Longtime Gambian ruler now refuses to step aside 

KRISTA LARSON, Associated Press

 

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Gambia's ruler of more than 22 years announced late Friday that he no longer accepts defeat in the country's presidential election, reversing course a week after he conceded to his rival.

 

In a speech on state television, President Yahya Jammeh said that investigations since the Dec. 1 vote have revealed a number of voting irregularities that he called unacceptable.

 

"I hereby reject the results in totality," he said in his address that aired late Friday. "Let me repeat: I will not accept the results based on what has happened."

 

Only one week ago, a jovial Jammeh was filmed on state television calling opposition candidate Adama Barrow to wish him the best.

 

"You are the elected president of The Gambia, and I wish you all the best," Jammeh told Barrow at the time. "I have no ill will."

 

The dramatic about-face was certain to spark outrage among the opposition and the tens of thousands of Gambians living in exile abroad. Already in the week since Jammeh had been defeated, several dozen political prisoners had been released on bail.

 

"We are deeply concerned by reports of belated objections to the Gambian election results raised by President Jammeh," said Babatunde Olugboji, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch. "The international community, notably (regional bloc) ECOWAS and the African Union, should loudly protest any unlawful attempt to subvert the will of the Gambian people."

 

The U.S. government also condemned Jammeh's rejection of the election result, calling it an attempt to remain in power illegitimately.

 

"The people have spoken and it is time for Gambians to come together to ensure a peaceful transition to President-elect Barrow," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner in a statement.

 

It remained unclear whether the tiny country of 1.9 million people would accept Jammeh's continued rule. As news spread last week of his defeat, Gambians took to the streets — singing, dancing and shouting "Freedom!"

 

Under Jammeh's rule, the country surrounded almost entirely by Senegal has become notorious for its abysmal human rights record as well as the president's erratic behavior.

 

The Jammeh regime has long been accused of imprisoning, torturing and killing its opponents, according to human rights groups. He also has issued increasingly virulent statements against sexual minorities, vowing to slit the throats of gay men.

 

In 2007, Jammeh claimed to have developed a cure for AIDS that involved an herbal body rub and bananas. Alarming public health experts, he insisted patients stop taking antiretroviral medications so his remedy could have an effect.

 

He also has increasingly isolated Gambia, whose economy has long been dependent on tourism. In 2013 he exited the Commonwealth, a group made up mostly of former British colonies, branding it a "neo-colonial institution." And in October, Jammeh said Gambia would leave the International Criminal Court, which he dismissed as the 'International Caucasian Court.'"

 

In his speech Friday, Jammeh said some figures in the results had been transposed and that voter turnout had been suppressed.

 

"Our investigations reveal that in some cases voters were told that the opposition has already won and that there was no need for them to vote and, out of anger, some of them returned home," he said.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-10

Another African "leader" plunges his country into chaos. Very sad for the citizens.

Another crazy man that is also stupid and delusional. Just need to pull the plug on him as simple as that .


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

yep once they get into power, dont like relinquishing it, ring any bells,, anyone ??

12 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

yep once they get into power, dont like relinquishing it, ring any bells,, anyone ??

 

Yep, reminds me of a guy who was pm himself and had several puppets for about 12 or 13 years.

His initial reaction to the election result was simply too good to be true.

Isn,t democracy wonderful ! I am surprised that it has not been adopted by all clans of animals that can walk on 2 feet :)

1 hour ago, phantomfiddler said:

Isn,t democracy wonderful ! I am surprised that it has not been adopted by all clans of animals that can walk on 2 feet :)

It sure beats whatever's in 2nd place!  What communism? Or a dictator who never steps down?  No thank you. At least in a democracy we have the chance of getting rid of a bad or incompetent ruler and can speak our minds in public or print as well as organize and protest.

Edited December 10, 20169 yr by hyperHowie
typos

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

as well as the president's erratic behavior.

He has lots of company in this regard. 

1 hour ago, hyperHowie said:

At least in a democracy we have the chance of getting rid of a bad or incompetent ruler and can speak our minds in public or print as well as organize and protest.

Lets hope it lasts well into the future. A lot of freedoms are being taken away under the guise of national security. 

African Democracy -- one man one vote one time. 

The winning team made noises about taking legal action against the previous president over human rights issues and that was the likely catalyst for the change of mind. Likely that the military will also back the previous guy as they will also be implicated in any examination of wrongdoing. That's not to say he wouldn't have had a change of mind anyway, but kind of stupid to announce such proposed action before being in a position of strength to enforce it.

 

Worked there for a time way back in 1979 and found it a very laid back place. Luckily not too long as it was more popular with northern European ladies of a certain age. I was then able to get back to the hot spots of Monrovia, my work base at that time.

Oh HyperHowie  you  should not speak of America  like that. 555

This  leader  is like that guy on the other side of Africa, who is an

old guy with a big army and a totally ruined country. This  guy

should  do like old Idi Amin  and flee to somewhere else and die

of old age, and the Syph.

Geezer

Jammeh has still got the backing of the army which supports his erratic behaviour. This is what has always given him the strength to go on and remain president for the past 22 years.

 

I remember being in the villages one time a good few years ago during election time and seeing a lot of army trucks pulling up outside the village and pointing their hero based machine guns at the villagers and the leader of the army team shouting that, you have a choice on eho to vote for. It if you make the wrong decision and yaya (jammeh) doesn't get the most votes, we'll come back and shoot you all. This happened at most of the election times after that as I was told. Jammeh only lead by having his army exert power on his behalf and it was blatantly obvious that he would never give up the presidency without a fight. Only way to get him out is the same way that he got in himself, to get the strongest team possible and to walk in to state house and take the power through force, there is no other way than this with people like him.

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Falcon

Why is anyone surprised?  Any of you actually been to The Gambia?

15 hours ago, Mazungu said:

African Democracy -- one man one vote one time. 

Its the dark side of politics this guy has ruled so long he thinks he is omnipotent or a sore loser. Maybe his fixers fixed things against him. 

More evidence that black Africa is simply inferior in terms of social organisation.

On 12/11/2016 at 9:33 AM, Falcon said:

Jammeh has still got the backing of the army which supports his erratic behaviour. This is what has always given him the strength to go on and remain president for the past 22 years.

 

I remember being in the villages one time a good few years ago during election time and seeing a lot of army trucks pulling up outside the village and pointing their hero based machine guns at the villagers and the leader of the army team shouting that, you have a choice on eho to vote for. It if you make the wrong decision and yaya (jammeh) doesn't get the most votes, we'll come back and shoot you all. This happened at most of the election times after that as I was told. Jammeh only lead by having his army exert power on his behalf and it was blatantly obvious that he would never give up the presidency without a fight. Only way to get him out is the same way that he got in himself, to get the strongest team possible and to walk in to state house and take the power through force, there is no other way than this with people like him.

Thank God our coercion is more subtle. The media has taken the place of the military.