Gambia.

Ndey Tapha Sosseh is a Gambian journalist and unionist. In 2004, she became editor-in-chief of The Daily Observer, making her the first female editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper in the Gambia's history. From 2008 to 2011, she served as president of the Gambia Press Union.

Fatou Jagne Senghore also known as Fatou Jagne Senghor is a Gambian Jurist, human rights advocate, women's rights and free expression activist. She is well known for her work in human rights in West Africa especially in The Gambia and Senegal She earned the nickname of "Senegambian Iron Lady" for her efforts defending human rights in The Gambia under the autocratic leadership of Yahya Jammeh.

Amie Ndoungou Drammeh Bensouda is a Gambian lawyer and politician. She was the first female Solicitor General of the Gambia and served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice following the 1994 coup that brought Yahya Jammeh to power. Bensouda is a member of the London Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (CIArB) and a trained mediator. She was also two-term President of the Gambia Bar Association.

Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, also spelled Fatoumata, is the first wife of Gambian President Adama Barrow and the First Lady of the Gambia since 2017.

References

  1. Dampha, Ebrima (6 November 2020). "Amie Bojang-Sissoho, Director Of Press At State House – The Standard Newspaper | Gambia" . Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  2. glife (18 June 2017). "Profiles in Faith: The Life and Times of the late Sheikh Hatab Bojang". glo Magazine. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  3. "Two Prominent Gender and Human Rights Defenders detained in The Gambia: Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sissoho » African Feminist Forum". 8 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  4. "Staff Profile". 4 April 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  5. "Gamcotrap's Isatou Touray, Amie Bojang freed - The Point". thepoint.gm.
  6. "Gambian Journalists, Support Our Director of Press Amie Bojang-Sissoho". 25 June 2017.
  7. "The Gambia: Call on the Government of The Gambia to ensure a fair trial for anti-FGM activists, Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho". Equality Now.
  8. "THE GAMBIA: Justice prevails in a two year-long judicial harassment case against two Women Human Rights Defenders". International Federation for Human Rights.