Gambia mourns death of President’s Mother-in-law
Thursday, November 03, 2011
A large number of mourners including senior government officials, relatives and foreign resident diplomats in The Gambia Wednesday joined the First Family in mourning the death of the mother of the First Lady and mother-in-law of the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.
Dozens of mourners yesterday signed the condolence register at the VIP room at the entrance of State House in Banjul, an opportunity they used to express their deepest condolences to the First Family at this trying moment.
The death of the late Madam Rhimou El Hassady Soumah, mother of the First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia, Her Excellency Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh was announced Tuesday. The sad event took place on the same day in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco.
Diplomats
Among the mourners who expressed their condolences to the First Family was The Gambia’s ambassador at large, Pastor Dr Kenneth Jackson, who offered his prayers to the departed soul and the bereaved family.
“I am here on behalf the United Nations resident coordinator. We would like to express our sincere condolence on the loss of the First Lady’s mother and we pray for her soul to rest in perfect peace,” the UNICEF country representative to The Gambia, Aiehatou Diawara told journalists at State House shortly after signing the condolence book.
The outgoing Taiwanese ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Dr Richard Shih was also present to offer his condolence to the First Family. He said: “I am here on behalf of my government and people of the Republic of China on Taiwan to express our sincere condolence and sympathy to the First Family over the untimely death of the mother of the First Lady.”
The ambasador of the United States to The Gambia, Pamela White said :“The loss of a mother is one of the most difficult things that any person can have because you only have one mother and the loss of that is a tragedy. So we understand the link especially between the daughter and the mother.
Another interesting fact is that yesterday [Tuesday] my Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton lost her mother. So we lost two elderly mothers.” The Senegalese high commissioner to The Gambia, His Excellency Diame Signate, said he expressed his condolence on behalf of the government and people of Senegal to the First Family of The Gambia on this tragic event.
High Commissioner Signate stressed that Gambians and Senegalese are one people, and that as such it is most befitting to share moments of both joy and sadness.
He added: “If The Gambia is bereaved, it means the same for Senegal because we are the relatives. The relations between our two heads of state are characterised by only peace and cordiality. We pray for the departed soul to be blessed eternal peace in the Heaven.”
Other diplomats that included Peter Aziz, representative of the Japanese honorary-counsul general in The Gambia, all expressed their heartfelt and deepest condolences to the First Family.
Gov’t officials
Meanwhile, among the government officials that took turns Wednesday to sign the condolence register was the Interior minister, Ousman Sonko. Minister Sonko on behalf of his Ministry and his family expressed heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family, while praying that the soul of the deceased rest in peace.
The mayor of Banjul, Samba Faal, who described the president’s mother-in-law’s demise as a “great loss” also expressed the BCC’s condolence to the First Family and prayed for her eternal peace.
The inspector general of Police, Yankuba Sonko also joined the mourners in expressing condolences.
Kanilai delegation
The alkalo of Kanilai who led a high-powered delegation from the president’s native village, said the demise of their mother-in-law came to them as a big loss and a great sadness. He further said the entire village is bereaved as a result of this development. “For this reason, the village of Kanilai will offer charity for the departed soul tomorrow [Thursday],” Alkalo Ebrima Jammeh indicated.
Others speakers interviewed shared similar sentiments and expressions of condolence to the First Family.
Dozens of mourners yesterday signed the condolence register at the VIP room at the entrance of State House in Banjul, an opportunity they used to express their deepest condolences to the First Family at this trying moment.
The death of the late Madam Rhimou El Hassady Soumah, mother of the First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia, Her Excellency Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh was announced Tuesday. The sad event took place on the same day in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco.
Diplomats
Among the mourners who expressed their condolences to the First Family was The Gambia’s ambassador at large, Pastor Dr Kenneth Jackson, who offered his prayers to the departed soul and the bereaved family.
“I am here on behalf the United Nations resident coordinator. We would like to express our sincere condolence on the loss of the First Lady’s mother and we pray for her soul to rest in perfect peace,” the UNICEF country representative to The Gambia, Aiehatou Diawara told journalists at State House shortly after signing the condolence book.
The outgoing Taiwanese ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Dr Richard Shih was also present to offer his condolence to the First Family. He said: “I am here on behalf of my government and people of the Republic of China on Taiwan to express our sincere condolence and sympathy to the First Family over the untimely death of the mother of the First Lady.”
The ambasador of the United States to The Gambia, Pamela White said :“The loss of a mother is one of the most difficult things that any person can have because you only have one mother and the loss of that is a tragedy. So we understand the link especially between the daughter and the mother.
Another interesting fact is that yesterday [Tuesday] my Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton lost her mother. So we lost two elderly mothers.” The Senegalese high commissioner to The Gambia, His Excellency Diame Signate, said he expressed his condolence on behalf of the government and people of Senegal to the First Family of The Gambia on this tragic event.
High Commissioner Signate stressed that Gambians and Senegalese are one people, and that as such it is most befitting to share moments of both joy and sadness.
He added: “If The Gambia is bereaved, it means the same for Senegal because we are the relatives. The relations between our two heads of state are characterised by only peace and cordiality. We pray for the departed soul to be blessed eternal peace in the Heaven.”
Other diplomats that included Peter Aziz, representative of the Japanese honorary-counsul general in The Gambia, all expressed their heartfelt and deepest condolences to the First Family.
Gov’t officials
Meanwhile, among the government officials that took turns Wednesday to sign the condolence register was the Interior minister, Ousman Sonko. Minister Sonko on behalf of his Ministry and his family expressed heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family, while praying that the soul of the deceased rest in peace.
The mayor of Banjul, Samba Faal, who described the president’s mother-in-law’s demise as a “great loss” also expressed the BCC’s condolence to the First Family and prayed for her eternal peace.
The inspector general of Police, Yankuba Sonko also joined the mourners in expressing condolences.
Kanilai delegation
The alkalo of Kanilai who led a high-powered delegation from the president’s native village, said the demise of their mother-in-law came to them as a big loss and a great sadness. He further said the entire village is bereaved as a result of this development. “For this reason, the village of Kanilai will offer charity for the departed soul tomorrow [Thursday],” Alkalo Ebrima Jammeh indicated.
Others speakers interviewed shared similar sentiments and expressions of condolence to the First Family.
Author: Hatab Fadera