Yahya Jammeh’s u-turn

The ovation that greeted his conceding defeat in Gambia’s December 1 presidential election has hardly died down when President Yahya Jammeh made an astonishing volte face. Having earlier congratulated President-elect to Adama Barrow and promised his cooperation, Jammeh said at the weekend that he rejected the results and called for a fresh election. He said […]

The ovation that greeted his conceding defeat in Gambia’s December 1 presidential election has hardly died down when President Yahya Jammeh made an astonishing volte face. Having earlier congratulated President-elect to Adama Barrow and promised his cooperation, Jammeh said at the weekend that he rejected the results and called for a fresh election. He said   the electoral process had suffered “unacceptable abnormalities.”

Jammeh said, “In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully, believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent, honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality.” He said fresh and transparent election should be held which should be officiated by a God-fearing and independent electoral commission. According to him, an accounting error identified by the Electoral Commission gave victory to Adama Barrow.

He said investigations had revealed that numerous voters had not been able to cast their ballots. “This is the most dubious election we ever had in the history of this country. We will go back to the polls because I want to make sure every Gambian votes under an electoral commission that is impartial, independent, neutral and free from foreign influence.” Jammeh added that he would not tolerate any street protests. He immediately deployed troops to the streets of Banjul, the capital of Gambia, meaning he could re-enact the 1994 coup that brought him to power.

Adama Barrow, a property developer, won the election with 263,515 votes (45.5%) while Jammeh got 212,099 (36.7%). A third party candidate, Mama Kandeh, got 102,969 or 17.8%.

When he accepted defeat, he was hailed all over Africa and the world. Everyone thought that the culture of accepting defeat by incumbent presidents is taking firm hold in Africa. Days after Jammeh’s concession, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahammah also conceded defeat in an election, adding to the feeling that Africa has come of democratic age. Alas, Jammeh has thrown us back to the dark old days of African sit-tightism and brazen disregard for the people’s will.  

After being in the saddle of power for 22 years, the reality of being out of power is unpalatable to Yahya Jammeh. 

His U-turn has already elicited stinging condemnations.  In a unanimous statement, the United Nations Security Council’s 15 members said Jammeh must hand over without delay.  “Security Council members call on him to respect the choice of the sovereign people of The Gambia as he did on 2 December 2016 and to transfer, without condition and undue delay, to the president-elect, Mr. Adama Barrow.” The African Union (AU) also urged him to facilitate a peaceful and orderly transition to the new president of Gambia, describing his statement as “null and void.” spokesman of the US State Department of State Mark Toner said, “This action is a reprehensible and unacceptable breach of faith with the people of The Gambia and an egregious attempt to undermine a credible election process and remain in power illegitimately.” 

Gambia’s neighbour Senegal called for the intervention of ECOWAS, AU and UN and asked Jammeh to hand over peacefully. In order not to plunge the West African country into turmoil that may cost lives and destruction, the honourable thing is for Yahya Jammeh to recant his unwise move and accept his defeat. He has the opportunity to write his name in gold and become a statesman which is earned and not by dictatorial tendencies of emasculating the citizens by denying them their choice.

Some observers say that Jammeh’s about turn was provoked by a pledge made by President-elect Barrow to probe and prosecute him. Considering the fragility of Gambia’s democracy and the sensitive nature of the transition period, we urge Barrow to also tread carefully. Jammeh must hand over to the elected president by ECOWAS, AU and if necessary UN statesmen should intervene to calm frayed nerves and make for a smooth and orderly transition.