By Scott A Morgan

When it comes to African Affairs most of the World's Attention has been focused on either the Violent Aftermath of the Kenyan Presidential Elections, Whether or Not Sudan would allow UN Peacekeepers to enter Darfur or the Negotiations that led to the just completed Peace Deal in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lost among these major news stories were another set of elections. These elections took place in Gambia.

One year ago the Citizens of Gambia went to their polling places and voted for a National Assembly. The runup to those elections were timid compared to this electoral cycle. In more than one instance the Police rounded up Members of the Opposition that were contesting some seats. Of the 114 Wards that were currently up for election the Election Committee deemed that 55 of those wards were uncontested. that is a number just under 50%.

One may ask how interesting the Campaign Cycle was? First of all there was litigation. Both the UDP (United Democratic Party) and the NRP (National Republican Party) were in a Court Challenge with the Attorney General and the Electoral Commission. There was also a challenge to a new Amendment that could allow the Government to Fire a duly elected Civil Offical and replace them with another person. The two parties felt that the Law Contradicted the Constitution and was an affront to Democracy. However the Chief Justice did rule against the Opposition.

In a page that could be taken from Zimbabwe in how to retain power the State Security Apparatus made their presence felt around the country on more than one occasion. There was a report that they attacked an Opposition Candidate and a week before the actual casting of the ballots the head of the United Democratic Party for the region of Karantaba his pregnant wife and two other children were taken into custody. Two members of the ruling party were forced to withdraw their candidicies as well apparently on the whim of the President. Also there was an incident where a Employee of the President reportedly drove into a group of Opposition Supporters and killing 8 of them.

In an interesting move the head of the Gambian Election Commission urged that the people of Gambia refrain from tearing down the posters of the Candidates. Also there were over 120 International Observers Accredited to monitor the elections as they took place. But the most important phase which is the counting of the ballots will soon take place. Will the Government use its powers to replace those who it feels are undesirable? or will they nullify the results in order to get the people that they want in office?

This election comes after a time where at one point when Radio France Internationale was briefly kicked off the air for reporting that Arab Terrorists moved through Mauritania after an attack during the Christmas Holiday. Also Ghana has reffered to ECOWAS the matter of over 40 Ghanians that were killed by State Security Forces of Gambia. Also Eight Members of the Defense Forces were arrested in an alledged Coup plot two weeks ago. Also there are Nine Members of the Casamance Rebels in custody on terrorism charges.

So now part I of the exercise is complete and the second and most crucial part is underway. What will the results be for Gambia?

The Author publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet and is a contributing Editor to the American Chronicle. Confused Eagle can be found at morganrights.tripod.com