The Gambia: UN envoy says recent elections were free but democracy needs support
 |
| General Abubakr |
6 October 2006 – Although
the recent presidential election in the Gambia was relatively free and
fair, the tiny West African country needs international support to help
strengthen its democratic institutions, build up opposition political
parties and ensure its media are vigorous, well-trained and
independent, the United Nations envoy for the polls said today.
The former Nigerian head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakr,
appointed as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the
Gambia last month, told the UN News Centre that reports of widespread
election manipulation were either grossly over-exaggerated or
unsubstantiated.
President Yahya Jammeh, who has been in power since 1994, was
re-elected on 22 September after winning about two-thirds of the vote,
Gen. Abubakr said in an interview, which followed his briefing to
Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the elections.
Some opposition presidential candidates have accused the Gambian
Government of manipulation during the election campaign, but Gen.
Abubakr downplayed those reports and said any inappropriate actions
were minor and did not affect the ultimate result.
“There have been a lot of allegations or reports which were over-exaggerated,” he said, noting
that independent election observers considered the polling to be
largely free and fair and without any foreign interference.
But Gen. Abubakr said voter education was poor and all political
parties, especially those in opposition, need help with
capacity-building. He also stressed the importance of better training
of the media, which he described as “ill-equipped and ill-trained.”
The envoy called on the UN to increase its support of the Gambia’s
democratic institutions and noted that the UN Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is examining programmes to boost
media training in the Gambia.