Erudite Gambian commentator ‘Max’ laid the claims to the supremacy of the Gambian diaspora’s economic, intellectual, military and political powers. Will those on the ground facing the dictator eye ball to eye ball agree?
Here is what Max said:
Bax, the phrase “All options are on the table” are realistic options because those in the struggle have economic, financial and political and military clout to exert pressure directly or indirectly on the dictatorial regime in Banjul. Here is why:
You will agree with me that diaspora contribute 22 percent of GDP. This is very significant number without which there will be worst economic condition in the country.
Most Gambian’s families today depend on diaspora for their daily living such as food, clothing and shelter and also payment of school fees and medical bills. A lot of social events are also sponsored by diaspora.
When it comes to finance, diaspora is in better position to help the people and political parties more than an average Gambian in the country. Diaspora contributes financially more to survival of opposition parties than local citizens. This is why the dictator and his idiotic Mps came up with election act 2015 amendment to prevent the participation of diaspora financially and to hold political office. Why do you think this is necessary if diaspora is not a financial and political threat to dictator Jammeh and his regime?
Diaspora financially contribution is the key to sustainability and encouragement of coalition or alliance to effectively challenge the dictator for effective electoral victory. It is therefore erroneous to think that they do not have financial and economic clout to exert pressure for meaningful change.
Politically, diaspora is playing a huge role in exerting pressure on the dictatorial regime directly and indirectly. Diaspora is engaged in nonviolent resistance or civil resistance using protest march, demonstration, civil disobedience, education, raising awareness, and information warfare. In this forum, we are engaging in education, information warfare, and raising awareness of the regime brutality, human right abuses, Jammeh’s sexual predatory behavior, corruption and mismanagement.
Diaspora political activism enables the Gambians and international community to be fully aware of the brutal and authoritarian nature of the regime. Diaspora continue to expose this regime state sponsored terrorism, corruptions and human rights abuses to international forum , conferences, symposium, meetings and also to foreign governments , international organizations such as UN, EU, IMF, amnesty international, Article 19 and others. Because of this exposure, these foreign governments and international organizations were able to exert pressure on the regime and also to cut off funding which the regime used for its corrupt practices and oppression. Without diaspora, dictator Jammeh will be killing more Gambians than he has already killed, imprisoned, disappeared and exiled.
So Bax, don’t underestimate the power or influence of diaspora in terms of economic, financial and political pressure it is exerting on Jammeh. Sometimes, I don’t understand why you are so much against diaspora when it is known fact that even the opposition party leaders depend on them for their political activism and financial sustainability.
Bax, the phrase “all options are on the table” can be divided into nonviolent resistance (massive demonstration, popular uprising), electoral process, and violent methods (military coup, arms struggle, sniper attackers, car Bomb, or use of light skinned young Gambians girls or any method that would kill or remove Jammeh from power), which all aim at change of government. Nonviolent or civil resistance and political process is the one majority of diaspora is engage in and most prefer method. It is also the one I just described above.
Nonviolent resistance today lead to some senior officials to refuse orders and thus leave the country. As the strength of nonviolent resistance increases, you have now seem that significant information is leaking to diaspora and this is why Jammeh’s sexual life, corruption, disappearances, torture and demystification is open and known to public. It is also the same reason , you will see in very near future when Jammeh’s closed security officers will refuse to take illegal orders to kill citizens as it happened in Libya when their dictator instructed his military to kill civilians and some of them defected . It was also the same reason that UDP refused to take illegal orders from corrupt police force which resulted to stand off during their recent tour of the country.
Finally , the violent means Of change of government is a choice which is going to be made based on the brutality of the regime, Jammeh’s unwillingness to allow democracy to prevail and his willingness to stay in power at any cost . Some citizens will use these factors mentioned above as their reasons to attack, stage a coup or even kill Jammeh if they can since Jammeh used the same method when he came to power.
As Aung San Suu kyi, a Burmese pro- democracy leader stated ” it is Never easy to convince those who have acquired power forcibly of the wisdom of peaceful change. “With this in mind, I believe Jammeh will never easily leave power without significant non-violent and violent means. Therefore every possible means should be used to get rid of him. December statehouse is wake up call for him to know that patriotic citizens will do anything to change the system. In fact, it is outright false to state, the attack has worsen the situation in the country when the same brutality has been going on for 21 years. I understand, you only think that we cannot change the system From outside and I think it is ignorance to suggest that only those on the ground can effectively change the system.
Bax, I am sure if no one is taking us ( diaspora ) seriously as you implied , Jammeh would not have extended his so-called amnesty to diaspora. For the record the biggest threat to Jammeh’s presidency is diaspora especially those in USA who he frequently mentioned in his stupid talk. You can continue to be naive and believe that Jammeh is democratic who would listen to endless letters from you and Pdois without engaging in protest, demonstrations, sit-In, exposing him and his family, disobeying his illegal orders. The fundament question I have for you is” what is the most achievable and least costly method to remove dictator Jammeh from power and how can you guarantee that, the method will not result to violent ?”
Maxs asks a primary grade question!!
He asks: “what is the most achievable and least costly method to remove dictator Jammeh from power … ?”
Elementary Maxs! A UNITED OPPOSITION FRONT WITH A SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The effective dislodging & successful termination of tyrannical oppression in Gambia requires some sixth-sense-switching mature thinking; we all got different levels of thinking & understanding, for the consumption of all other comrades for formidable concerted actions to ensure coverage of ALL NECESSARY areas, for the eventual successful reclaim salvage of Gambia…
The Gambian diaspora plays vital invaluable efforts in that effect in the struggle to salvage Gambia, in partnership with the opposition on the ground in Gambia…
Coupled with all the functions mentioned already, it’s the selfless efforts of Gambia diaspora that our globe trodden Morocco-Guinean DEVIL CONCUBINE is marauding in Gambia for fears of attacks outside Gambia; the same applies to the MURDEROUS kanilai DEVIL itself; even within Gambia, EVIL yaya got its tail between legs, hiding amongst beefy armed bandits on transits between Banjul & Hellish kanilai due to diasporas’ efforts, much more venture outside Gambia, etc etc…
The diaspora is very much a force to reckon with in the struggle, to successfully terminate tyrannical oppression in Gambia, alongside the general individuals, & opposition parties on the grounds…
In that ALL options NECESSARY for successful reclaim salvage are open, & being explored by genuine Gambians; for while some of us may be in for temporal specific individualistic or group gains, the rest are genuine about COMMUNAL salvaging; with the sole aim & COMMON GOALS for protection & preserving lives, freedom, justice & fair play for ALL…
Surely we will succeed with genuine diligent endeavours…
God helps & bless collective endeavour to salvage Gambia; Ameen.
I used to debate Luntango Suun Gann Gi till he schooled me using the argument above. We are in this predicament because of lack of unity. Yaya is one man.
Maxs…
Let me once again remind you that it is important to fully understand what someone is saying before you disagree with them…Otherwise, you argue just for the sake of argument and that is what you have done here, with due respect…
After brilliantly spelling out what the diaspora can do economically, you made the following observation:-
“It is therefore erroneous to think that they do not have financial and economic clout to exert pressure for meaningful change.”
Is this what I said : that the diaspora has no economic clout (for meaningful change)..?
What I said was that “when people like President Obama use this term, their adversaries sit up.and take notice because, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE MILL TRY MIGHT AT THEIR DISPOSAL, THEY ALSO HAVE THE ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL CLOUT to exert pressure to achieve their aims…”
What I mean is that President Obama has control and/or influence over the US Forces and almost all Western financial and economic institutions, and thus, his government can take unilateral decisions, like impose sanctions on other countries, and no one would dare break them without serious consequences…
Maxs, I.have never said that the diaspora has no economic/financial clout but tell me who or which organisation in the diaspora has control over this diaspora (resources) and could influence their economic behaviour, such that when they call for economic boycott, everyone would oblige..? In.other words, when the call to.stop sending.money to family, friends and relatives is.made, everyone would stop and follow suit….
Unless there is such a control and influence over the diaspora resources, it cannot be viewed as a realistic option available to the struggle…It is a resource and a very powerful one, but not a realistic option at the moment, because it cannot be effectively harnessed…
Moreover, the 22% GDP contribution from the diaspora towards the National Budget does not all come.from members of the anti-Jammeh camp alone…That comes from people of all kinds and shades of political opinions:anti-Jammeh; pro-Jammeh and those who couldn’t care a butut whether Jammeh stays or goes…How could you even lay claim to such a resource as a realistic option.? So you are just arguing for nothing really…
You have made the following accusation against me…:
“it is outright false to state , the attack has worsen the situation in the country when the same brutality has been going on for 21 years .”
Here is.what I.stated in relation to the 30th December incident :
“And if people are pressured into action, then we have unfortunate and tragic events like December 30th and it’s attendant consequences for the people on the ground: more road blocks; heavily armed and nervous soldiers in our streets; endless harassment of people going about their normal daily lives and the occasional tragedy that lead to the death of young Binta Jarju. ..
Indeed, we want Jammeh out but we don’t want to worsen an already bad situation for the people…Al least, I certainly hope so…”
Is this the same as what you are accusing me of..? That I.said 30th December incident made the situation worse..
What my statement means is that the situation “is already bad” and we don’t want to make it any more bad (worsen) for the people…
There is no denying the fact that the aftermath of 30th December brought extra security check points, more armed and nervous soldiers in the streets and stringent checks for people entering and leaving Banjul…
Movement in the city of Banjul was restricted for days on end..That’s making a bad situation even worse…You can have your opinion about the whole exercise but this is a fact..
Continued….
Who deserves the greater credit for exposing Jammeh’s misrule is a matter of opinion…I.have no doubt that the diaspora has played its part but the greater credit goes to the opposition and others on the ground, as far as I am concerned…
Did you say that I am naive to believe that Jammeh is democratic..? And that he will listen.to MY (endless) LETTERS…! I think you are being ridiculous now…
Probably, I should yawn and just go to sleep, but something interesting caught my attention and.it is this quotation :
“As Aung San Suu kyi, a Burmese pro- democracy leader stated ” it is Never easy to convince those who have acquired power forcibly of the wisdom of peaceful change “
I don’t know.what to.make.of this, except to shake my head and say to myself, “really Bax, are you still going to.engage Maxs. ?”
You are one person who is.never tired of advocating for a forceful change of government and yet you quote Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that it is never easy to convince such people about the wisdom of peaceful change”
What makes you think that the people you want to forcefully remove Jammeh “will be easily convinced about the wisdom.of peaceful change (hand over) to an elected government, other than themselves..? I rest my case…
Bax, here is what you said regarding ” all options are on the table ” ,
( 1) Bax- ” the phrase ” all options are on the table ” is very fashionable and popular today but I think we needs to be realistic about the options available to us and weigh them in order to select the most achievable and least costly ..,”
You went further to indicate that the options should have strong economic , financial , political and military options to exert pressure to achieve its aims ( which you indicated diaspora do not have) , and president Obama has at his disposal , this is just to paraphrase .
Here is what you said again :
(2) Bax- ” I am not sure if those in this struggle that use this phrase really have that many realistic options … Hence , it becomes empty rhetoric which no one takes seriously “.
The above conclusion you made simply means that the phrase ” all options are on the table ” is empty rhetoric in your own words. If it is ” empty rhetoric which no one takes seriously ” because of lack of realistic options then it means diaspora do not have economic , financial , political and military options to exert pressure on the regime to achieve its goals . This is logical explanation of your quotation number (2) above .
As a believer of ” all options are on the table ” , I quoted Aung san suu kyi who stated ” it is never easy to convince those who have acquired power forcibly of the wisdom of peaceful change ” to further justify my belief in ” all options are on the table “. Because I believe it will be very difficult to have Jammeh to leave power peacefully without significant non-violent and violent means . I have always stated that my prefer and best option to remove Jammeh is through electoral process , however I will support any methods including violent means to remove him from power .
Tell me what you mean by the empty rhetoric which no one will takes seriously ?
Readers will analyze the logical explanation of our statements and make their own conclusion.
Dida, how guarantee do you think united opposition front with single presidential candidate victory won’t result to violent , considering the brutal and undemocratic nature of Jammeh’s regime ? In fact , looking at current situation in The Gambia , it will be very difficult or virtually impossible for anyone United front candidate to win without electoral reform , Restructuring and changes at independent electoral commission , equal access to media , exclusion of security forces , independent judiciary , exclusion of civil servants in campaign for the regime , secure border and freedom of press . I know you are not the right person to ask but for the sake of asking , I want to see your reaction ? Maybe Bax , can help us since he is the one who is talking about this least Costly and most achievable method ?
Really Maxs? Excuses, excuses. It is guaranteed that if a SINGLE Opposition candidate faced Jammeh that candidate stands a GOOD chance of winning (this was PROVED by the NADD by-elections). And if the Opposition candidate wins, Jammeh will retire to Kanilai peacefully and continue with his farming.
All these blah blah is simply because the opposition is unable to unite.
Media blah blah is also just that! The WHOLE of the Greek media and the WHOLE of the European media was DISGRACEFUL in their bias against the Greek Government. YET, the Greek Government won by 61%. The British media is currently behaving disgracefully in their bias towards Jeremy Corbyn (one dug up a story about him staying in a 5-Star Hotel on a trip abroad!). And yet Jeremy Corbyn is racing ahead of the field and looks as if he will win.
Anyway, the media is irrelevant in Gambian politics – the place is so small that messages can be passed by word-of-mouth from one end of the country to the other in a day.
Maxs…Your attempt to explain what I said has clearly shown how you completely misunderstood me, and I can only sympathise with you….
You asked me to explain what I meant by “empty rhetoric”…I think that should have been asked before you reacted to my views….Anyway, I will explain again what it means in the context I used it. .
First, let me show you how you misunderstood what I said…
I.contended that individuals like President Obama are taken seriously by their adversaries, when they use the term, “All options are on the table” (military and non military..ie, political, economic, financial, etc).
I explained that this is so because they are realistic options which are available to them…They could resort to every single one of these options to achieve their goals..
For example, President Obama has the most powerful military at his disposal that can strike anyone, anywhere…If he issues a military threat against anyone, you take notice because you know it is realistic option available to him and a real threat to you….
Jammeh, on the other hand, sometimes in.his dazed and crazy moments, issues threats of teaching the West a lesson if they cross his line…Has he got any options available to him to do this.? Of course he has a standing army, so he has the military option….Does anyone take him seriously..? Obviously NOT because it is not a REALISTIC option…That’s just empty rhetoric…just hot air and nothing else..
So when I made the observation that I am not sure if anyone in the struggle has got that many REALISTIC (that’s the key word:REALISTIC) options, I am not saying that they have got no options at all..
All I.am.saying is.that the economic or financial clout that the diaspora definitely possess and could use to exert pressure on the regime, is not a realistic option at the moment, because no one has control or influence over the economic or financial behaviour of Gambians in the diaspora, to deploy this resource efficiently to achieve targeted goals…
In other words Maxs, which individual or organisation do you know in the diaspora that can issue directives against sending money to The Gambia that all will follow.?
Moreover, how much of the 22% GDP contribution to the National Budget comes from.the anti-Jammeh camp because the pro-Jammeh camp will definitely not be part of any financial or economic boycott.. I can put my neck on the line for that one…
Until you have that control and knowledge, it is only wishful thinking to believe that you can achieve anything with it…It’s not a realistic or practical option….
So to.use these options as a threat is empty rhetoric which no one should take seriously…
@Maxs….”You went further to indicate that the options should have strong economic , financial , political and military options to exert pressure to achieve its aims ( which you indicated diaspora do not have) , and president Obama has at his disposal , this is just to paraphrase…”
Please, when.you.paraphrase someone, make sure you are conveying what they said…I didn’t say anything close to what you said above…I have not said anywhere that the “options (themselves) have to have strong economic, financial and military options to exert pressure…..” This doesn’t make any sense…It may be a typo error and that is why I said to make sure of what you are saying…
I know you have quoted Aung San Suu Kyi to justify your belief but it is the irony I am pointing out to you…Or can’t you see the irony.?
Here it is….Aung San Suu Kyi is warning you against supporting forceful change of government because those who do so are not easily convinced of the wisdom of peaceful change…
Isn’t it an irony, that you who support forceful change, even as a last resort, should quote someone who warns against it..?
I don’t know what the readers will say but I think it is…
Finally Maxs, I am not a military or security expert but I can say without a doubt, that even where a diaspora group was able to put a force together and take on Yaya Jammeh militarily, their chance of removing Jammeh will be entirely dependent on the cooperation of the Gambia National Army..
This is because the GNA, being a standing and well established force, will be far more superior to, better prepared and better equipped than any force that can be amassed by any group of Gambians abroad…
Believe it or not, if anyone had a 50% chance of sneaking weapons into The Gambia, in adequate quantities, to carry out an operation before 30th December, that chance is probably less than 25% now, unless you have accomplices at the various entry points….
Again, that supports my argument that the people on the ground are the Key players to end this madness, not those abroad…The diaspora can definitely play a very crucial role…That’s my view..
Hi folks, sorry that Deyda Haidara was inactive these past few weeks. Please allow me to throw my 1$ thought in this very interesting debate.
Firstly, I would reject any attempt or argument that further divide the Diaspora struggle and the Local struggle. The objective of both groups is to remove Jammeh from power either peacefully or forcefully. However each group has a comparative advantage over the other group. Those in the diaspora surely have more leverage than those on the ground. I think Max and Bax can enumerate point by point the comparative advantages of both groups and certainly the results will be to the advantage of the Diaspora group. However the local group will have the last advantage of the change we are all yearning for that is it must take place in the Gambia. This is where the local group becomes important as they lay the final deadly blow of the dictatorial regime on the ground.
When we take the last December attack as an example one is oblige to reckon the combine efforts of both foreign and local heroes in trying to topple Jammeh. Halas! The traitors in both camps who failed to play their honorable roles will be known and exposed in the near future.
On the political and election fronts at home we can see the same collaboration efforts of the two groups. Notwithstanding within the two main groups there are advocates of electoral change and advocates of other means of change. Since I for one operate on the ground, I am pleased to report that we have been able to make the majority of Gambians disown Jammeh as well as furnishing local information to the diaspora groups. This job is obviously facilitated by Jammeh himself. His various business enterprises controlling the economy and making the rest of Gambians poor, his repressive laws and manipulation of the justice system to jail innocent citizens, his notorious NIA operations and arrest without charge, his un-Islamic actions of refusing to hand over dead bodies to families for decent burials and manipulation of the Supreme Islamic Council and finally his wife’s lavish and insatiable greed for monies, travels and luxury. There is not a single Gambian on the ground that is not aware or fall victim of Jammeh’s arrogant, unruly, hate and bullying nature. I can say here and now that most people pretend to be loyal in Jammeh’s face only to disown him in his back. This fact will be more evident the day Jammeh is removed from power. There will jubilation all over the country.
To close my lengthy comment, let me remind Gambians in the Diaspora that the dominant tribe in the Gambia today is the Jolas and not the Mandikas as in the past. Sorry but this is the fact on the ground. Whether we like it or not this is the fact on the ground today after 21 years of Jammeh’s emptying Jolas from Casamance and settling them massively in the Gambia with all the benefits befitting a citizen including the control of the most important security apparatus of Government. Taking this fact into account one tend to take a hard look on the viability of removing Jammeh through elections. This is not saying that there will any Jola who would not vote against Jammeh but I doubt if the new migrants will not vote massively for Jammeh. This information is not meant to generate a new debate but rather to remind Gambians in the diaspora to factor in this hard truth when making electoral analyses. Another point on the ground I would like us recognize is the fact that on the one hand there are political parties and their militants on the other hand the general population that are not party members but deeply involve in the local struggle and exposure to remove Jammeh by all means necessary.
Our combined efforts will pay in the near future and ALL groups are doing a fantastic job. Jammeh must GO.
Deyda Haidara, thanks for good analysis and hitting the nail on the head. Though I am not sure whether my good friend Bax will agree with you that jolas are the dorminant tribe in The Gambia not the mandinkas as you pointed out due to massive immigration into Gambia. Gambian jolas are also victimized in this process through the congestion and confiscation of their land . According to various sources , today in The Gambia you will see a military guy who cannot speak any of the major languages in the country such mandinka, wollof and Fula . The question now is “where are these people coming from ?”. These people are jolas from casamance and Jammeh has recruited thousands of these people in the military while others are in the police force and NIA. Jammeh’s closed protection officer like king Papa who many Gambians did not know about is from casamance. He is the one who sleep next to Jammeh’s bedroom and he is the very one who knows a lot about Jammeh . He has never been promoted and never leave statehouse campus but is well paid . 90 percent of Jammeh’s protocol girls are young jola girls age 17 to 25 years and their boss sanna Jarju used to lived in nemakunku when he was going to secondary school. Sanna and his brother yusupha badjie were recruited into the military after the demise of their brother STaff sageant Badjie in farafenni attack. Both of these individuals never finish secondary school . Today yusupha badjie is part of jugulars . I brought the examples of these two individuals to further highlight your story of jola dorminant in Jammeh’s security details . Another example is Ismaila Sanyang who is also another jola though mr Sanyang is very intelligent guy , who is a nurse by profession and has masters degree from Taiwan. Today he is protocol officer in Jammeh’s statehouse simply because of his tribal affiliation and has not been practicing his profession. I can give you an examples of ten other people who are jolas that I personally know in Jammeh’s security and civilian top leadership positions. Even in the statehouse campus , Jammeh has built big Manson where Jammeh’s grandchildren such as jimbay , Isatou , Ndey , Fatou ,, and others live and they are all pimps at the same time protocol officers. These girl’s father used to live in Bakau and was totally opposed to Jammeh’s exposing them to his nasty behaviors . Dictator jammeh resulted to poison their dad who died mysteriously then later took jimbay and two others sisters to UK for two years and return to Gambia to be part of Jammeh’s inner circles. You also have landing Jammeh working at statehouse . Dictator Jammeh’s inner circle is tribal and family enterprises so to speak. None of Jammeh’s grandchildren have gone to university . Nastiest thing is that dictator Jammeh have sex with all these sisters who are from the same parents and some are adopted girls raised by old man from Bakau .
I think you are right that Jammeh’s royalists pretend to like him during his present but at his back , they hate him more than anything.
@Deyda. . “However each group has a comparative advantage over the other group. ”
Comment…This is a reasonable compromise and I think Maxs and I can accept to work with/within it…
Welcome back from your long “hibernation”…Have you been hiding in Kaninlai or just conserving energy for the final push of the dictator…?
Maxs….
I am impressed by your “knowledge” of the composition of Jammeh’s inner security circle and protocols, as well as the residents of State House…
I must confess that I am not privy to such information and do not think that I have ever contested any views on that, whether from you or anyone else…
The only disagreements I have with you is that this is evidence of a “Jola Hegemony” in.the country…I.disagreed with that conclusion and I still do…
I know brother Deyda also holds the view that Jolas are the dominant group and often points to the “mass influx” of Cassamance Jolas into The Gambia…
My assumption, given the connection he makes between this influx and election outcomes, is that he is referring to domination by numbers…If I am.right, then I have to disagree because both the facts and common sense logic do not support this claim..
FACTS : According to population figures from official statistics, Mandinkas are still the main ethnic group at 42%…. whilst Jolas, admittedly, have registered a significant improvement at 10%…and I’m sure this can be easily explained by the endless string of social events in Kaninlai and other places, as well as, a steady influx of “foreigners” including Jolas, into the Fonis since Jammeh came to power..
You know what I mean…It’s a sort of “free for all” environment and that is fertile ground for a BABY BOOM…
Logic and Common sense : We all know that the Foni region is the only area where Jolas can be said to be the dominant ethnic group and hence, provides the only constituencies where the APRC may get away with a massive influx of Jola voters from Cassamance…
However, Foni has only 5 constituencies and their combined voter number is less than some.of the bigger constituencies, like Kombo North, Kombo South; and S/K East…
It is evident that even if every single voter in Foni was a Cassamance Jola, they simply have not got.the numbers to.influence any national elections, except for.the National Assembly…which other parties don’t even.bother to contest any more, due.to the hostile environment…
There are no other constituencies where a mass influx of Cassamance Jolas, enough to swing the vote in.favour of the APRC, will not raise eyebrows…The opposition may be “dumb” in.your views, but come on guys, they are not that “dumb”…
Also, the use of “foreigners” to boost the votes of candidates from the ruling party, is not new in The Gambia..This is an old tradition that the APRC simply continued…
After all, isn’t it the same people…The big wigs and activists of the PPP became the activists and even big wigs of the APRC…
Again Maxs, I don’t know the size of the foreign contingent in.our security apparatus today…You may be right that it is very high but drafting”foreigners” into our security agencies is not at all new….That too, is an old tradition that is not unique to only The Gambia…My cousin has just come.of.the British Army and there are many Gambians serving in the British and other National Armies…
We used to have a lot of such people in.the defunct field Force…In fact, the legendary commander Bojang is known.to be a.Maasuanka from Bissau Guinea…
In.the late 70’s towards the early 80’s, there used to be one Nawettan hosted at the present S/W grounds and my area used to be represented by a team called “Badala Football Club”..I don’t know if you remember this…
One of our goal keepers was a guy named Simon Kangaka (RIP) and he was a giant of a man, who used to frighten strikers with his bull like voice….He was a.Mankagne from Cassamance and could not speak anything except Mankagne and French….
He was enlisted in the Field Force and later died from alleged torture after he was released from mile 2, where he has been incarcerated after the 1981 rebellion…There were Malians, Conakry Guineans and Northern Senegalese…
Gambia needs them because not only do we lack the numbers mate, but until the creation of the GNA and the need for an officer cadre, not many youths want to go near security because it was a “dead end” career wise..
I have no problem agreeing with the views that Jammeh’s support base is fake and his loyalists are all pretenders…
We can’t open.the “hearts” of.these.fake supporters for conclusive proofs, but we can rely on evidence around us, on despots like him, and see how their “support” melted away in their hours of need to make our observations…
Some.of.the biggest crowd pullers at the height of their “powers” and dictatorships, suddenly found themselves lonely and isolated and running in vain, for their lives…
This is a legacy that he should learn.from, but unfortunately, they never learn… They are too intoxicated with borrowed power, which they mistake for their personal power, that they become completely blind to realities, dangers and.warning signs .. often, to the very end and too late for themselves and.their loved ones..
Bax, in our national security apparatus such as police , Nia and military , Jammeh has recruited thousands of casamance jolas into the system and 90 percent of them do not have qualifications and cannot speak any of the major languages . This is where the problem lies . There is no problem for anyone in joining foreign military or services as long as they do have right qualifications. Even with my education in The Gambia , I went to university here in USA and pursuit a great career . Jammeh is using these jolas from casamance at the expense of Gambians . Bax I think you will agree that massive jolas migration to gambia has not happened before . When it comes to security , Jammeh depend on this jolas from casamance and jugulars , and a lot of them are directly answerable to him . This is why Jammeh can even imprisoned or jailed top military leaders either they are jolas or not without any consequences . Jammeh put surveillance on top military leaders using these casamance jolas and jugulars for his security . It is also the same reason as soon as there is military promotion , the individual leaders felt that it was a cause and they are very careful , they do not even speak on the phone. Those who are lucky will be fire , or deploy to foreign services if Jammeh didn’t trust them. This is what is happening.
Massive resettlement of jolas are happening in the Brikama and surroundings . Places like Talinding and nemakunku are predorminantly occupied by casamance jolas, some of them were former Rebels and are now in Gambia security services . Families of sana Jarju and Yusupha badjie I mentioned above are such settlers in nemakunku . So these massive migration of jolas into Gambia has serious implications on entrenchment of dictatorship , electoral process , and economic disadvantage to Gambian people .