Gambian Diaspora: A Return to the Drawing Board or a Plunge into the
Abyss 
Modou Nyang 
We may be
far from the end to the accusations and counter accusations of what led to the
split within CORDEG. What is not yet heard from the feuding parties is the underlying
reasons or motives that informed their decision to call it quits. The brouhaha is
sickening, no doubt, and it sure carry’s the venom capable of killing this body
that has the promise to serve as the rallying point for Diaspora Gambia democracy
forces. However, there are more important questions to be asked and issues to
be straightened if the survival and relevance of the Diaspora pro-democracy
group is to be ensured. 
That GDAG, a
leading proponent among the trio of the pro-democracy groups that ushered in
the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in the Gambia (CORDEG) into the
consciousness of Diaspora Gambian politics, could walk away from what they
helped to build and still could not clearly articulate its reasons for doing
so, is rather intriguing. 
But for a
moment let us forget about the freeness or the lack of it in the election of
CORDEG’s executive. I wish the process was not based on competitive elections
rather, on a consultative nature focused on the geographic representation of the
politically active Diaspora Gambians. This would have given it a true civil
society representative nature that could legitimately talk and act on behalf of
the Diaspora Gambian people. The other things like the opening of a bank
account, registration of the organization and the internal politicking or
frictions among the players could have been easily handled by the mature minds
among the grouping.
However, what
is of significance and this is where the fundamental issues that underpin the
relevance and or effectiveness of CORDEG, is its outlined mode of operation in
the quest for political change and democracy in the Gambia. To this end
CORDEG’s outline of strategy and tactic is as blurred as Lamin J. Darboe put it
and at worst unrealistic. And this is what needs to be addressed if Diaspora
Gambians are to become useful and effective players in the Gambia’s political
evolution to a democracy. 
Detestable as
the reference to the term “restoration” in the name of CORDEG is, - for there
existed no democracy in the Gambia that needs restoring in the first place,
nonetheless, what is worth fighting for are the crunchy nuts that are to help in
the erection of a viable foundation for CORDEG laid on clear terms and purpose;
A durable foundation that is to play a vital role in the bridge building
process of a grand coalition of the democratic forces both within the Gambia
and its Diaspora.
When the
clamor for a pro-democracy conference in Dakar, Senegal subsided, Raleigh,
North Carolina several months later, turned out to be the rallying point for
the politically active Diaspora Gambians. Speeches were delivered and passionate
debates ensued. At the end a communiqué was issued calling for a steering
committee and promising to craft a policy that would help coordinate a unity of
purpose among Gambia’s pro-democracy forces. To their credit a steering
committee came into being leading to the election of an executive committee a
few months later and the birth of CORDEG. 
But to the
keen political observer the flaws and contradictions in the setup to the
establishment of CORDEG’s executive were clear and imminent. Alarm bells were
ringed and people contacted to highlight the problems but business continued as
usual. Those that made their concerns public were dismissed or at best ignored. 
Fundamental
to the flaws and contradictions within the setup that gave birth to CORDEG were
its insistence on co-opting the opposition parties into its fold and followed
by the erection of a gigantic superstructure that aimed to encompass even the
main players when it comes to effecting political change in the Gambia. Consciously
or unconsciously, the architects of CORDEG pursued this formula that is only
expected of political novices. It was certain that the project was headed for
failure unless its course was redirected. And to cap it all, a vision and
mission of CORDEG was propounded clearly mimicking a government or opposition
party white paper with clear emphasis of governance, economic and even
agricultural policies. 
For
starters, CORDEG can only be a civil society organization unless and until it
chooses to follow the process and register as a political party in the Gambia.
As a civil society organization CORDEG’s mandate could not be more than articulating
and championing the aspirations of Diaspora Gambians. It cannot and should
never venture into the business of formulating financial or agricultural
policies for the Gambia not so when it is even absent on the ground. 
The Raleigh
Accord that spelled out the objectives of CORDEG despite being ambiguous
itself, chose to side with the political players on the ground in the pursuit
of reforms vital to the predictability of political change and the nurturing of
democracy. This is what is reasonable and attainable between citizen groups and
political parties who plan to work together for the betterment of their
country. But as it appeared there were other motives in play, all sorts of
posturing and positioning became the order of the day albeit being hundreds of
miles away from the battleground. 
However, and
introspectively, it is still not too late to chart a new course and refocus
CORDEG. It may be a harder task trying to walk the opposition parties into an alliance,
but it is easier championing the desire of Diaspora Gambians for
enfranchisement. Furthermore, a partnership with the opposition and other
interest groups both national and international on a pro-democracy agenda
captured on the urgent need for electoral reform, will not only ease the internal
squabbles and render desolate the intense positioning, but will earn CORDEG the
respect and trust of its partners as well as influence and leverage among both
ruling and opposition parties. 
An agenda
for the enfranchisement of Diaspora Gambians will not trigger any lobbying for positions
of secretary generals or chairmanships rather; it will engender tremendous
interest and impact among the growing Gambian populations outside of the Gambia
for the cause of democratization and development. Demands for the respect of
the civil liberties and freedom of the citizenry would only add to its political
clout and respectability. 
For the
politics of alliance building among political parties, it is better leaving
that in the hands of the parties themselves. Politics is not as simple a
formula as the common sense one-plus-one. The most that civil society groups like
CORDEG can ask as bonafide partners is to insist on a seat at the negotiating
table to act as an arbiter and or mediator to resolve misunderstandings and bridge
differences. Attaining that status or position becomes easier when especially a
body like CORDEG becomes the initiator of such mediations. The choice is out in
the open and waiting to be made. Cut to size the overzealous ambitions and
focus attention to clear and reasonable goals that are within our bounds. 

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