By our Embedded Military Reporter
President Jammeh’s recent frequent appearance in full military gear in public is raising eye brows within the security apparatus and the nation at large. People familiar with military security intelligence and psychological tactics indicate that it is not a good sign for a civilian President to frequently appear in full military uniform despite the fact that he was a soldier. Often when a president see the need to appear in military camouflage he is more likely sending a message to security officers especially within the army that he can be anywhere at any time. This sends a message that the President can in fact infiltrate military intelligence in disguise by being with them without anybody realizing whether it is him or someone else. He is allegedly more or less using that to intimidate security units that anything they organize against him he may know about it before anyone.
Our military embedded reporter also noted that President Jammeh’s military camouflage confuses the army and injects more fear in them that their commander in chief can be ubiquitous and penetrate them anytime. He noted that this is a tactic that has been used by military dictators in other African countries such as former military dictator Idi Amin of Uganda, J J Rawlins of Ghana and other military leaders. Although this may confuse security units the message is that the President seems insecure and does not trust even his closest security personnel.
Many Gambians are alarmed as they said the way the President has been wearing Military Gears frequently is a cause for concern and does not sit well with civilians. Speaking to our embedded reporter during Jammeh’s Friday visit to flood victims in Banjul, and other parts of the KMC, some spectators noted that the way their President appears is not helping the people as many are now with the view that he is trying to scare the people under this situation which indicates that the country is facing a lot of security threats as constantly reported by the outside media.
A senior Government Official told our embedded reporter Friday in KMC that this is not a good sign and it is sending a mix signal to the civilian population that the country may be on the verge of emergency security. He questions why the President would need to be in full military uniform when he is no longer a military President at least in principle. Any time people see President Jammeh in full military uniform it reminds them of military take overs and state of emergencies. I don’t think the President is really secure in his position he opined.
Another civil servant noted that the situation is confusing because Gambians are now seeing Jammeh today in his white gowns, and another day you will see him in Military Gears noting that this is what the people cannot understand. He said President Jammeh continue to confuse Gambians with his appearance, pronouncements, decision making and his relationship with the International community. He acts like a civilian Democratic president today and a military dictator another day issuing decrees. This looks like a desperate sign of insecurity and lack of experience in governing he concluded.
A top Military Officer speaking to our embedded reporter acknowledged that they themselves could not understand the reason why President Jammeh is doing this opining that it is indeed worrisome because Gambian civilian population are in a state of limbo creating more state of uncertainty for them. The situation is very tense and people are sitting on the edge in fear of something happening. ”The mentality that a soldier is always a soldier” is what Jammeh has been showing us said a retired teacher who is not too happy with the President.
The bottom line is that the President must be insecure to see the need to appear in full military gear in public. Many military personnel are now very worried that anybody can be a victim of this regime because their track record is that top security officers have been falsely accused of coup and imprisoned and or exiled. The President’s recent cancellation of any military cooperation with the United States and other Western nations must be adding to the insecurity of the President. We are in serious state of confusion and anything could happen at any time opined a security personnel.