Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has announced his scheduled departure from Banjul on Monday Septemer 22nd, 2014 at 5:30pm GMT for New York to attend the 69th UN General Assembly. He is scheduled to arrive at JFK airport at 1:30pm Eastern. The President’s last two visits to the United States were met with fierce protest by Gambian activists who held him hostage in his New York hotel last year while attending the 68th UN general Assembly.
The second episode followed when the Gambian leader attended the US Africa Summit organized by President Obama in Washington DC. He was again barricaded in his hotel by Gambian activists who were determined to confront him and his delegates. Lodged at the Hay Adams hotel on H street few blocks away from the White House President Jammeh could not have free space to execute his plans for the US visit.
For three days he was confronted by less than one hundred Gambian activists. That protest ended up in chaos when his security guards rushed to beat up Gambian Journalist Fatou Camara and activist Ousainou Mbenga. The incident attracted local and international media attention which led to the President and his delegation being kicked out of the $5,000 per night five Star Hotel. He ended up at his Multimillion dollar home in Potomac which his wife bought few years ago.
Jammeh’s return visit to the United States is sure to create even more buss by Gambian activists who are ready to confront him once again. New York is host to majority Gambian exiles most of whom are political victims of the Gambian regime. Activists have been organizing and urging all Gambians dissatisfied with Jammeh’s administration to come out and express their anger and frustration against the Gambian leader.
New York is also host to many APRC supporters who are expected to come out and support the leader. However, unlike the activists who are motivated for various reasons to confront the Gambian leader, Jammehh’s supporters are allegedly not determined to remain on his side by all means. In fact, most of the Gambian leader’s victims have been his own support base and employees. Jammeh is reported to love the United States and therefore he will do anything to make sure that nothing stops him from coming to the country. Pundits insinuated that he is also very stubborn and despite all the humiliations and distractions he faces, Jammeh is determined to make it once again to New York. Gainako will deploy our reporters and will bring the readers and listeners the confrontation as it happens both on the Radio and print.