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What Can Gambia Learn From Libya?
Saturday, 22 October 2011 01:17
Structure and system of governance(Opinion) - Most African countries openly embraced the instruments of governance from their immediate colonial past. Gambia was no exception until July 1994 when democracy was nailed to the cross by invasion of armed force. Political transformation of Gambia transcended simple break down of order. Conditions deteriorated from democracy to military dictatorship styled after Libya. President Yahya Jammeh who came to power by force of arms on 22 July 1994 immediately consulted the most powerful Libyan leader Col Gaddafi. The idea to change Gambia’s governance system and structure from democracy to dictatorship was directly influenced by Libya’s green revolution. However, Libya did not impose dictatorship in Gambia. It was seen as the most suitable form of control the person of Yahya Jammeh as novice in governance could rule by excesses Gambians never for once thought could become their fate.
Using state power to amass private fortune
Driven by passion for wealth and power, army leader Yahya Jammeh sought to befriend resource rich Col Gaddafi who at the time vied to lead a United States of Africa, a dream that never come to be. Gambia already had national colours red, blue, and green. The friendship of Yahya Jammeh and Col Gaddafi began to show change of colours for national identity. Gaddafi’s Green Book eventually became Yahya Jammeh’s Bible and de factor unwritten constitution of Gambia. The armed forces that seized power by coup later transformed into a political party with Libyan Green Book ideology and Gaddafi green colour fully embraced by Jammeh.
Special interest friendship
Between Jammeh and Gaddafi, the friendship was no secret. Gaddafi visited Gambia (see youtube ) and was accorded high profile treatment by his Gambian brother as they preferred calling each other. Lot of Gambian youth have been air lifted to Libya for special terrorist type training. In large numbers these are now secret operatives all around Gambia doing the same job that the green revolutionary guards of Libya have been doing in 42 years of Gaddafi rule. If anyone knows how Libyans have been governed in 42 years of Gaddafi iron fist rule that is exactly how Yahya Jammeh is ruling Gambia starting 22 July 1994 when he dismantled the system and structures of democracy to impose military dictatorship.
Loss of power loss of special interest friendship ties
Soon after Libyan citizens began the revolt to unseat Gaddafi by support of NATO forces, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia was quick enough to disown his principal mentor. Gaddafi already had some investment in Gambia and Jammeh decided to free all Libyan assets including one Five Star Atlantic Hotel situated in the capital Banjul, a short walk from the Presidential Office and residence.
By the time of Gaddafi’s capture and eventual demise, Jammeh completely broke ranks with his mentor and strong financial hand. Gaddafi died without him and Jammeh ever talking again. So much transpired between Gaddafi and Jammeh that even as one of them died the other will live on to recall the good days. It is time of mourning for Jammeh. Just because he severed relations with Gaddafi is not enough to tear the two men apart. Gambia is another Libya thanks to the good relations between Gaddafi and Jammeh. The only time Gambians will feel eased about the special ties is when Jammeh too is no longer leader of Gambia and the terror scheme of secret operations borrowed from Libya is surrendered back.
What is there for Gambia to learn from Libya?
There is so much to learn about situations in Libya. Gambians have seen how Jammeh took everything from Libya to impose the system of torture, secret killings, in a general state of terror and fear as the international community has known Libya for.
Back to the question about what more Gambia is able to learn from Libya, lot of answers spring up. From what the world has seen about how countries ruled by iron fist dictatorship end up, it comes clear to Gambians that dictatorship will not end well for Gambia too. Knowing that everything that Jammeh does to Gambians is directly borrowed from Gaddafi, there is compelling evidence that where Gaddafi and Libyans parted in very ugly ways, Jammeh could avoid that by stepping down immediately. Further overstay in power will cause more anger.
Jammeh has to remember that just few months ago Gaddafi too claimed that all Libyans were behind him. Today, all that has failed the test of time. Gaddafi came to power by coup in September 1969. Jammeh too came to power by coup in July 1994. It has taken very long time before Libyans became sophisticated and began to question. Gambians are already sophisticated and are constantly asking critical questions.
Gambia has so much at stake in generations
The biggest loss to Gambia is by allowing Jammeh to insist ruling for life only to end up the way other iron fist dictators ended elsewhere around the world. Libya has oil to recover from the ruins. Gambia only gets oil from peanuts not enough for good industrial use. When Gambia is destroyed by fewer hands in this generation, it will take many hands in the next generation to build from the ruins.
This generation Gambians will not play fair with next generation Gambians especially the unborn if after facing the task of rectifying a serious error nothing is done. Problems brought on Gambia by Jammeh and his group will continue to bear cost long after they are gone.
To be fair with himself and every Gambian even the unborn, Jammeh is better off to step down immediately. This will provide Gambians a grace period of about six months to one year for restoration of proper democracy. With a free and clean political environment, it is anyone’s occasion to advance the nation. To continue overstaying is a dangerous precedence that many will live to regret. For those of you who think you are enjoying under the Jammeh regime, you are putting your next generation at risk. When Jammeh fails to step down gracefully in good condition, forcing him out of power will have serious impact on all those who today insist Jammeh has to stay on. Gambia has lot to learn from all other nations that collapsed recently. The most glaring example is Libya from where Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh learnt everything he is doing from demised Libyan leader Col Gaddafi. Gambians too have so much to learn from Libyans.
Written by Sarjo Bayang
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Comments
Talking to the many Gambians living on the ground from Banjul to Bansang, Serrekunda to Kerr serigne, and also those living in the diaspora, it is of utmost urgency that Jammeh resign from power and allow full democracy.
Ever since the bloodless coup of 1994, there is fear and anxiety running through every Gambian(jammeh supporter or non-supporter alike) due to the secret assasinations, disappearances, and torturing of innocent people that we've witnessed. The days of continued terror on us is over!
Kindly, leave the office of presidency expediently and let the Gambians rule themselves democratically as they wish. Thank you for allowing freedom, and liberty returned back to the people.
Jammeh, your time is UP. Gambians will break the chains of slavery be any means NECCESSARY .
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