Courtesy of the BBC

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Gambia's President Jumps the Gun

By Ebraima Sillah in Banjul

Gambia's President Yayah Jammeh has been criticised by opposition figures
for sending a congratulatory message to United States Republican
presidential candidate George W. Bush.

Although a lot of people here are happy that the only country in Africa
George W Bush has ever visited is the Gambia... they openly support the
democratic candidate, Vice President Al Gore

Civil servants are also said to be critical of the letter.

The US Government has not yet restored aid to the Gambia, cut by President
Clinton's democratic administration after Mr Jammeh seized power in a
military coup.

The letter was phrased in flowery, diplomatic language.
"Mr President-elect, following your election and victory in the just
concluded elections to the exalted position of president of your great
country, it gives me much pleasure and deep honour to warmly congratulate
you and convey very cordial greetings on my own behalf and on behalf of the
government and people of the Gambia.

"It is my strong conviction and resolve that together we can make the
US/Gambia relationship and co-operation more fruitful and prosperous."

In conclusion, Mr Jammeh said he looked forward to working closely with
George W Bush to strengthen international peace and consolidate bilateral
relationship between the Gambia and the United State.

'Wrong signal'

However, Mr Jammeh's message to Mr Bush did not go down well with many
Gambians.

An opposition politician described Mr Jammeh's message as bizarre and
immature

They accused him of sending the wrong signal by congratulating George W Bush
on his victory when the matter is still being challenged in the courts.
An opposition politician described Mr Jammeh's message as bizarre and
immature.

He decribed Mr Jammeh and his foreign policy advisers as adventurous
toddlers who have very little understanding of international politics and
diplomacy.

In private a number of top civil servants have also admitted a serious
protocol error on the part of the president, saying he should have waited
until the final outcome is determined.

Currying favour?

Many people here also interpret the president's move as an attempt to pull
George W. Bush onto his side following strained diplomatic relations between
the Gambia and the present Democrat-led government.

Many Gambians say they support Al Gore

In 1994 the US Government suspended all direct aid to the Gambia following a
military coup led by Mr Jammeh.

The ban is still effective because the US Government maintains that the
elections which brought Mr Jammeh to power were neither free nor fair.

Although a lot of people here are happy that the only country in Africa
George W Bush has ever visited is the Gambia when he came for the silver
jubilee celebrations in 1990, they openly support the democratic candidate,
Vice President Al Gore.


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