COMMITTEE OF CONCERNED GAMBIAN CITIZENS FOR CHANGE:
Kotu West
Kanifing Municipality
The Gambia
09 March 2016
Mr. Ousainou N. Darboe
Secretary General
United Democratic Party (UDP)
Banjul
Hon. Omar A. Jallow
Secretary General
People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
Kairaba Avenue
Serrekunda
Hon. Halifa Sallah
Secretary General
People’s Democratic Organization
for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS)
Serrekunda
Hon. Ahmat Bah
Secretary General
National Reconciliation Party (NRP)
Westfield, Serrekunda
Hon. Lamin Waa Jwara
Secretary General
National Democratic Action Movement
Brikama Nema
Mai Ahmad Fatty
Secretary General
Gambia Moral Congress (GMC)
Faji Kunda
Hon. Henry Gomez
Secretary General
Gambia Party for Democracy
& Progress (GPDP)
Faji Kunda
Mr. Mama Kandeh
Secretary General
Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC)
Nema Kunku
Mr. Majanko Samusa
Secretary General
National Convention Party (NCP)
Faji kunda
Hon. Buba Aye Sanneh
Independent Candidate
& National Assembly Member
Brikama, Western Region
Hon. Muhammed Magassy
Independent Candidate/ Basse
& National Assembly Member
Brikama Near NAWEC Plant
Western Region
Dear Political Leaders,
Subject: Call For A Credible & Gender-Balanced Coalition For Gambia- Third Republic
Premised on our inalienable human, constitutional and civic rights as well as our responsibilities, we, Committee of Concerned Gambian Citizens, representing hundreds of thousands like-minded compatriots around the world, who are committed to support your efforts to democratically end President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh’s 21 years of undemocratic political leadership resulting to modern day slavery with the face of excessive human rights abuses, ranging from lack of freedom of speech and association, intimidation, abject poverty, unlawful detentions, extrajudicial killings, murder, disappearances of innocent Gambians, wrongful dismissals of civil servants, migration of Gambian intellectuals and promising youths to the diaspora, wish to make a solemn appeal to you, gentlemen, to urgently form a credible and gender-balanced coalition party in order to win the 2016 national elections and then usher our country into democratic governance, peace and prosperity.
Gentlemen, forming a credible and gender balanced coalition and adopting a winning citizen-centered political strategy, will rekindle the frustrated spirits and aspirations of all Gambians for change. This will also send a powerful political message to President Yahya A. A. J. Jammeh and his detractors that Gambians have enough of living as second class citizens in their own country. While this situation is blatant, we would also encourage you to constantly update the international community on his excessive human rights abuses, personal greed and monopoly of community and national assets, including development projects and the economy.
As you are aware, President Jammeh grabs vast agricultural lands from poor communities and interferes in business operations of hardworking citizens. These universally unacceptable acts undermine their inalienable human and constitutional rights to gain economic and social security, which he swore to protect constitutionally.
It also goes without saying, that his total disregard for the interests of Gambians, including their livelihoods, reflects the chaotic state of our economy, human, and social capital. From an economic perspective, we are witnessing an alarming rate of domestic and international borrowing, with its negative impact on our national budget and wellbeing of all Gambians. According to IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) for low-income countries, dated 05 March 2015, The Gambia is accumulating a heavy public debt burden which poses significant risks. “The present value of debt to GDP, breaches the thresholds under a one-time depreciation shock before subsiding. The stock of total public debt is significantly above the indicative threshold and is a major source of concern. The Gambia faces a heightened overall risk of debt distress because domestic debt is costly and poses high rollover risks. These results highlight the small and open character of the Gambian economy and its exposure to exchange rate variation. This situation is exacerbated by lack of prudent fiscal and monetary policies of the kind designed in the rapid credit facility (RCF) arrangement with the Central Bank. The Gambia’s total public debt currently stands at 100 percent of GDP in nominal terms and just above 80 percent of GDP in net present value terms, more than 25 percent above the indicative threshold for public debt distress. Even under the significant fiscal consolidation foreseen under the baseline of our framework, public debt would not fall below the threshold until 2019”
It is evident that the net domestic borrowing alone has rendered the Government’s inability to meet the basic challenges for growth, sustained development and employment creation. This severe strain impacts negatively on the lives of all Gambians. Gambians are experiencing hardship and unacceptable poverty as a result of rising prices of basic commodities and stagnant wages coupled with lack of cost of living incentives to keep up with inflation. Furthermore, there is massive unemployment, especially among school drop-outs and graduates coupled with an increasing brain drain and migration of youths to Europe through perilous journeys via the Mediterranean Sea.
In addition, there is a large fiscal deficit resulting from President Jammeh’s violation of the constitutional rights of citizens to participate in policy decision-making and to secure self-employment opportunities from the main sectors of the economy, namely, agriculture and tourism through his disguised land grabbing under the pretext of his Vision 2016 and slogan “ grow what you eat and eat what you grow” The country is thus exposed to current and future major challenges, such as current skyrocketing interest rates coupled with his unilateral closure of foreign bureaux and a related credit crunch in the informal sector, which is predominantly operated by Gambian entrepreneurs, especially women and youths. Such undemocratic actions, do not only jeopardize competition, but, also discourage investors to the extent of disabling the overall private sector to create employment for citizens, especially the massive school drop-outs.
From sub-regional and regional perspectives, World Bank reports reveal increasing organizations, including the Bank itself, which are providing significant capacity building opportunities to young entrepreneurs in Africa, including Senegal. Gentlemen, our realities are that Gambian youths cannot benefit from these opportunities because of the lack of vision and good leadership of President Jammeh to create the required enabling environment for development cooperation with these organizations.
Gentlemen, the Gambia/Senegal border closure is equally affecting indigenous enterprises, most of which are operated by women and youths. The situation also impacts negatively on our main national revenue, namely re-export trade. How does that work out for Gambian businesses and President Jammeh’s Vision 2020, if we may ask? It is important to mention that the printing of more money by him will not help us keep up with the rising public debts. There is too much money in circulation and that is scary and you need to challenge the course because The Gambia needs to secure emergency funding from international partners, notably the EU and Commonwealth, with whom the he has unilaterally severed cooperation.
In light of the foregoing, we, Committee of Concerned Gambian Citizens, representing hundreds of thousands of like-minded compatriots, the signatures of whom are being collected to send to you, under a separate letter, are confident that the way forward to make the dream of our nation for democratic change, peace and prosperity a reality is for you, leaders of opposition political parties, to urgently create a credible and gender-balanced coalition party with a strategic winning road map. Suffice to say, that this road map may take a few days but, that the electoral process takes long to win elections. Best political practices employed by committed opposition political parties have proven that a credible coalition party, even in a most hostile environment, can win elections, as evidenced in Senegal, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
In terms of focus of proposed coalition party’s road map, we recommend that it includes, but not limited, the following strategic demands for President Jammeh to eliminate all forms of undemocratic acts against its formation and smooth operations:
1. end the illegal service of the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC).
2. repeal of the 1997 unconstitutional and related 2015 electoral reforms regarding the age limit to contest for the presidency and costs of vying for political office.
3. demilitarize campaigns to ensure level playing field for the electoral process.
4. end deliberate delays and/or refusal to issue permits for campaigns and rallies.
5. guarantee free access to the media and public meeting facilities.
6. end human right abuses: extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary detentions and incarceration of political prisoners.
We also recommend that, from geopolitical and development cooperation perspectives, that the coalition party, once formed, should immediately embark on the following strategic activities:
1. aggressive campaigns to educate the electorate on the raison d’etre and dynamics of the coalition party as well as on their rights and responsibilities, with focus on mustering their commitment and loyalty.
2. safeguard the security of the coalition political party leadership.
3. tackle systematically dissenting political party or parties.
4. maintain the remarkable support of Gambians in the Diaspora.
5. build strategic political alliances and cooperation at all levels with focus on the African Union(AU), ECOWAS, The Commonwealth, the European Union (EU), the United Nations, and bilateral and multilateral Institutions.
6. adopt transparent and accountable fund-raising mechanisms as well as use of funds.
7. engineer and enforce radical democratic constitutional and electoral reforms for a smooth transition to the formation of the Third Republic.
In conclusion, it is important for us to reiterate our hundreds of thousands unified Gambians voices in the country and diaspora by appealing to you to recognize that our nation is in an emergency situation and needs urgent salvaging by all Gambians through a credible and gender balanced coalition of all opposition political parties. Time is of essence and there is no more time for partisan politics because realities have revealed that no single party can win the 2016 elections in the current undemocratic environment. Please note that, there are many committed Gambian talents in and outside the country, who are willing to assist you in these processes and we could give you their contacts upon your request.
At this juncture, we wish to invite all of you to a general meeting on Sunday, 20 March 2016, at 4 pm in the YMCA conference hall, in order to discuss the way forward, which would culminate in a two-day conference of all opposition political parties and reputable Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), starting from Saturday 26 March 2016.
The focus of the conference will be to devise and adopt a winning political strategy for the 2016 national elections and transition for the Third Republic as well as to publicize the outcome of the conference.
We look forward to receive your positive and urgent response in order to avert our nation’s loss to ignominy and cruel consequences on all Gambians.
Please accept, gentlemen, the assurances of my highest esteem and regards.
Fatoumata Jallow –Tambajang
Coordinator
National Concerned Citizens’ Committee
Copies:
Gambian Online Media Outlets
H.E Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary General
UN Secretariat
New York, U.S.A
Madam Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje
UN Resident Representative
Kofi Annan Drive
Cape Point
H.E Macky Sall
Chairman
ECOWAS
Dakar, Senegal
Madam Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Chair
African Union (AU)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
H.E Carolyn Patricia Alsup
Ambassador
US Embassy
Kairaba Avenue
H. E. Colin Crorkin
Ambassador
British Embassy
Atlantic Road
Fajara
H.E. Senegalese Ambassador
Behind Pipe Line Mosque
Serrekunda
Professor Abdoulaye Saine
Chairman
CORDEG
U.S.A
Mr. Abdoulie Janneh
Executive Director
Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Dakar, Senegal
Mr. Ousainou Mbenga
Chairman
Democratic Union of Gambians
Activists (DUGA)
Washington DC, U.S.A
Dr. Amadou S. Janneh
Chairman
Gambia Coalition For Change
U.S.A
Hon. Majanko Samusa
Chairman
National Youth Committee for Reunification
Of Opposition Political Parties
3, Kairaba Avenue, Serrekunda
Mr. Omar Bah
Chairman
Gambia Youth for Unity
U. S. A
Mr. Jeggan Grey- Johnson
Advocacy Officer
Africa/Open Society Foundations
Pretoria, South Africa
Mr. Jeffrey Smith
Advocacy Officer
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation
Washington DC, U.S.A
Mr. Seydi Gassama
Regional Director
Amnesty International
Dakar, Senegal
Ms. Corinne Dufka
Associate Director
Human Rights Watch
Dakar, Senegal