By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
On 17th January 2017, outgoing President Yahya Jammeh announced a “State of Emergency” with just over 24 hours of his mandate remaining to handover to President-elect Adama Barrow currently in Senegal. His reasons frivolous reasons for his proclamation can be heard in the above SoundCloud audio.
Quotations from the 2002 Constitution.
“A period of public emergency” means any period during which The Gambia is at war or a declaration is in force under section 34;
Section 34 – Declaration of state of public emergency – Subsection (1)
The President may, at any time, by Proclamation published in the Gazette, declare that-
(a) A state of public emergency exists in the whole or any part of The Gambia;
(b) A situation exists which, if it is allowed to continue, may lead to a state of public emergency.
Section 97 – Session of the National Assembly – Subsection (2)
The President may request the Speaker summon a session of the National Assembly in the event of a declaration of a public emergency under section 34.
Section 99 – Term of the National Assembly – Subsection (2)
At any time when The Gambia is at war or a state of emergency is declared, the National assembly may, by resolution supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members, extend the life of the National Assembly for not more than three months at a time, but the life of the National Assembly shall not be extended under this subsection for more than a total period of one year.
Section 187 – Function of the Armed Forces – Subsection (1)
(b) One of “The principal functions of the Armed Forces is to aid the civil authorities, at their request, in emergencies and in cases of natural disasters.”
Section 35 – Derogation from fundamental Emergency powers – Subsection (1)
An Act of the National assembly may authorise the taking, during any period of emergency, measures that are reasonably justifiable for dealing with the situation that exists in The Gambia.
On Tuesday 17th January 2017 the Gambia’s National Assembly moved three motions;
1. To condemn the African Union and Senegal,
2. To declare a state of emergency from January 17th to April 17th, 2017, and
3. To extend the mandate of the National Assembly from 11th April to 11th July 2017.
All three motions were moved by Fabakary Tombong Jatta – APRC Majority Leader and Member for Serrekunda East.
1 Comment
Here in the United States, we too have a dictator who is reluctant to hand over power. He is from Kenya. But he will be forced to leave office on January 20, and Jammeh will eventually leave office also. I hope that The Gambia’s transition will be as peaceful as my country’s, for the sake of the people of The Gambia.
Remember that Muslim shall not kill Muslim. A well-known hadith tells us that when two Muslims strive to kill each other, no matter who dies, they both go to Hell. Few wars are ever approved of by God; few are justified in His eyes. This is because war is murder, and murder is a grave sin. Many other sins are committed in the course of a war as well. The people of The Gambia have done nothing to deserve a war, or the damnation that would follow.
Therefore strive for a peaceful solution, whatever happens.
Perhaps Jammeh will go peacefully, for the good of The Gambia, and thereby preserve his legacy, and ensure that his people can still honour him. He did much good, and if he does no harm now, then he can still be honoured for the good which he did.
God would prefer to bless The Gambia, and not punish it.