Raleigh, North Carolina U.S.A. May 19 2013: The three-day Gambia Conference on Democracy and Good Governance organized by GDAG, STGDP, and DUGA successfully concluded in Raleigh, North Carolina. The convention brought together Gambians, political leaders, civil society organizations, and non-Gambians alike, far and wide under one roof to discuss ways of restoring democracy, good governance, and the rule of law in the Gambia. Delegate pool included Hon Ousainou Darboe of UDP, Hon Hamat Bah of NRP, and Hon Omar A Jallow of PPP – all representing the Gambia. Dr Sedat Jobe represented the Gambian community in Senegal while former Vice President Bakary Bunja Darboe and Abdoulie Jobe represented the UK and Europe. Representing the Gambian community from Mali was Mrs. Adelaide Sosseh.
Leadership of PDOIS and Mai Fatty of GMC were unable to attend but the latter sent a message of solidarity on behalf of his party GMC. In a letter sent to the organizers of the conference, Halifa Sallah – Secretary General of PDOIS wrote, “I have been asked to convey to you the deep admiration we have for those of you who spared no effort in sacrificing time and resources to bring sovereign Gambians together to reflect on the past, present and future of our country. We applaud your initiative and wish you utmost success”
In North America, delegates flew or drove in from coast to coast. From New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Seattle, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Georgia and more – men, women and children came. In Raleigh, North Carolina where the conference was held, residents turned out in large numbers to support their local organizers. Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Eugene Weeks, United States Congressman David Price, and Regional Liaison Michael Jones at Senator Kay Hagan’s office were present. Also in attendance was a returning Peace Corps volunteer from the Gambia Marisa Benzle, aka Fatou Manjang.
On Friday May 17, 2013 Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Eugene Weeks, introduced by Co-Chairman Alkali Conteh, welcomed guests to the city and wished delegates a successful convention. Chairman Conteh thanked the Mayor Pro Tem for coming and requested for the city to proclaim May 17 or May 18 as Gambian Day in Raleigh. On Saturday May 18 2013, delegates deliberated on the most poignant issues of the gathering such as the violations of human rights in the Gambia, putting up a united opposition front against the Gambian dictatorship, lack of press freedom, enlisting the international community in our struggle, and mapping sustainable ways of financing the struggle. The opposition party leaders pledged their commitment to work with the Gambian Diaspora to bring down tyranny in the country. Conference delegates agreed to pursue legal actions against Yahya Jammeh, his government, and his interest pursuant to his continued disregard for the rule of law and human rights. Convention concluded with the signing of a communiqué that comprise of action plans.
Below is the full text of the communiqué.
Preamble
Concerned about the deteriorating political, economic, social and human rights conditions in The Gambia which resulted from the unfortunate event of the AFPRC / APRC coup on July 22, 1994
Recognizing that the national political leadership (the opposition) has not relented in its efforts to restore sanity to Gambian politics;
Aware that the failure of these efforts to achieve the desired goal of restoring true democracy is largely attributable to the unorthodox and criminal strategies employed by the Jammeh dictatorship;
Realizing that the fragmentation of the efforts of the opposition significantly undermined their impact;
Cognizant of the urgent need to put in place a centralized coordinating mechanism that would, inter-alia, coordinate the activities and efforts of the various opposition groups and camps, and in effect, serve as the face of the struggle to restore democracy, the rule of law and good governance to The Gambia;
The proposed structure will not seek to usurp the roles/rights of the individual parties and groups, but will strive to coordinate their efforts and strategies with a view to achieving the desired results.
That GDAG, STGDP, DUGA convened a conference in Raleigh North Carolina from the 17th to the 19th May 2013 to bring together the key players in the field (heads of political parties, politicians, civil society, and the media to dialogue and consult on the way forward.
The delegates assembled in Raleigh, NC have agreed to the following:
A. To form a Steering Committee (SC) to pursue an agenda for democratic change in The Gambia.
B. That the SC shall be responsible for the effective crafting and representation of the Agenda for change.
C. That the SC will identify and work with groups, organizations and institutions that are engaged in the struggle to promote good governance, democracy and the rule of law.
D. That the SC will serve as a link between the opposition movement in the Diaspora, political parties and civil society organizations and the media on the ground to promote the agenda for change.
E. The SC shall initiate contact with regional, sub-regional and international bodies and organizations with a view to enlist their support towards finding peaceful and democratic solutions to the Gambian political situation.
F. The SC shall mobilize the required funding and other logistics for the struggle and the agenda for change.
G. The SC shall encourage and support the reform agenda outlined by the G6.
The conference directs the conveners of the Raleigh gathering, STGDP, GDAG and DUGA-DC to act as committee pro-temp with the responsibility to put in place the permanent Steering Committee comprising representatives from Africa, North America, and Europe within 4 weeks.
Done in Raleigh, NC on this 19th Day of May 2013
Signed
Name
Omar A Jallow
A.N.M.Ousainou Darboe
Hamat NK Bah
Adelaide Sosseh
Dr M.L.Sedat Jobe
Maila Touray
Dr Abdoulaye Saine
Dr Amadou S Janneh
Fatou Jaw Manneh
Bakary Bunja Darboe
Miss Sigga Jagne
Gambia Democratic Action Group
Save the Gambia Democracy Project
Democratic Union of Gambian Activist