The Gambia - Politics
Gambia's defeated leader, Yahya Jammeh, flew into exile Saturday 21 January 2017, ending 22 years of strong-arm rule and a political stalemate that brought the West African nation to the brink of a regional military intervention. Jammeh made no statement as he departed the airport at Banjul with his family in an unmarked plane, landing several hours later in Equatorial Guinea. He was accompanied by Guinean President Alpha Conde, who had sought in recent days to negotiate an exit plan.
The departure of Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, ends weeks of tension that began when he refused to leave office following his surprise defeat in national elections on December 1. It also averts the threat of military action by a force of 7,000 troops from Senegal and Nigeria who entered Gambia on Thursday to confront Jammeh's military loyalists.
Jammeh agreed Friday 20 February 2017 to relinquish power and leave the country. Yahya's decision came after Guinean President Alpha Conde and Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived together in Banjul early Friday to convince him to cede power and leave the country or face military action.
Jammeh had until midday Friday to hand over power and agree to leave the country or face military action, the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said in a statement. “We have suspended operations and given him an ultimatum,” said Marcel Alain de Souza, head of ECOWAS, adding that “if by midday, he doesn’t agree to leave The Gambia ... we really will intervene militarily,” he added. De Souza said 7,000 troops would be mobilized by Senegal and four other nations, a day after they first crossed into Gambia. Final talks would be led by Guinean President Alpha Conde in the Gambian capital, Banjul.
The leaders of Guinea and Mauritania arrived in Gambia's capital Friday in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to get defeated President Yahya Jammeh to cede power. The United Nations Security Council recognized Adama Barrow as Gambia's new president while longtime leader Yahya Jammeh refuses to give up power. Barrow took the oath of office 19 January 2017 at the Gambian embassy in neighboring Senegal. Following Barrow’s swearing in, hundreds of Gambians celebrated in the streets of Banjul, cautiously at first, and then gradually in larger numbers as they realised the security forces looking on were not going to open fire. Army chief General Ousman Badjie, who had publicly stood by Jammeh, was seen smiling on the streets and navigating through a mass of jubilant Banjul residents who were shouting and dancing.
The central market in Banjul was deserted 18 January 2017 amid a heavy police presence throughout the downtown area. The National Assembly extended President Yahya Jammeh’s term by three months under a newly declared state of emergency. Senegalese and Nigerian forces gathered on the border and vowed to take action if Jammeh did not heed a call from West African leaders to step aside for Adama Barrow, the declared winner of the 01 December 2016 election. Barrow, who was in neighbouring Senegal, had insisted he will be sworn in as Gambia’s third president on Thursday, January 19.
Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and had just two rulers since independence in 1965. Jammeh seized power more than two decades ago and his government had gained a reputation among ordinary Gambians and human rights activists for torturing and killing opponents. Jammeh, who took power in a coup in 1994, is notorious for his bizarre and, at times, belligerent behavior. Jammeh was accused of using any and all means at his disposal to repress political dissent in Gambia. His ruthless tactics earned him a reputation as a dictator – a reputation he embraced.
Jammeh also claims to have miraculous healing powers. In 2007, he boasted to having cured HIV/AIDS using medicinal herbs and magical incantations. He had also alleged to have successfully treated asthma, epilepsy and infertility, often demonstrating his special abilities – which he says he inherited from his father – on television.
H.E. Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh was born on the 25th May, 1965 in Kanilai Village which is in the Foni Kansala District, Western Region. His mother's name is Aja Fatou Ashombi Bojang and he is married to the Gambia's First Lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh. She was born in Rabat, Morocco, on the 5th October 1977 to the Guinean Soumah family. He received his early education at Kanilai Primary School, Saint Edwards Primary School in Bwiam, and Gambia High School in Banjul.
In 1983 he passed the General Certificate of Education (GCE 0' Level) with Credits in Geography, English, French, Biology and Physics. Also obtained passes in Chemistry and Oral English. The following year President Jammeh joined what was then the Gambia National Gendarmerie in 1984 and later moved to The Gambia National Army and was commissioned in 1989. He attended the Military Police Officers Basic Course (MPOBC) at For McClellan, Alabama, in the United States of America and in 1994 obtained a Diploma in Military science.
President Jammeh served under various military units in The Gambia National Army. From 1984-1986 he was in the Special Intervention Unit, 1986-1989 the Gendarmerie Training School (Escort Training Instructor); 1989-1990 Presidential Guards (in charge of Presidential Escort); 1991 served as Officer commanding in the Mobile Gendarmerie and in 1992 was Officer Command The Gambia National Army Military Police, up till 22nd July 1994 when the Gambia National Army toppled Sir Dawda Jawara and his PPP administration in a bloodless coup. At the time the Jawara regime was toppled, Jammeh was a Lieutenant. In 1994, Jammeh was promoted to the rank of Captain and in 1996 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. President Jammeh retired from the army in 1996.
The Statement by President Yahya Jammeh on the occasion of the Gambia’s 49th Independence anniversary 18th February 2014: "Homosexuality will never be tolerated and in fact will attract the ultimate penalty since it is intended to bring humanity to an inglorious extinction. We will fight these vermins called Homosexuals or gays the same way we are fighting malaria-causing mosquitoes; if not more aggressively. We will therefore not accept any friendship, aid or any other gesture that is conditional on accepting Homosexuals or L.G.B.T. as they are now baptised by the powers that promote them. As far as I am concerned, L.G.B.T can only stand for Leprosy, Gonorrhoea, Bacteria and Tuberculosis; all of which are detrimental to human existence."
In December 2014, there was an unsuccessful coup perpetrated by Gambian dissidents at the State House. As a result, The Gambian government arrested/detained/questioned countless individuals in an effort to locate conspirators and identify those perceived to be in opposition to the government. The resulting crackdown inspired fear in many Gambians. The government seized the opportunity to arrest those that have taken opposing views. It even arrested family members (including young children) of coup plotters and is known to torture those in custody during interrogation. Over the past several years, politically-motivated arrests have become more frequent and arbitrary, and the government had cracked down on the independent press and others who are seen as opposing the government.
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