Jammeh’s Coup Condemnation Attracts Angry Reaction!!!

…..Gambian University Student Says Jammeh Is A Hypocrite!!!

“Jammeh is suffering from mental illness and have definitely satisfies the litmus test for an irrational leader.” 

“Apart from indulging in his usual foolish rhetoric, what have President Jammeh done to satisfy even the most basic needs of our people? Almost fifteen years after President Jammeh took power; uncertainty and fear still rule the Gambia. The freedom and justice that many Gambians worked for have been replaced by tyranny and oppression,.”argues Foday Darboe.

By Foday Darboe, Portland State University

Dear Editor:  

In response to your recent publication “Jammeh Condemns Guinean Coup” I am very troubled by President Jammeh’s opposition to the coup in Guinea. I am not in any way supporting or condoning to any undemocratic take over of government by groups or individuals, but it is irrational for President Jammeh to condemn the coup in Guinea.  As we all know President Jammeh himself toppled a democratically elected government. Jammeh’s rationale for overthrowing the government of Sir Dawda Jawara was to bring accountability and transparency in government activities; and improve economic and social developments. A similar view is echoed by the coup leader—Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. President Camara claim that “Embezzlement of public funds, general corruption, impunity established as a method of government and anarchy in the management of state affairs have eventually plunged our country into a catastrophic economic situation which is particularly tragic for the overwhelming majority of Guineans”. So, what is the difference between these two leaders? You be the judge!  

The fundamental question to President Jammeh is: How can you condemn the coup in Guinea when you in fact illegally took power through a coup? President Jammeh is nothing but a hypocrite. It seems like Jammeh is suffering from mental illness and have definitely satisfies the litmus test for an irrational leader.  

Thus far, we have little to challenge Captain Camara’s style of governance but the whole world knows about President Jammeh and his band of thugs. Jammeh asserted that the existence of a military government in Guinea will undermine economic development. Such statement from a criminal is ludicrous and rubbish. Well President Jammeh, your existence in our beautiful country is undermining our social, economic and political developments. President Jammeh’s problems are packed by party hacks, fiscal indiscipline, compounded with monetary slippages, rapid depreciation, high inflation and chronic deficits. Not to mention his human rights records, which have been ridiculed by human rights organizations. President Jammeh’s economic and political records are by far the worst in Africa. One can compare Jammeh’s records with that of Robert Mugabe. Arguably, a sensible person recognizes his weaknesses, his strengths, and the limits of his capability; as such, President Jammeh should be the last person to speak against the coup in Guinea.  

Apart from indulging in his usual foolish rhetoric, what have President Jammeh done to satisfy even the most basic needs of our people? Almost fifteen years after President Jammeh took power; uncertainty and fear still rule the Gambia. The freedom and justice that many Gambians worked for have been replaced by tyranny and oppression. And the promise of decent living has been betrayed by misgovernance and corruption. Gambia needs a new direction, a new approach to its problem, and new leadership. President Jammeh’s government lacks imagination and the rule of law is not understood, priorities have been misplaced and governance is riddled with vapid corruption. President Jammeh has shown an appalling inability to learn from its own mistakes.  

Until President Jammeh and his cronies redress the imbalance between selfish and pursuit of power and concern for human lives they are elected to protect, between arrogance and humanity, between intolerance and mutual tolerance, Gambians will forever be marching backwards in very long strides.

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