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Gambia: President Jammeh Appoints New Cabinet

Acting under the provisions of sections 70, subsection 3, 71 subsection 1 and 11 subsection 3 respectively of the constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency, President Alhagi Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh on October 19th, 2006 appointed a new cabinet except for the portfolios of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Works and Infrastructural Development and Justice.

Her Excellency, Isatou Njie-Saidy returns as Vice President and Secretary of State for Women's Affairs. The Honourable Musa Gibril-Bala Gaye also returns as Finance and Economic Affairs Secretary of State. The following Secreatries of State were also retained, Honourable Edward Signateh as Secretary of State for Forestry and the Enviroment, Dr.Tamsir Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health, Mr. Baboucarr Jatta, Secretary of State for the Interior, Sheikh Omar Faye, Secretary of State for Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs, Mr. Yankuba Touray, Secretary of State for Fisheries and Natural Resources', Mrs. Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication and Information Technology, Mr.Ismaila sambou, Secretary of State for Lands and Local Government, Fatou Lamin Faye, Secretary of State for Education and Mr. Kanji Sanneh, a new appointee will fill the Agriculture portfolio whilst Maba Jobe takes over the Foreign Ministry.

President Jammeh also appointed a new Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Elizabeth Harding who replaces Mr. Mambury Njie. Mrs. Harding becomes the second woman to serve as Secretary General. The first was Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner who currently serves as a Commissioner at the African Union in Addis Ababa.

The new Foreign Secretary, Maba Jobe born and raised in Farafenni is a Sanhurst Military Academy trained soldier and at one time served as Commander of The Gambia National Army. Jobe who was appointed a Cadet in 1983 has also received Military training in Pakistan and the United States of America. Following his deployment from the Army, Maba Jobe served as Counselor at The Gambia High Commission in the United Kingdom until his appointment as Gambia's High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria where he served with distinction until 2001 before taking early retirement to pursue business opportunities. Maba Jobe was among the first officers of the The Gambian Gendarmerie and The Gambia National Army. He played an important role in building the elite corp of the institution. Jobe is synonymous with Gambian politics given his fathers role at the first Independence parade in 1965. History documents that it was Maba's father who lowered the Union Jack for the last time in 1965 and Banjul elders still recall the beauty of seeing the Jack go down and replaced by Pa Thomasi's Red, White, Blue, White and Green; The Gambian Flag. Maba Jobe according to a former soldier was a soldier's soldier who stood to protect the junior ranks. He said Jobe is a decent man with integrity who is devoted to work. He added, "The Gambian Foreign Service has a capable Boss who will ensure that the Country's Foreign Policy is executed to the Letter."

For now a partial cabinet is in place whilst the country awaits the appointments to the other four portfolios. According to our State House correspondent that should come anytime soon.