By Foday Darboe
 
Who is Yahya Jammeh? Perhaps the answer to this intriguing question is best described by his irrational actions. Many people will probably remember Jammeh for his claims that he can cure HIV/AIDS. Sadly, this assertion has no medical merit. On a more serious note, it is Jammeh and his pundits that brought an abrupt end to democracy in the Gambia. Friday, July 22, 1994, was the day when Jammeh plunged our beloved country into disaster. Indeed, it was that day when the dark chapters of Gambian politics began to be written. A change of government during Sir Dawda Jawara’s era was highly anticipated, but not through military coup or any such undemocratic means. Arguably, there are two utmost important reasons to impeach President Jammeh before it’s too late. They are: Economic decay and the gross human rights violations he is spearheading.  
 
Economic decay  
President Jammeh’s rationale for overthrowing the government of Sir Dawda Jawara was to bring transparency in government activities; and improve economic and social developments. In fact, Jammeh bombarded Gambians with slogans like, “Accountability and transparency.” Today, it is apparent that the driving force behind the economic failures in the Gambia is Jammeh himself. The economic situation in the Gambia is immensely taking a toll on both the micro and macro economic sectors. Does Jammeh need an economist to explain some economic theories on how to execute sound economic policies? Or does Jammeh need a lecture on introduction to Economics—200? Can someone tell President Jammeh that he is prostituting our fragile economy? Jammeh is slowly but surely committing ECONOMIC GENOCIDE in the Gambia.
 
Some of the most troubling developments in Jammeh’s government are fiscal indiscipline, combined with monetary slippages, high inflation, rapid depreciation, large increases of domestic debt, and food prices are increasing faster than the overall price level. President Jammeh has vested interest in his so-called infrastructural development. Yet, if infrastructural development is to take place, it must involve a capacity for continuous change, especially with economic growth, creation of jobs, and increase in per capita income. No matter how many infrastructural developments may occur, there can be no improvement if the economic situation remains stagnant. Jammeh’s government has failed to create jobs, and most alarmingly, wages and salaries significantly remain the same, which will likely further degrade civil service morale and performance.
 
The government of Jammeh is dwelling on economic aids from the World Bank and other economic institutions while fundamentally risking the Gambia’s external debt. The World Bank claims that through its “International Development Association (IDA), is helping The Gambia to establish a sound macroeconomic and sectoral environment conducive to economic growth, and to develop the economic and social infrastructure and human resources.” The World Bank went on to report that “as of September 2007, IDA had approved 31 projects for The Gambia totaling about US$296 million equivalent. The current portfolio consists of five projects totaling US$52.9 million equivalent: (a) Capacity Building for Economic Management, (b) Gateway, (c) Africa Emergency Locust, (d) Third Education, Phase 2, and (e) Community-Driven Development. An additional financing for the Capacity Building for Economic Management is under preparation.” Is Jammeh making rational economic decisions for Gambians? Whatever deal Jammeh is making with the World Bank it has to be transparent and Gambians should be aware of the conditions and consequences. The next administration would suffer all these poor economic decisions Jammeh is undertaking and Gambians will pay a heavy price for it. But certainly, whoever leads the Gambia after his demise should definitely go after him and freeze all the stolen money and resources he invested in Swiss Bank and other places, including his mansion in Kanilia. President Jammeh has done more harm to our economy than his predecessor and his cohorts. President Jammeh is long on promises and short on delivery.
 
 
Human rights violations 
The dialectical clash between the forces of President Jammeh and the persistence of law abiding citizens is a fundamental reality in the Gambia. In the midst of such incoherence, many Gambians hold a vision of an unknown but promising future; others refuse to acknowledge Jammeh’s economic and political failures. From Banjul to Basse, Gambians find themselves confronted by the challenges of unprecedented scrutiny, intimidation, and oppression.
 
Today, Gambia is a hub for intimidation against journalist. Under Jammeh, many journalists are at the receiving end of his oppressive policies. Jammeh has arrested and detained several journalists on no concrete or legal grounds. He has adopted harsh measures to punish journalists. His forces are responsible for death threats and arson attacks against several journalists. Even though there are no suspects in Deyda Hydara’s murder, one could tie Jammeh’s actions against journalist to Hydara’s murder. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. His steadfast refusal to comply with the rule of law has made him evil in the eyes of many Gambians.
 
On the political arena, Jammeh has blatantly violated the Constitution. For the past thirteen-years, Jammeh has imprisoned many opposition members and outspoken citizens. Chapter IV of the Gambia Constitution guarantees “Freedom of speech, conscience, assembly, association and movement; political rights; protection from inhuman treatment; and fundamental rights and freedoms.” Yet increasingly, we have seen all these principles violated. As a matter of power, Jammeh has treated the opposition parties inhumanely and not in accordance with the Constitution.
 
Mr. President, keep in mind that we are the government not you alone. I am referring to DEMOCRACY. That is, “government of the People, by the People, and for the People.”  Not government of Jammeh, by Jammeh, and for Jammeh.
 
Mr. President, how can you claimed to be a champion of peace when you orchestrated the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay? How can you be a man of peace when you masterminded the death of 13 innocent students while they were exercising their rights to assembly? How can you be a man of principles when you threaten and keep journalists and your opponents incommunicado? How can you claim to promote peace, democracy, human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa when you don’t practice it at home?  How can you preach tolerance when you are unwilling to recognize and respect differences in opinions? How can you tell Gambians to abide by the rule of law when you blatantly violate the law? The list goes on. President Jammeh’s actions are not consistent with his convictions. Mr. President, you are a shame to The Gambia and Africa. Without a question, you have joined the ranks of Africa’s tyrants and unscrupulous leaders—Adi Amin, Sani Abacha, Robert Mugabe, Mobutu Sese Seko, Charles Taylor and so forth.
 
Mr. President, there comes a time when people get tired of being trampled over by the forces of oppression, there comes a time when people get tired of being pushed around, where they experience despair and no hope. And we patriotic Gambians are tired of being pushed around. But we are determined like Nelson Mandela during his fight against apartheid in South Africa. We are determined like Martin Luther King Jr. for his fight against racial injustices in American. We are determined to fight against your evil government using all civilized means. We will oppose you until justice engulf every citizens in the Gambia. Until every journalist and media outlets can enjoy their inherent right to free speech, press freedom, and so forth. Mr. President, it is morally and ethically wrong for individuals to forecast a downfall of another individual, but certainly, many Gambians can’t wait to see you and your pundits in handcuffs waiting trials for corruptions and crimes against humanity. Mr. President, your ugly and pitiful records will be written in our history books, but history is on the side of the oppressed. President Jammeh is time for you to step down, and go now.


Foday Darboe is a Master’s student studying Conflict Resolution at Portland State University.