Halifa Sallah
Encyclopedia
Halifa Sallah is a Gambian politician. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of The Gambia
and a member of the Pan-African Parliament
. He represented the constituency Serrekunda
Central until the 25 January 2007 National Assembly election
, in which he lost to Sainey Jaiteh of the ruling APRC
.
Sallah is the leader of the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism
(PDOIS) and one of the main figures in the opposition coalition National Alliance for Democracy and Development
(NADD). He also publishes Foroyaa
, an independent newspaper.
In June 2005 Sallah was, along with the other three opposition MPs, expelled from the National Assembly on the grounds of dual party membership. NADD had been registered as a political party
and the Supreme Court of The Gambia judged that it went against the Gambian Constitution
to belong to two parties at the same time. Critics claimed that the move was nothing but an attempt to silence the parliamentary opposition, as there was nothing in the Constitution regulating political alliances. On 29 September a by-election was held, in which Sallah was reelected with a huge margin.
On 15 November 2005, Sallah was arrested along with two other opposition leaders on the grounds of subversion, accused of having collaborated with the President of Senegal
.
Sallah was a candidate in the September 2006 presidential election
, taking third place and 5.98% of the vote.
Sallah lost his seat in the January 2007 parliamentary election. While not mentioning Sallah by name, it was thought that President Yahya Jammeh
was referring to Sallah and Hamat Bah
when he expressed satisfaction at the defeat of "the two empty barrels in the National Assembly". Salleh blamed the opposition's poor performance in the election on a split in its ranks and said that he intended to retire from politics and concentrate on writing.
On March 8, 2009, he was arrested again and brought to the central prison "Mile II". The regime suspected him of spying. The charges were dropped "in the interest of peace and justice" on March 25.
Sallah was reportedly detained in June 2009 when he went to visit a group of detained journalists at the National Intelligence Agency. He was held overnight and then released on bail.
National Assembly of the Gambia
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of government in The Gambia.- Composition and electoral system:The National Assembly is unicameral and consists of 53 members who serve a five-year term. 48 members are directly elected while the remaining five are appointed by the President...
and a member of the Pan-African Parliament
Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament , also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004. The PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years...
. He represented the constituency Serrekunda
Serrekunda
Serrekunda is the largest city in The Gambia, lying southwest of Banjul. Its population as of 2006, was 335,733 people. Although Banjul is The Gambia's capital, it is on an island, making further growth difficult and channeling much of the growth to Serekunda.Serrekunda is known for its market,...
Central until the 25 January 2007 National Assembly election
Gambian parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in The Gambia on 25 January 2007. Forty-eight members of the National Assembly were elected, with another five being appointed by the President. 103 candidates had been approved by the Independent Electoral Commission, and only the ruling party, the Alliance for...
, in which he lost to Sainey Jaiteh of the ruling APRC
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction is a political party in The Gambia, founded by army officers who staged a coup in 1994. It was formed in 1996 to support army leader Yahya Jammeh's campaign for the 1996 elections....
.
Sallah is the leader of the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism
People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism
The People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism is a radical socialist political party in The Gambia. Its candidate at the presidential elections of 18 October 2001, Sidia Jatta, came fifth with 3.0% of the popular vote...
(PDOIS) and one of the main figures in the opposition coalition National Alliance for Democracy and Development
National Alliance for Democracy and Development
The National Alliance for Democracy and Development is a five-party coalition of Gambian opposition political parties.It was officially launched January 2005 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Democratic Action Movement , National Reconciliation Party ,...
(NADD). He also publishes Foroyaa
Foroyaa
- External links :*...
, an independent newspaper.
In June 2005 Sallah was, along with the other three opposition MPs, expelled from the National Assembly on the grounds of dual party membership. NADD had been registered as a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and the Supreme Court of The Gambia judged that it went against the Gambian Constitution
Constitution of The Gambia
The Constitution of The Gambia is the supreme law of The Gambia. A coup by the military in 1994 suspended the constitution. The current constitution has been in place since January 1997 and marked a return to civilian control of the government.-References:...
to belong to two parties at the same time. Critics claimed that the move was nothing but an attempt to silence the parliamentary opposition, as there was nothing in the Constitution regulating political alliances. On 29 September a by-election was held, in which Sallah was reelected with a huge margin.
On 15 November 2005, Sallah was arrested along with two other opposition leaders on the grounds of subversion, accused of having collaborated with the President of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
.
Sallah was a candidate in the September 2006 presidential election
Gambian presidential election, 2006
The Gambian presidential election, 2006 was held on 22 September 2006. 670,000 Gambians registered to vote, and 59% of registered voters turned out to vote. Many of the 989 polling booths used marbles which were inserted into candidate drums instead of ballot papers due to the high illiteracy rate...
, taking third place and 5.98% of the vote.
Sallah lost his seat in the January 2007 parliamentary election. While not mentioning Sallah by name, it was thought that President Yahya Jammeh
Yahya Jammeh
Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh is the President of The Gambia...
was referring to Sallah and Hamat Bah
Hamat Bah
Hamat Bah is a Gambian politician and leader of the National Reconciliation Party . Running as his party's presidential candidate in 2001, he placed third, winning 7.8% of the vote...
when he expressed satisfaction at the defeat of "the two empty barrels in the National Assembly". Salleh blamed the opposition's poor performance in the election on a split in its ranks and said that he intended to retire from politics and concentrate on writing.
On March 8, 2009, he was arrested again and brought to the central prison "Mile II". The regime suspected him of spying. The charges were dropped "in the interest of peace and justice" on March 25.
Sallah was reportedly detained in June 2009 when he went to visit a group of detained journalists at the National Intelligence Agency. He was held overnight and then released on bail.