We're fed up! We can't take it no more! We must confront Yahya tic for tac!

Contradicting to those frustrations: Yahya is cornered! Yahya is on the running! Yahya is seeking exit! Yahya must go and go first!

Some claimed the recent events at The Gambia Mission in DC are beginning of larger militancy against Yahya. Seriously?

I'm frustrated too and I want to see Yahya go. However I want more than just Yahya go. I want ‘A Democratic Republic of The Gambia’. Defeating Yahya which ever way may not necessarily give us A Democratic Republic of The Gambia. That is why all my arguments/positions is to work directly towards that goal regardless of the occupier of the presidency. Thus I'm more frustrated over our own lack of political action that will begin to effect the necessary changes with or without Yahya. It doesn’t mean that I don’t understand the resistant Yahya or any future occupier of the presidency may put up to our efforts. They will be forced to yield to the ‘Political Leverage’ we will be able to amass through organization and coherency of purpose.

I don't believe the DC Embassy event is beginning of any meaningful political surge. Call me coocoo, if you like! I hope am wrong! First it is isolated and far from where it really matters - Banjul. Second it doesn't have the social impact on broader Gambia as did the 2000 deadly Student Demonstration. Yet the later failed to incite political militancy. Why would this one do?

I'm also very concern over advocating the use of force at this stage of the struggle. Yes, it 20 years against Yahya and 30 years with Jawara but we've not explore many political options, if any besides participating in flawed elections. Can we please get to the drawing broad to examine what other possible options are possible before contemplating any form of force outside self defense. Self defense is God given right of every living being. In our subregion use of force has not made any nation better than it was under dictator forced out. Liberia and Sierra Leone come to mind!

The questions of Yahya cornered and/or running, is an undeserved proclamation. How so? I forgot, maybe am hallucinating or delusional or even both. I'm sure he (Yahya) gets angry/mad at our blogs, demonstrations, etc. but that neither diminish his power at home nor abroad. Certainly Gambian activism has made great strides over the years but mainly outside the borders of The Gambia. On the contrary, inside The Gambia legally constituted political parties are not allowed to campaign more than a week or two and they conformed. I have and will continue to commend all those who contributed and continue to contribute to these achievements. I applaud their selfless enterprising abilities. Nonetheless is just a good beginning that we should work harder to get it in the streets of Banjul. How many news outlets were closed and/or reduced to mediocre. Should I be blunt Yahya is more powerful today than anytime. He will continue to amass power so long we remain weak. Do you remember the algebraic equation analogy I used about a year ago; that says Gambia = We (The/Our Struggle) + Yahya = 1 or 1 = w + y = 1.  This is a basic  algebra equation but the essence is to show the reader (w) and (y) are in essence competing share of the1 (The Gambia). It’s my opinion that y (Yahya) currently holds the elephant share if not all. 

Saying all these will be equally irrelevant if I did not provide alternative proposal(s) in my view will earn us the needed political leverage to push back Yahya. I argued  force is no viable option because I for one will not go to the front line and will not require a fellow Gambian do so. Many who are in favor of such act are usually far away from Gambia and I’m not so if they will in person descend on Gambia to fight. On the other hand the elections route should be known to all as a cul-de-sac. There is no outlet so long as Yahya and his government has firm grip on all the processes. What do we have left? Wait for his (Yahya’s) natural death? I don’t know what will happen after such an eventuality but I want to predict a military take over and not Isatou Njie (VP) succeeding as prescribed by the constitution.  But even if Aja Isatou ascend to the presidency she will be another dictator to the best of her personality. In the face of none existence of functioning democratic institutions there is nothing to stop anyone (including myself) to do us harm in the name of how s/he sees it fit. 

What then can we do that has chance of defeating tyranny in The Gambia and as well address the underlying problem(s) that brought us to where we are today? Our struggle should seek and amass ‘Political Leverage’. That is to organization into ‘A Face‘ of the struggle and articulate our case (‘A Democracy Vision’) and vigorously sell it to the world of democracy and human rights. In return our expectation would be their moral, political and financial support. The political leverage will force authorities in Banjul to come to the table to discuss and begin reforms and overhauls based on our Democracy Vision. The political leverage will have significance consequences at the rear end as our bargaining chip. Some of those leverages are trade/economic sanctions, travel restrictions, human right abuse investigations/indictments, diplomatic mission restrictions, foreign aid restrictions, etc.. This doesn’t mean Yahya will voluntarily  capitulate and/or given in early but the pressure will mount both outside and inside that he has no means to  resist. The end product of these efforts will be people centered agenda and i hope that will finally curb the personalization of Gambia for good.

I’ve circulated a proposed 10-phase plan of this approach about a year ago. It’s my view that we can agree to disagree on the various elements but the broader idea is one pragmatic political option we ought to explore. It neither ask Yahya to go nor does it advocate for any individual/political party vying for the presidency, however Our ‘Democracy Vision’ will put everyone, including me and you at the right place. It will produce a well delineated governance structure with authority dispersed accordingly but more importantly a backstop of capacitated Gambian populace that will ensure the system work accordingly. Ultimately the free, informed and engaged Gambians will choose who they think better suit to manage their collective affairs and as well fire them at a time of their choosing.

Yes, this is no easy approach. It would require lots of diplomacy, advocacy, influencing and lobbying. Equally it will require massive political education of Gambians. Regardless it is easier than the alternatives known to me but more importantly the outcome is predictable. 

Congratulating myself for writing a great blog/article may hurt the psychos’ (Yahya’s) feeling but is neither going to remove nor pressure him to follow his own laws. Demonstrations and other activisms in America and Europe without well crafted and coordinated advocacy work may hurt Yahya feelings  but will not earn us the needed leverage. Gambia is no reading nation, my blogs are read by few in relation to the total population. My point being all we are doing are good for one reason or another but we’ll have to take them to the next levels for it to bear any fruit. Someone may argue we’re getting there which I’ll not dispute in its totality but surely the rate is abysmally too small to negligible. We are talking of 20 years of nowhere with Yahya and not even mention Jawara’s 30 years. The 2 together is almost equal to the period most of Europe emerge from the rubbles of WW II to where they’re today.

Enough said! Let get together today and seriously discuss the path forward!!!!!

Burama FL Jammeh

Founder/General Secretary 
The People's Movement for Democratic Gambia 

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