The Gambia's history of indecisiveness

[Crandar]

So, Mr. Jammeh peacefully rules the prosperous land of Gambia for more than 20 years, until the unfortunate year of 2017, as in the previous month, the good president failed to win the fifth election, in the row. Naively, Mr. Jammeh accepted the result, why not? Why would he ignore his people's will, for Christ's sake?
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-gambia-election-idUSKBN13S0KE

Well, it turned out that there was actually an election-fraud, not by the childishly benevolent regime government, but by the evil opposition. So, our dearest of all our presidents (two, in total, Jammeh included) was forced to reject the results. That resulted in terrorist acts committed by the para-militaries of the opposition and dire threats thrown by the imperialist neighbors of Ghana, which have set en eye on its valuable resources.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/10/gambian-president-rejects-election-results-yahya-jammeh-adama-barrow
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-gambia-election-ecowas-idUSKBN13Z09D

He's right, his defeat is logically impossible, as he said in 2011, when he took more than 70% of the votes.
"In 17 years, I have delivered more development than the British were able to deliver in 400 years. Do I look like a loser? There is no way I can lose unless you tell me that all Gambian people are mad."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15897134

Gambia has a problem of naive leadership. Mr. Jammeh's predecessor, the almost equally good President Jawara also announced that in his 70s, he will step down from politics. Then, he changed his mind, because he recognized that Gambia needs a wise ruler to navigate through the seas of unknown, won the elections with 56% of the votes and got toppled in a coup revolution by Mr. Jammeh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawda_Jawara#1994_coup

[Greyblades]

200 years, actually, give or take a decade.

[rory_20_uk]

Often seems the only thing worse than having the colonial powers in charge is having the locals in charge.

~:smoking:

[Husar]

Often seems the only thing worse than having the colonial powers in charge is having the locals in charge.

~:smoking:

True for every country except Germany of course.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

True for every country except Germany of course.

Are you referencing Germany's "enlightened" handling of its African colonies during the Victorian and Edwardian eras or the mélange of 'colonial' governments in Post WW2 Germany?

[Husar]

Are you referencing Germany's "enlightened" handling of its African colonies during the Victorian and Edwardian eras or the mélange of 'colonial' governments in Post WW2 Germany?

I am referring to two things: Firstly the idea that the locals in countries such as *ahem* Britain and the USA *ahem* recently made terrible decisions according to a very large number of outside, and also inside, observers. With the added bonus that one of these actually was a colony before and the other had/has foreign rulers of sorts. And secondly I was jokingly referring to the last German attempt to make the world its colony.

I would obviously never bring up the idea that colonial rule could be more terrible than a dictatorship because that would mean I hate myself according to certain people, so maybe the second reference wasn't so jokingly after all. :rolleyes:

[rory_20_uk]

It is odd how the EU is becoming close to a religion - even thinking of leaving it is sinful and means people are xenophobic - even though the EU itself is extremely slow to engage with all outside countries.

The main reason that leaving the EU is such a Bad Idea is that the rest of the EU is unlikely to agree to a free trade deal. After all, if one could trade freely with EU countries, why would one put up with all the baggage...?

~:smoking:

[Pannonian]

I am referring to two things: Firstly the idea that the locals in countries such as *ahem* Britain and the USA *ahem* recently made terrible decisions according to a very large number of outside, and also inside, observers. With the added bonus that one of these actually was a colony before and the other had/has foreign rulers of sorts. And secondly I was jokingly referring to the last German attempt to make the world its colony.

I would obviously never bring up the idea that colonial rule could be more terrible than a dictatorship because that would mean I hate myself according to certain people, so maybe the second reference wasn't so jokingly after all. :rolleyes:

And there ya go again. Telling us off for intervening in Iraq, whilst simultaneously telling me off for arguing that, as a result of Iraq, we shouldn't be intervening anywhere again. When people like yourself say that we're wrong either way, what incentive is there for doing anything? Let Germany take care of it all, if they so wish.

[Husar]

It is odd how the EU is becoming close to a religion - even thinking of leaving it is sinful and means people are xenophobic - even though the EU itself is extremely slow to engage with all outside countries.

The main reason that leaving the EU is such a Bad Idea is that the rest of the EU is unlikely to agree to a free trade deal. After all, if one could trade freely with EU countries, why would one put up with all the baggage...?

~:smoking:

I'd say some, perhaps most, of the reasons for leaving the EU are bad, but I'm not stopping anyone.
And if you got the right to do what you think is best for you, so does the EU, everyone should be happy.
Same goes for Africa of course, since that was the topic.


And there ya go again. Telling us off for intervening in Iraq, whilst simultaneously telling me off for arguing that, as a result of Iraq, we shouldn't be intervening anywhere again. When people like yourself say that we're wrong either way, what incentive is there for doing anything? Let Germany take care of it all, if they so wish.

I don't even know where Iraq is coming from again, my point was that you'd all be better off under Hitler since you locals can't be trusted to rule yourselves. :stare:

[Husar]

Apparently, events continue in Gambia and neighboring Senegal:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-president-adama-barrow-takes-oath-senegal-170119170745954.html


Gambia's President Adama Barrow has taken the oath of office in neighbouring Senegal, calling for international support as troops from regional forces entered the small West African country to ensure he assumes power.

Longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, has refused to step down despite losing a disputed December 1 presidential election, deepening a political crisis.

Barrow, who had recently sought shelter in Senegal, was inaugurated on Thursday in a hastily-arranged ceremony at Gambia's embassy in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

[Gilrandir]

Apparently, events continue in Gambia and neighboring Senegal:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-president-adama-barrow-takes-oath-senegal-170119170745954.html

And even more Senegal in Gambia:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38682184

[Husar]

And even more Senegal in Gambia:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38682184

Read the first sentence in the quote from my article again:


Gambia's President Adama Barrow has taken the oath of office in neighbouring Senegal, calling for international support as troops from regional forces entered the small West African country to ensure he assumes power.

~;)

But yeah, let's hope they can get it done peacefully.

[Beskar]

Going to troll you all by correcting the title. It is "The Gambia", not "Gambia". They officially called themselves that, so people don't confuse it with Zambia.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Going to troll you all by correcting the title. It is "The Gambia", not "Gambia". They officially called themselves that, so people don't confuse it with Zambia.

You realise that was a legitimate mod edit and not trolling.

However, if I were to suggest you can't tell the difference, that would be trolling.

As Regards to Husar's jokes, I don't think they're very pointed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38682184

Either the outgoing President will roll over, or he won't. I read something earlier today where the commander of the army said he wasn't getting involved, and neither were his soldiers.

Let us hope.

[Husar]

As Regards to Husar's jokes, I don't think they're very pointed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38682184

Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?
:dizzy2:

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?
:dizzy2:

No, I just don't think they're applicable.

[Husar]

No, I just don't think they're applicable.

You posted the exact same link Gilrandir posted. But yes, let's hope together. ~:grouphug:

[Husar]

Good news, it seems like the old president agreed to step down after all.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-yahya-jammeh-agrees-step-170120184330091.html


Gambia's new president has said that Yahya Jammeh, who ruled the country for 22 years and refused for weeks to step down after losing the recent election, has finally "agreed to leave".

Writing on Twitter on Friday, Adama Barrow said Jammeh would also leave the country.

"I would like to inform you that Yahya Jammeh has agreed to step down. He is scheduled to depart Gambia today. #NewGambia," he tweeted.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Good news, it seems like the old president agreed to step down after all.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-yahya-jammeh-agrees-step-170120184330091.html

Was it the foreign armed forces camped outside the capital mayhap?

[Beskar]

You realise that was a legitimate mod edit and not trolling.

However, if I were to suggest you can't tell the difference, that would be trolling.

Was trolling in the sense that being pedantic is not required, but I did so, because it would be faintly amusing to correct something petty even if it is accurate.

[Tristuskhan]

Seeing the international force was partly made of Togolese soldiers gives this victory of Democracy a slightly bitter taste, by the way.

Faure Gnassingbe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faure_Gnassingb%C3%A9 , son of his father and one of the last remnants of good old Françafrique left. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7afrique

Hope for the best for Gambians anyway! And a little masterpiece of Gambian music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oToZfPGMMBY