Fatou, Who Was Residing In The City Of Liverpool, Is Also Known For Her Involvement In Working With Women In Similar Status Across The City Prompting A Fervent Plea On Her Behalf And With Her Case Intensively Followed By The Local Press.

According To Some Of Her Supporters, Fatou’s Deportation Could “jeopardize Her Safety … With Her Family” And Thus Forcing Her To Return Would Be Deemed “unjustified”.

Prior To Her Recent Case, The Point Learnt That “Fatou In Fact Applied For Asylum Several Years Ago Which Was Rejected By The Relevant Authorities … However She Decided To Stay And Kept A Low Profile”.

This Correspondent Was Also Informed That “consequently The Applicant Continued To Apply Through Another Route Based On Her Family Life In The Country … But Was Detained While Trying To Conduct The Usual Check-in At The Immigration Centre …”

Moreover, Other Political Claims Forwarded To This Correspondent During The Past Few Days Cannot Be Verified Or Authenticated.

Nevertheless, Is Important To Note That The UK Designated The Gambia As A “safe Country Of Origin” Unless There Is Evidence To The Contrary.

Furthermore, To Be Granted Asylum, An Applicant Must Establish A Well-founded Fear Of Being Persecuted For Reasons Of Race, Religion, Nationality Or Membership Of A Particular Social Group Or Political Opinion.

Conversely, Fatou’s Supporters Who Are Circulating The Petition For Assistance Claimed That They Are Concerned As She Is “depressed … And Diabetic And Needed Medical Attention”.

The UKBA Which Is Currently Part Of The Home Office Cover Various Significant And Major Situations And Decisions On A Daily Basis Protecting The Society With Arguments Centered Around National Security And The Welfare Of It Citizens Including Enforcing UK Immigration Law.

The Point Has Reached Out To Three Different Charities In The City For An Update.

Fatou, Is Due To Be Removed From The Country Next Week.

Reacting To The Honour, Dr Baldeh Shared Her Heartfelt Appreciation:

“Thank You So Much To TIME For This Generous Recognition. I Was Stunned When I Heard The News. I Am Honoured To Be Listed Among Such Extraordinary Company And I Am Dedicating This Moment To The Incredible Women And Girls Of The Gambia. They Are The Real Icons Here.”

Dr Fatou Baldeh’s Journey Is One Of Courage, Resilience, And Unwavering Dedication To Gender Justice. A Survivor Of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), She Has Transformed Her Personal Experience Into A Global Mission To End Sexual And Gender-based Violence (SGBV). As A Leading Human Rights Activist, She Continues To Fight For A World Where Every Woman And Girl Can Live Free From Harm And Discrimination.

After Earning A Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology And Health From The University Of Wolverhampton And A Master’s In Sexual And Reproductive Health From Queen Margaret University In Edinburgh, Dr Baldeh Returned To The Gambia In 2018. There, She Founded Women In Liberation And Leadership (WILL), A Transformative Organisation Working To Protect The Rights And Uplift The Voices Of Women Across The Country.

Her Impact Extends Far Beyond National Borders. Dr Baldeh’s Global Recognition Includes Receiving The Member Of The Order Of The British Empire (MBE) In 2020 For Her Work With Migrant Women In Scotland. In 2024, She Was Honored With The U.S. State Department’s International Women Of Courage Award And The Geneva Summit Women’s Rights Award. In Early 2025, She Was Celebrated As One Of TIME’s Women Of The Year, And Former U.S. President Barack Obama Publicly Acknowledged Her Work To End FGM On International Women’s Dayan Accolade Echoed By Michelle Obama As Well. Harvard University Also Listed Her Among The 25 Extraordinary Women In The World, Joining Names Such As Iceland’s President And Philanthropist Melinda French Gates.

Beyond Her Activism, Dr Baldeh Continues To Break Ground In Global Health. She Is Currently Pursuing A PhD At Canterbury Christ Church University And Serves As A Research Fellow At The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia At The London School Of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine. She Also Holds An Honorary Doctorate From The University Of Wolverhampton.

Despite Her Busy Professional Life, Dr Baldeh Remains Grounded In Her Personal Values As A Devoted Wife And Mother Of Four Boys. Her Legacy Is Not Just One Of Awards And Accolades, But Of Real, Lasting Change For Generations Of Women And Girls Around The World.

At The Conclusion Of The Discussions, Ms. Jenkner Issued The Following Statement:

“Economic Activity Is Strengthening. Growth Is Estimated At 6 Percent For 2024, Supported By Tourism And Construction Sectors. Tourist Arrivals Continued To Recover, Reaching A Level Close To The Pre-pandemic Peak Levels. Remittance Inflows Also Strengthened. Inflation Declined To A Single Digit (9.1 Percent) In March While Remaining Above The Central Bank’s Medium-term Objective Of 5 Percent.

“The Authorities Remain Committed To Meeting The Program’s Targets And Structural Reforms Agenda, Albeit With Some Delays. Quantitative Objectives Under The ECF-supported Program Have Been Largely Met. All Seven Quantitative Performance Criteria But One (ceiling On Net Domestic Borrowing) And All Quantitative Indicative Targets Were Met. Also, Progress Was Made On Significant Structural Benchmarks Relative To Public Procurement, The Management Of State-owned Enterprises (SOEs), Expansion Of The Social Registry, And Improved Budgeting. The Public Debt-to-GDP Ratio Remains On A Downward Trajectory. The Authorities Are Committed To Maintaining Fiscal Responsibility In 2025 And In The Medium Term To Be Able To Respond To The Gambia’s Large Social And Developmental Needs In A Sustainable Manner.

“The Central Bank Of The Gambia (CBG) Is Committed To Keeping Inflation On A Firm Downwards Trajectory And Meeting Its Medium-term Objective. It Will Also Remain Vigilant To Ensure A Market-determined Exchange Rate, And A Smooth Functioning Of The Foreign Exchange Market Supported Bya Policy That Limits Any Foreign Exchange Market Interventions To Only Alleviate Excess Market Volatility. Considering The Elevated Non-performing Loans, The CBG Is Determined To Strengthen Financial Sector Resilience To Future Shocks. Focusing On Its Core Mandate, The CBG Will Preserve A Strong Financial Position.

“Following The Publication Of Its Governance Diagnostic Roadmap In December, The Government Is Strengthening Its Reform Agenda On Governance And Anti-corruption, Improved Public Service Delivery, Public Access To Financial And Legal Information, And An Enhanced Business Environment To Encourage Private Sector-led Investment And Growth.

“To Enhance Long-term Macroeconomic Stability And Resilience To Climate Change While Boosting Policy Space And Reducing Fossil Fuel Externalities, The Proposed RSF Arrangement, Subject To Approval By The IMF Executive Board, Would Contribute To The Effective Implementation Of The Country’s Climate Agenda. Reform Measures Will Cover Five Areas: The Institutional Framework, Green Public Financial Management, Climate Data And Green Financial Sector, Enhancing Adaptation And Resilience, And The Energy Transition. These Reforms Are Expected To Catalyze Financing For Climate And Sustainable Development And Will Be Supported By Capacity Development Activities From The IMF And The Gambia’s Other Partners.

“The IMF Will Continue To Work Closely With The Gambian Authorities And Stands Ready To Help Them Through Financing, Policy Advice, And Strong Technical Assistance.”

The Mission Met With The Minister Of Finance And Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita; Attorney General And Minister Of Justice Dwada Jallow; Minister Of Public Service, Administrative Reforms And Policy Baboucarr Bouy; Governor Of The Central Bank Of The Gambia Buah Saidy; Commissioner General Of The Gambia Revenue Authority Yankuba Darboe; National Auditor General Modou Ceesay; Chairman Of The SOE Commission Ousainou Ngum; And Senior Government And Central Bank Officials. The Mission Team Also Had Fruitful Discussions With Representatives Of The Private Sector, Civil Society, And Development Partners.