[ad_1]
Greater than 5 years in the past Gambian strongman Yahya Jammeh was defeated in a shock election outcome by now-President Adama Barrow. Many thought this could usher in an period of change after 22 years of alleged human rights atrocities, however critics are involved that many Jammeh loyalists stay within the new administration.
Yusupha Mbye sits reverse me in his wheelchair in a reflective temper on the veranda of his dwelling.
Now 39, he was left paralysed in 2000 as a pupil after he was shot by members of Yahya Jammeh’s safety personnel, he says.
He doesn’t belief these at the moment in energy to deliver the perpetrators to ebook.
“I do not suppose I’ll ever get justice. I do not suppose they are going to ever attempt Jammeh except they do one thing to shock us.”
Mr Mbye additionally feels let down by present President Adama Barrow.
“The president himself failed me. He promised me that he’ll care for me however broke his promise. Even assembly with him is an issue,” he says, including that he has given up hope.
Beneath Mr Jammeh, The Gambia prospered economically, analysts say, but it surely was additionally affected by critical atrocities together with illegal killings, mysterious disappearances of dissidents and even literal witch hunts.
Mr Jammeh, who went into exile in Equatorial Guinea, has beforehand denied any wrongdoing.
A fee set as much as examine his regime, the Fact Reconciliation and Reparations Fee (TRRC), has known as for the prosecution of Mr Jammeh for alleged crimes dedicated throughout his time in workplace.
However some in The Gambia really feel the prospect of that taking place is a distant dream due to the present administration’s closeness to that of its predecessor.
Hailed as a democratic hero after he defeated Mr Jammeh, few may have imagined that President Barrow would give a number of Jammeh loyalists key jobs in his authorities 5 years later.
These embody:
-
Speaker of the Nationwide Meeting Fabakary Tombong Jatta, who was head of Jammeh’s APRC occasion
-
International Minister Mamadou Tangara, who held a number of cupboard jobs beneath Jammeh
-
Minister of Petroleum and Vitality Abdoulie Jobe, who was commerce minister beneath Jammeh
-
Lands, Regional Authorities and Non secular Affairs Minister Abba Sanyang, who was an APRC MP and overseas diplomat
-
Defence Minister Sering Modou Njie, who was Chief of Military Workers and Commander of the Republican Nationwide Guards beneath Jammeh
-
Data Minister Lamin Queen Jammeh (no relation), who was a regional governor beneath Jammeh
The federal government stated it will droop and sack former members of Jammeh’s regime who had dedicated crimes and have been nonetheless serving in authorities – which basically implies that those that did no improper may stay.
Nonetheless, Mr Barrow’s authorities conspicuously spared Mr Jammeh’s intelligence chief, Ousman Sowe, who was accused of intentionally destroying proof of atrocities together with an alleged “Torture Chamber” in Might 2017 when he carried out renovation work on the headquarters of the infamous Nationwide Intelligence Company (NIA), now referred to as the Nationwide Intelligence Service.
The federal government disregarded the TRRC advice that Mr Sowe be banned from public workplace by a technicality. It indicated that the mandate of the fee didn’t lengthen past January 2017.
Mr Jammeh allegedly used the NIA and his paramilitary demise squad referred to as the junglers to hold out critical rights violations. Whereas many members of the junglers have been sacked, others stay within the safety companies.
Within the run-up to the 2021 elections, Mr Barrow tried to affix forces with Mr Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Development (APRC) occasion, however Mr Jammeh rejected the provide.
Nonetheless, a faction of the APRC did kind an alliance with Mr Barrow’s Nationwide Folks’s Get together (NPP) which proved essential for his political survival after breaking away from the seven-party political coalition that originally propelled him to energy. President Barrow went on to win the 2021 elections with 53% of the vote.
The Gambia is deeply divided alongside political and ethnic strains and political scientist Essa Njie from the College of The Gambia desires the federal government to nominate ministers and heads of different establishments primarily based on competence relatively than political expedience.
Mr Njie additionally says Mr Barrow’s authorities must focus extra on enhancing the financial system.
“The Barrow authorities is taking credit score for respecting civil and political rights, ignoring the financial and social lives of the individuals, ignoring the residing price of The Gambia,” he stated. “There may be rising unemployment within the nation, particularly amongst younger individuals.”
That is echoed on the streets. A forty five-year-old fruit and vegetable vendor, Mariama Sillah, stated all the pieces was costlier now: “Throughout Jammeh’s time costs of issues have been less expensive. Now costs have sky-rocketed and enterprise may be very sluggish.”
Mr Njie additionally stated that whereas organising the TRRC was commendable, he identified that Mr Barrow had solely met the victims as soon as.
He additionally accused Jammeh loyalists serving within the present authorities of ridiculing the TRRC, saying they insulted the commissioners and stated the suggestions can be thrown within the dustbin.
The speaker of the Nationwide Meeting, Mr Jatta, is even nonetheless speaking concerning the former strongman returning as a free man, Mr Njie stated.
‘Gambia’s vibrant new future’
Data Minister Lamin Queen Jammeh justified the inclusion of members of the previous administration in Mr Barrow’s authorities, saying the president believes in inclusiveness and never discrimination.
“The extra we’re capable of put individuals collectively beneath one umbrella, the simpler the operations of the state will turn into,” he instructed the BBC.
He additionally promised that “freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and freedom of affiliation is being loved by Gambians with none bodily limitations besides by limitations of the regulation. That is the intense new future that Gambians have been trying ahead to.”
Mr Queen Jammeh, who just isn’t associated to the previous president, did acknowledge the financial struggles the nation is dealing with, however blamed the worldwide financial disaster and in addition pointed to its success in constructing new roads.
Nonetheless, victims of the Jammeh regime nonetheless really feel aggrieved. Folks like Yusupha Mbye are harm and betrayed once they see officers who have been related to Mr Jammeh nonetheless holding key positions and figuring out the nation’s political future.
Mr Barrow’s authorities has promised justice for victims of rights violations, together with the prosecution of Mr Jammeh, however till they see it with their very own eyes, many Gambians stay uncertain it’ll ever occur.
You may additionally be concerned with:
[ad_2]
Source link