By Baba Galleh Jallow
Traditionally, African dictators have imposed single-party states either by issuing an order banning all other parties, or by passing law in rubber stamp parliaments legitimizing the imposition of single party states. Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh, who has fast assumed the status of Africa’s most callous dictator, has devised a novel and particularly sinister plot designed to turn the country into a single party state in all but name. We may call his sinister method Dollar Power – the imposition of exorbitant fees for all who desire to seek political office in The Gambia.
According to a report published in the online version of The Standard newspaper of June 17, 2015, the country’s Independent Electoral Commission is proposing an amendment to the Elections Act to the Gambian National Assembly that will increase the required deposit for aspiring presidential candidates from 10, 000 dalasi to one million dalasi. According to Hamat Bah, leader of the National Reconciliation Party, the proposed amendment also increases the deposit for National Assembly candidates from 5000 to 100, 000 dalasi, the deposit for mayoral candidates from 2500 to 25000 dalasi and the deposit for council ward candidates from 1250 to 10000 dalasi. What these particular amendments mean is that only a very rich party, such as the ruling APRC, can potentially afford to contest the elections, at least the presidential and National Assembly elections. One doubts whether any of the existing opposition parties in The Gambia possess the dollar power to fund their presidential, parliamentary and all other candidates under this regime in the upcoming 2016 general elections.
There is absolutely no doubt that the Independent Electoral Commission’s draconian amendment proposals come directly from Yahya Jammeh. This not only confirms that the Electoral Commission is directly under the control of Yahya Jammeh, it also shows the extent of Jammeh’s callousness in dealing with dissenting Gambian citizens. Since imposing the single party state through executive decree or an act of the National Assembly could potentially spark riots against him, Jammeh is using dollar power to elbow everyone else out of The Gambia’s electoral politics. There is little doubt that the proposed amendments will be approved by the APRC controlled National Assembly.
One wonders whether the leadership of other political parties in The Gambia will allow this sinister plot to proceed as planned by Yahya Jammeh. One hopes that they will not. In the event they want to oppose and defeat this sinister conspiracy, they might consider three (or more) courses of action. They could file suit in the Gambian courts and hope for a miracle judgment in their favor. They could mobilize their supporters and stage mass protests against the sinister plot. Or they could create a temporary coalition, pool their resources, and finance their candidates for the 2016 elections under the new draconian electoral dispensation. It seems to me that the coalition option is particularly appealing and stands a very good chance of ending the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh.
While there might be other issues that have prevented the emergence of a comprehensive political coalition against the Jammeh dictatorship, one has a sense that one of the biggest sticking points is the issue of who leads the coalition. I suggest that this particular obstacle may be removed if the parties can agree to select an independent candidate for the primary purpose of defeating Jammeh, to serve a maximum period of one or two years or whatever time is agreed upon, and during this time to oversee a comprehensive regime of electoral and other reforms. The coalition leadership will then oversee the conduct of an election in which the individual constitutive party leaders will contest. We hope and pray that our political leaders will consider this coalition – or other viable options – seriously in the event that the IEC’s proposed amendments are approved by the National Assembly, which in reality is Yahya Jammeh’s personal assembly.
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I doubt the coalition will work or even win the election as long as the current chairman is managing the affairs of IEC. Popular uprising/ massive demonstration including all opposition parties will be best case scenario which will gather international support if Jammeh unleash his terror on innocent citizens . This will result to Jammeh to step down and government of national unity to be formed . The idea that Jammeh will leave power without a fight is unrealistic . I know our opposition leaders are law abiding citizens who does not want to see conflict in our country and they have worked harder all these years to avoid it . But in Our case, conflict with a dictator is a necessity if that is the only means that would enable citizens to get their liberty and freedom. We as a country do not ask for it but the current regime is preparing itself and the country in that direction. I only hope divine intervention will come to avoid it . The only language a tyrant understand is its own language . Liberty and freedom are never achieved on silverplatter and the tree of liberty and freedom shall be watered by blood of patriotic citizens from time to time to sustain its growth . This is the direction Gambian nation is heading since our political liberty and freedom are completely eroding should this dictatorial and undemocratic amendment of election act is pass by the National Assembly.
I totally agree Max. No amount of elections will bring about change, Our people have to be willing to make sacrifices by standing up and fight for their rights. Not sure if they have the stomach for that. There is no way Jammeh will allow a free and fair elections. All the state apparatus including the IEC are in his pocket.
I agree that Jammeh may very well try to steal the elections if he is faced with imminent defeat at the polls. That, however, might inspire the mass protests and demonstrations that both Babacar and Maxs reference. I would still suggest trying the coalition as a key first step towards getting rid of the dictatorship. A united front presented by the UDP, PPP, PDOIS and the NRP for instance, could be a very formidable force to contend with. The results could be so glaring as to defy any attempt at rigging the vote.
Why can ALL the opposition parties unite and oust this man?
You can’t defeat a dictator in election if you are disenfranchised, or disunited.
My advise to Amat Bah and fellow opposition parties, put aside your differences, egos and unite, choose a leader temporally and defeat the incumbent.
After four or five years after defeating the president, then your parties’ can separate.
And, introduce term limit. Either eight or ten years. No more than two terms.
Folks, even if the deposit is D10- (ten dalasis), let all opposition come together and field ONE candidate, let the diaspora pour in $10 million us dollars to help the opposition unity campaign against Jammeh, Jammeh will stil win the elections. NEVER an election will remove Jammeh because of this simple fact; ALL of the people of Casamance are registered voters in the Gambia. Please remember that Casamance is more populated than the Gambia. These casamance people will come and vote and go back home and NOBODY can stop them from doing so.
It is high time that Gambians ask for the voter register to be posted online for serious scrutiny. Unless the voter population is screened to contained ONLY Gambians, it will always be a futile exercice to go to elections with Jammeh.
Where are gambians so gullibul and sturborn and keep dreaming of the IMPOSSIBLE voting route.
In fact the rebel MFDC fight is over as these people have two countries to depend, work and live on. They two ID cards, two birth certicates, two voting cards and double citizenship.
Maxs is right only REVOLUTION can help us get our country back.
“One wonders whether the leadership of other political parties in The Gambia will allow this sinister plot to proceed as planned by Yahya Jammeh. One hopes that they will not. In the event they want to oppose and defeat this sinister conspiracy, they might consider three (or more) courses of action. They could file suit in the Gambian courts and hope for a miracle judgment in their favor. They could mobilize their supporters and stage mass protests against the sinister plot. Or they could create a temporary coalition, pool their resources, and finance their candidates for the 2016 elections under the new draconian electoral dispensation. It seems to me that the coalition option is particularly appealing and stands a very good chance of ending the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh.
While there might be other issues that have prevented the emergence of a comprehensive political coalition against the Jammeh dictatorship, one has a sense that one of the biggest sticking points is the issue of who leads the coalition. I suggest that this particular obstacle may be removed if the parties can agree to select an independent candidate for the primary purpose of defeating Jammeh, to serve a maximum period of one or two years or whatever time is agreed upon, and during this time to oversee a comprehensive regime of electoral and other reforms. The coalition leadership will then oversee the conduct of an election in which the individual constitutive party leaders will contest. We hope and pray that our political leaders will consider this coalition – or other viable options – seriously in the event that the IEC’s proposed amendments are approved by the National Assembly, which in reality is Yahya Jammeh’s personal assembly.”
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Baba, correct me if I am wrong. I believe this is the first time that I am seeing you make a public suggestion for what the Gambian opposition political parties ought to do. And coming from you it is a great source of comfort that an astute and erudite voice as yours would support the conventional norm to create a temporary coalition of the Gambian opposition.
The political activism in your writings and particularly your satires shows the depth of your intellect and promise. I hope we will see more.
Thanks for adding your voice to what has been the general consensus for quite a while.
Kamalo: Please excuse the delayed response. Yes, you are right, this is the first time I am explicitly making a suggestion for what the Gambian opposition parties ought to do. Like I said in the above piece, and as recent events have shown, the assembly has passed the slightly modified draconian measures into law. Our opposition leaders should seriously consider taking firm action to put an end to this escalating abuse. I hope and pray that they do.
It is inevitable that the dictator will not be removed without a fight and Gambians have to accept that. Yaya Jammeh knows that majority of the Gambians do not like him or will not vote for him in an election. Therefore, he is closing all doors for his peaceful removal from power. Let us unite and use any alternatives left which can includes targeting his supporters, properties, massive uprising and getting rid of him.