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Movement for Justice in Africa | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 |
| Ideology | Social democracy Democratic socialism Pan-Africanism |
| Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
| National affiliation | Liberian People's Party |
Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) [1] is a pan-African political organization in Liberia, [2] with chapters in Ghana and The Gambia. It was founded in 1973 by Togba Nah Tipoteh, who is currently its president. [3]
Early members include Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh, Dew Tuan-Wreh Mason, and Amb. Conmany B. Wesseh Sr, who is currently a senator representing River Gee County. [4] Amos Sawyer, who served as president of the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) in 1990–94, and Kukoi Samba Sanyang, a Gambian revolutionary who had been one of the leaders of a coup attempt in Banjul in 1981. [5]
MOJA played an important role in the struggle for social justice and democracy in Liberia. Its sensitization work in the 1970s raised national political consciousness to an unprecedentedly high level, radicalizing the mass of urban and rural poor and sections of the military. The heightened political consciousness and agitation it caused led to the collapse of the settler oligarchy that had ruled Liberia in a colonial manner for over a century. [6]
An Africa Contemporary Record in Gambia states that the group Movement for Justice in Africa (Moja-G) [7] published an underground newspaper, The Voice of the Future. The group was prosecuted for publishing an underground newspaper, but leaders of Moja-G technically escaped prosecution. It drew support from disaffected youth in the Banjul-Serrekunda conurbation. The group attacked the People's Progressive Party (PPP) and the country's colonial past. The Europa publication, Africa South of the Sahara 1989, further states that Moja-G had an ideological affinity with a movement of the same name in Liberia, which worked for an overthrow of the Tolbert regime in that country. [5]
MOJA has waned significancantly in recent years; but in early 2007, efforts aimed at reviving the movement were initiated. The group operated as a self-styled Marxist group, rejecting parliamentary opposition as futile and advocated extreme political measures. In Gambia's Pre-Crisis phase of political evolution (February 18, 1965 – October 26, 1980), after the PPP political party won the elections, the Movement for Justice in Africa – Gambia (MOJA-Gambia) was established by Koro Sallah in 1979 as part of the response to the PPP. [8] [9] However, during the Crisis Phase (October 27, 1980 – February 8, 1985), two opposition groups, MOJA-Gambia and the Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party (GSRP) headed by Pingon Georges, were banned by President Jawara for their involvement in the rebellion on November 1, 1980. [8] Dissident Movements and Degenhardt's Revolutionary states that authorities were investigating the group for burning boats in Gambian ports. They also stated that Koro Sallah, the founder of Moja-G, was killed in an attempted coup in July 1981, [7] and
MOJA participates in elections under the name Liberian People's Party. [10] [11]
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.
Politics of The Gambia takes place within the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of The Gambia is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliaments.
Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh is a Gambian politician and former military officer, who served as President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017, as well as Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council from 1994 to 1996.
Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara was a Gambian politician who served as Prime Minister from 1962-70, and then as the first President of the Gambia from 1970-94.
The First Liberian Civil War was the first in a series of two civil wars within the West African nation of Liberia. It lasted from 1989 to 1997. President Samuel Doe had established a regime in 1980 but totalitarianism and corruption led to unpopularity and the withdrawal of support from the United States by the late 1980s. The National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) led by Charles Taylor invaded Liberia from the Ivory Coast to overthrow Doe in December 1989 and gained control over most of the country within a year. Doe was captured and executed by the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), a splinter faction of the NPFL led by Prince Johnson, in September 1990. The NPFL and INPFL fought each other for control of the capital city, Monrovia and against the Armed Forces of Liberia and pro-Doe United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy. Peace negotiations and foreign involvement led to a ceasefire in 1995 but fighting continued until a peace agreement between the main factions occurred in August 1996. Taylor was elected President of Liberia following the 1997 Liberian general election and entered office in August of the same year.
The People's Progressive Party is a political party in the Gambia. It was the dominant ruling party of the House of Representatives and the presidency from 1962 to 1994. The president throughout this time period was Dawda Jawara. The People's Progressive Party lost power after the 1994 Gambian coup d'état, a military coup led by young, junior military officers. The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) then became the dominant party of the Gambia. The People's Progressive Party remains active, but lacking the same level of support it garnered in the 20th century.
The Liberian People's Party (LPP) is a political party in Liberia.
The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, also known simply as the African Court, is an international court established by member states of the African Union (AU) to implement provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Seated in Arusha, Tanzania, it is the judicial arm of the AU and one of three regional human rights courts.
Amos Claudius Sawyer was a Liberian politician and academic who served as interim president of Liberia from 22 November 1990 to 7 March 1994. He was voted into office by 35 leaders representing seven political parties and eleven interest groups.
Togba-Nah Tipoteh is an economist, educator and politician, having been a presidential candidate in three elections. For more than three decades, he has been actively involved with democratic activities in promotion of human rights, liberties, constitutional rule and growth with development in Liberia and throughout Africa. He is President of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA); was founding Chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), an alliance of Liberian political parties; was founder and Director-General of Susukuu Incorporated, Liberia's oldest non-governmental development organization, which was credited by the West Africa Peacekeeping Force (ECOMOG) as helping to disarm over 10,000 combatants and child soldiers in Liberia during the 1997 disarmament program through a school for gun program; and was former Chairman of the Interest Groups of Liberia, a consortium of 32 national organizations with a collective membership of well over one million persons.
Ousainou Darboe is a Gambian politician and lawyer who serves as the National Assembly Minority Leader since April 2022. He previously served as Vice-President of the Gambia and Minister of Women's Affairs from June 2018 to March 2019, under President Adama Barrow. He also served as Barrow's Minister of Foreign Affairs from February 2017 to June 2018.
Mustapha Danso was a constable in the military of the Gambia, who in 1980 killed Emmanuel ("Eku") Mahoney, the deputy commander of the paramilitary field force of the country. Danso's actions ultimately led to an attempted coup d'état in July 1981 and his own execution.
Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof commonly known as Cham Joof or Alhaji Cham Joof, was a Gambian historian, politician, author, trade unionist, broadcaster, radio programme director, scout master, Pan-Africanist, lecturer, columnist, activist and an African nationalist who advocated for the Gambia's independence during the colonial era.
In the 1994 Gambian coup d'état, a group of soldiers led by 29-year-old Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup d'état on the morning of 22 July, ousting Dawda Jawara, who had been President of The Gambia since its independence in 1970.
The Gambian constitutional crisis occurred following presidential elections in December 2016, in which challenger Adama Barrow achieved an upset victory over longtime incumbent Yahya Jammeh. It eventually concluded after a military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led to Jammeh’s departure from the country.
The 1981 Gambian coup d'état attempt began on 30 July 1981 and was quashed in early August following a Senegalese military intervention. The insurrection was carried out by members of the Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party and disaffected staff of the Gambia Field Force. At the time, President Dawda Jawara was in the United Kingdom attending the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The failure of the coup precipitated the creation of the Senegambia Confederation in 1982.
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Presidential elections were held in the Gambia on 4 December 2021. The result was a victory for incumbent President Adama Barrow of the National People's Party, who received 53% of the vote, defeating five other candidates.
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