Gambian president and Africa’s “messenger of Allah” not ready to relinquish power
Gambia’s controversial president Yahya Jammeh on Thursday applied for fifth term in December’s presidential election, saying he would listen only to God for guidance in governing.
Jammeh, 51, is fully addressed as His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Doctor Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen.
He seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994 and has run the country with an iron fist ever since, surviving successive coup attempts (even by his guards) by re-inforcing his power at every level of society.
After submitting the required documentation to the electoral commission, Jammeh told its chairman:
“No matter what people say about me, I am not moved… I don’t listen to anybody because I know what is important. “It is between me and God Almighty.”
Yahya Jammeh has outruled all external opinions whether from external bodies, or advisors saying:
“You want to listen to everybody and satisfy everybody, you will end up satisfying the evil people. Do what is right. Make sure you satisfy the Almighty Allah.”
Although The Gambia has made significant progress in the last 20 years in improving literacy and child mortality rates, and the president has in the last year banned child marriage and female genital mutilation, Jammeh’s record on civil liberties has been unimpressive.
He vowed to bury critics “nine feet deep” and told Ban Ki-Moon to “go to hell” after the UN Secretary-General called for investigation into an activist’s death in state custody.
The president has presented a policy platform of free education and healthcare for all, adding that his government believed especially in empowering women.
Intimidation of opposition parties, media repression and politicised security forces have “all but extinguished” the chance of a free and fair election in the Gambia, Human Rights Watch said in a report this month.
Jammeh has attracted worldwide attention for his many controversial actions that include
- Declaring the Gambia an Islamic state
- Withdrawing the country from the International Criminal Court
- Claiming he had concocted a herbal cure for HIV/AIDS
Gambian opposition parties have decided to unite forces and put forward a single candidate, Adama Barrow, who would contest Jammeh on December 1.
The only other candidate is a former ruling party MP, Mama Kandeh, who has been accused of being used to split opposition votes.
