Editorial: Yahya Jammeh Is Worse Than Idi Amin

While the late Idi Amin of Uganda left a bad legacy behind, one is compelled to compare him with Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh.  The two shared common characteristics. The late Edi Amen was virtually an illiterate when he took over rein of office. Like Jammeh, Amen too could barely read or write simple English. General Amin, who self-styled himself as a Field Marshall claimed in a You Tube documentary that he was forced to join the Ugandan Army by the country’s former colony Britain. Idi Amin was also a former second world war veteran. He was hailed for his gallantry as a soldier, as well as a renowned boxer.

Amin was widely feared by Ugandans. Like Jammeh, Idi Amin  killed, jailed, and exiled his opponents. Several thousands of Ugandans died during his watch.  He employs terror to tame the population, just like Yahya Jammeh, who uses the National Intelligence Agency and the State Guards to torture and kill Gambians.

Like Jammeh of The Gambia, Idi Amin too, was not a big fan of the West. Amin was anti America, England and Israel. He threatens to kill Western “spies” if ever caught in Uganda.

While Jammeh constantly brags  about his military might, with threats of wiping neighbouring Senegal from the face of the earth, Idi Amin too at some point of his Presidency, believed that he was capable of tackling the West including Israel. He invites Western journalists in Uganda displaying the strength of his military. Amin onetime even contemplated sending his troops to Israel. He argues that Israel was part of Palestine and should be repossessed. 

Amin also wants his Ministers and other influential people serving his administration to educate Ugandans about the need “to love” their leader. Amin believed that in the absence grassroots love and support, his “revolution” was doomed to fail.

Amin has his own hit list squad, just like Yahya Jammeh. He ordered for politicians, doctors, teachers, lawyers, journalists and soldiers whom he suspected of opposing his Government to be killed. We also heard about Idi Amin’s  favourite killer “Malia Mungu.”  

Gambia’s case could be compared to the Ugandan situation under Idi Amin’s era. Yahya Jammeh is far worse than Idi Amin. We will backup our claims with facts and evidence.

Jammeh’s killing spree transcends national level. It was under Jammeh’s watch that over 60 West African Nationals were massacred in The Gambia in the name of foiling a dissident attack.  Jammeh also killed thousands of Gambians since coming to power. The majority of those killed were students, soldiers, journalists and politicians.

Murders perpetrated by Yahya Jammeh has been grossly underreported.  Hundreds of citizens have gone missing under his watch. Some of these people,  have either been secretly executed, or jailed for life without the due process of the law. This would come to light after the post Jammeh era.

The difference between Jammeh and Idi Amin is that the latter was not afraid of the media. Amin was eager to receive local and Western journalists at his palace. He openly announced his official phone number during his televised speeches. And  Amin would challenge his Ministers to speak to the press anytime contacted. 

Despite his oppressive tendencies, Idi Amin was always in the news to provoke the West. He believed that Ministers hiding from the press are cowards. But Jammeh does not want his Ministers to speak to the private press.

In the case of Jammeh, he wants to rule The Gambia without a private press. Left with Jammeh alone, there wouldn’t be independent press in the country.   He wants Gambians to live in darkness-so that if he kills, or arrest soldiers, journalists and politicians, the world wouldn’t know about it.

Thanks to the online media, and the few existing private newspapers in the country, Jammeh’s killing spree against our people are being exposed. “ Even if a dog went missing nowadays, they would say is Yahya Jammehe,” Mr. Jammeh was quoted as saying by the local press.

The Internet rendered dictators like Jammeh impotent, because there is no way he can censor what goes into the online media. We have home based journalists on our payroll and are committed to serving their country.  This is not about the Freedom Newspaper, but serving one’s country.  Someone must risk his, or her life in exposing agents of terror in our dear motherland.
Idi Amin never thought that he was going to be replaced, but he died in exile in Saudi Arabia. Yahya Jammeh would one day be history. Slowly, but surely, Jammeh too would be replaced. What matters is the legacy one leaves behind. Jammeh’s legacy has been dented. Jammeh is one of the worse leaders Africa has ever produced.

ENDS: 12/28/09