By Mathew K Jallow
As a country, much of what shapes the politics we observe is not based on reality, but on the flawed way our brains process information and what we see around us. We draw conclusions that rely on limited information, which often results in a myopic representation of the reality. In my experience living in and learning about various totalitarian regimes, the one constant is their fragility and inherent weaknesses. Because dictatorial regimes use fear as an instrument of gaining control and compliance, they are able to create a false sense of stability, might and invincibility. The truth, however, is far different from the perception and Gambia’s experience is no different from any other dictatorship, past and present. The more the terror the Yahya Jammeh regime has unleashed on Gambians, the more the regime is consumed by a morbid fear of its population. Dictatorships, therefore, are able to survive only because they learn to create and manage the cloud of suspicion and mistrust that is planted among the population. Evidently, different regimes have used a variety of methods to achieve objectives of creating fear, but the end result is always the same; the establishment of a police and military state as instruments of repression. The remaking of Gambia into a police and military state has taken the better part of the past nearly two decades, and still the regime continues to operate in unparalleled savagery.
Yahya Jammeh, having committed so many atrocities over the past two decades, his regime’s state sanctioned brutality is perhaps a true harbinger of things to come. Today, because Yahya Jammeh cannot undo the past, nor can he placate the present, the only other course of action available to his regime is to continue the brutal oppression. By leveraging the unconstitutional powers granted to the National Intelligence Agency and military to plant fear and suspicion among the population, the regime has managed to forestall criticism of its tribal divisiveness, incompetence and failure. Additionally, efforts by civil society organizations and the political establishment to present a united opposition front against the regime have been preempted by the looming presence of brutality by the agents of repression. So much has changed in the last two decades that it is almost difficult to imagine how Gambia got this Machiavellian state of brutality. Fear of the Yahya Jammeh regime is pervasive and families, neighbors and friends have been consumed by the cloud of mutual suspicion that pervades all levels of our society. Political dissent has resulted in murders and disappearances, and criticism of and complaints about the regime’s failures have resulted in the harsh retaliatory punishment. The unforgivable draconian measures have enabled the regime survival and present answers to the reality of the Gambia’s widespread hatred of Yahya Jammeh.
Rather than represent the true portrait of power, stability and invincibility, the Yahya Jammeh regime does more to expose its oppressiveness, weakness and vulnerability. The regime’s show of strength and stability, expressed in the brutal and intolerant attitude towards citizen dissent, is merely a façade masking the regime’s utter fear and vulnerability. One of the misconceptions surrounding Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship is its projection of strength and might. While the vast majority of Gambians shares a lethal hatred of the Yahya Jammeh regime, they remain mutually suspicious of each other and have been fearful of confessing their true hatred of and frustration with the regime. In this constant grip of this fear, Gambians, as a society, have remained mute in the face of silent suffering; unwilling to fall victims to the regime’s brutal abuses. If Gambians could read each other’s minds and understand the depth of their hatred of Yahya Jammeh, it would be possible for a spontaneous national revolt to erupt with ferocity and brutality unlike anything Yahya Jammeh could imagine. Today, even selective targeting of the regime’s interests would shake the regime to its foundation, as it would project a people taking back control of their lives. At this juncture, it is imperative for every Gambian to understand that what the regime projects as a sign of strength is only the regime’s projection of fear. If Gambians come to this realization, there will be motivation to oppose this deadly regime.
Today, while the issue of tribal bigotry has been brought to forefront by Yahya Jammeh, it is also true that Gambia’s blueblood Jolas have borne the brunt of Yahya Jammeh’s brutality. As for the Cassamance and Bissau Jolas, the bulk of Yahya Jammeh’s support, the task of finding answers to the lingering question of why they support the brutalization of Gambians, will be pursued with nationalistic vigor. For now, Gambians must realize that a Nelson Mandela is not coming to save the country. In the quest to find an answer for the Gambia’s nagging problems, the timeless slogan has an answer, “it is we that we have been waiting for all these years.” The time to resistance Yahya Jammeh’s murderous military dictatorship, is now and such resistance must begin with a nationwide show of defiance. Once a national campaign of defiance begins, the regime will begin to crumble into obscurity. Despite Yahya Jammeh’s frequent show of bravado, his nervousness betrays the reality of a scared person. Given all brutality of the past, Yahya Jammeh;s regime is unsure whether each day would be its last. But Yahya Jammeh sees the writing on the wall. The save the Gambia from further social and economic downward slide is the duty of every Gambians. Gambians must, therefore, measure up to this challenge of their lives. The dying, arrests, detentions, tortures, incarcerations, dysfunctional government and the forced disappearances have gone on too long. Yahya Jammeh’s regime is standing on shaky ground and removing it is easier than it appears. The time to organize for the final push to liberty is now.