By Demba Baldeh
As the EU resumes its talks with the Gambia on its 17 point demands presented to the Gambian leader several months ago, President Jammeh is reportedly eager to hear from the EU delegation the outcome of the EU/Africa Summit that was held in Brussels from April 2-3, 2014. At a meeting with the delegation in Banjul the head of the EU delegation was quoted saying “Jammeh was very interested to hear from them the result of the summit, but noted that he was particularly concerned about the special statement on migration. This, she said, is an issue that is of concern to the government of The Gambia” (Observer 4/8).
Quite interestingly the man who failed to attend the historic EU/Africa Summit the first in the EU Africa relationship either because of his naivety or fear of being embarrassed by his citizen dissidents who were ready for him, have the guts to sit there with a straight face and ask for a briefing? Interestingly enough, instead of discussing the concerns raised in those 17 points that the delegation was there to discuss, the President was quick to jump on his failed talking points about migration and treatment of immigrants in European countries.
As he often does with colonialism and Western domination all in the false name of looking out for his people, President Jammeh has resorted to taking up anti Western rhetoric mainly to distract from the real agenda – his gross human rights violations and oppression of press freedom in the Gambia. Instead of addressing his own failed domestic agenda, illegal hold on to power and suppression of political reform and good governance, Yahya Jammeh was bend on bringing up counter rights issues just to cover his own well documented tracks.
The President wants to talk about how illegal immigrants are treated in Europe without the understanding that illegal migration is caused by oppressive governments like his in Gambia. He wants to talk about how Gambian/African immigrants are treated in Europe and the West with clear efforts to distract from the real issues of poor governance, human rights violations and suppression of press freedom in Gambia to which the EU is ready to hold him accountable.
The saddest part of all this for the Gambian people is that their leader who have no clue on geopolitical and or economic ties between governance, freedom and democracy to movement of citizens, continue to embarrassingly engage in empty Rhetoric. If President Jammeh was interested in talking about the status of immigrants in Europe, why did he failed to show up in Brussels where he would have the opportunity to not only attend the summit but have one on one talks with European leaders. If he had any idea on how Gambia cannot be isolated from its regional and international partners, he would have the guts to send a high level diplomatic delegation to attend the EU/Africa summit. His ego and continuous insecurity led to unexplained absence from the summit.
The tragic and most unfortunate thing for Gambia and Africa is that accidental leaders like President Jammeh neither knows how to lead nor represent the short and long term interest of his people. In fact, it is a safe bet that Jammeh cannot separate his personal interest from that of the Gambian nation. Thus when he fails to secure his personal interest from any relationship, he pulls the Gambian nation out with impunity. He tragically does not understand how the world works and how a country like the Gambia has more to benefit from regional and international cooperation than stubborn isolation. That maintaining democracy and freedom of the press, political association and human rights in the country is the first recipe for lasting long term peace and security both the for himself and the people. The economic and political freedom of a people cannot be divorce from the long term peace and security of a nation. Sadly, President Jammeh neither comprehend nor is he willing to learn from his colleagues and unfortunately will continue to parade on popular talking points that means nothing for the economic and political well being of the Gambian people… To be continued