History of Gambia Political Governance and Economy

By Goephry Williams

History of Gambia Political Governance and Economy. Democracy practices, Human right and Trade Management. A Book on Gambia Environment will guide you through. Political risk in the tiny West African state of “The Gambia” is high. Named after the small river around which its borders fluctuate, the country hosts a dictatorship established in a 1994 coup. The country also hosts Hizbollah operatives who conduct international financial transactions, and is one of the top African cocaine transshipment points to Europe. Local businesses are considering fleeing to Sierra Leone to escape a raft of seemingly arbitrary and protectionist laws promulgated by the President for potentially personal reasons. Many small business owners and foreign investors see Sierra Leone as a better alternative, and are considering migrating their businesses. However, according to Ease of Doing Business data from the World Bank, The Gambia has a fighting chance against its nearest competitor. In 2013

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365710629

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History of Gambia Political Governance and Economy

History of Gambia Political Governance and Economy

Democracy practices, Human right and Trade Management.

____________________

Author

Goephry Williams

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First Printing: 2017

ISBN: 978-1-365-71062-9

Printed in the United States of America

Publisher by Victoria General Printing, LTD.

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Gambia

Political Risk in The Gambia

Political risk in the tiny West African state of The Gambia is high. Named after the small river around which its borders fluctuate, the country hosts a dictatorship established in a 1994 coup. The country also hosts Hizbollah operatives who conduct international financial transactions, and is one of the top African cocaine transshipment points to Europe. Local businesses are considering fleeing to Sierra Leone to escape a raft of seemingly arbitrary and protectionist laws promulgated by the President for potentially personal reasons.

Many small business owners and foreign investors see Sierra Leone as a better alternative, and are considering migrating their businesses. However, according to Ease of Doing Business data from the World Bank, The Gambia has a fighting chance against its nearest competitor. In 2013, The Gambia beat Sierra Leone in measures of taxation, getting credit, starting a business, and of key interest to foreign investors protection of investors. It fared less well on the other six metrics measured by the World Bank.

The President of Gambia is a colorful character with a long name: His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh. The President outlined his goals for Gambia in his Vision 2020. According to official documents, The fundamental objective of Vision 2020, is to map out clearly a strategy for socio-economic improvement that aims at raising the standard of living of The Gambian people by transforming The Gambia into a dynamic middle-income country. The mission of Vision 2020 is to transform The Gambia into a financial centre, a tourist paradise, a trading, export-oriented agricultural and manufacturing nation, thriving on free market policies and a vibrant private sector, sustained by a well-educated, trained, skilled, healthy, self-reliant and enterprising population and guaranteeing a well-balanced eco-system and a decent standard of living for one and all under a system of government based on the consent of the citizenry. In order to meet these goals, President Yahya Jammeh will need to prosecute crime and terrorism, as well as rationalize laws related to small business, currency exchange rates, and foreign direct investment.

Hizbollah and the Drug Trade in The Gambia

Members of Hi

zbollah have been known to use West Africa as a central point to launder money and transport drugs to fund their operations, including supporting the Syrian Regime. The United States designates Hezbollah, otherwise known as Hizbollah, among the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world, and it is known that Gambian businesses help finance its operations. It was reported in June 2013 that the United States Treasury Department "placed sanctions on four Lebanese men, working with Hizbollah to extend influence across West Africa. These influencers have been operating in Sierra Leone, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, and The Gambia. They worked as self-styled members of Hizbollah’s Foreign Relation’s Department, involved in fundraising, recruitment, and coordinating travel for the organization.

In the case of The Gambia, the U.S. Treasury Department stated that 48-year-old Hicham Nmer Khanafer, born in Ainata, Lebanon, and living in The Gambia, has been an active and influential Hizbollah member in The Gambia, where he has been involved in recruiting and fundraising. His activities involved hosting weekly meetings for local Hizbollah members and supporters at his home, and holding weekly Hizbollah fundraising and recruiting drives at a local mosque.

Tajco, a private company co-owned by Lebanese businessmen, Ali, Hussayn, and Kassim Tajideen, was reportedly placed under U.S. sanction in December 2010. The three brothers reportedly had affiliations with Hizbollah, and were known as top financiers of the organization. Mr. Hussayn Tajideen lived in The Gambia for 15 years, and was a close friend of the President of The Gambia. Further, in 2009, Mr. Kassim Tajideen was designated as a supporter of Hizballah. According to the U.S. Treasury, Kassim Tajideen embezzled funds to Hizballah through his brother, a Hizballah commander in Lebanon. Belgian authorities arrested Mr. Tajideen for fraud, money laundering, and diamond smuggling.

In The Gambia, The Tajideen brothers own and operate Kariaba Supermarket. They also own a network of businesses throughout West Africa, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and the British Virgin Islands.

Tajco helped generate millions of dollars for the Lebanese movement Hizbollah. One United States intelligence source said of the brothers, The food import and supermarket business is a specialty of theirs. It is a lucrative and cash-rich business which allows them to generate revenues, create smoke and mirrors, and launder money from other activities.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), considers Tajco to be a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). "OFAC described Ali Tajideen as a former Hizbollah commander and the