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Gambia returns to democracy after 22 years

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Gambian President Yahya Jammeh holds a copy of the Quran while speaking to a poll worker at a polling station during the presidential election in Banjul, Gambia, December 1, 2016, Reuters/UNI

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dictator Jammeh ousted peacefully, exiled to Equatorial Guinea

By Abu Turab

Around the time of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the new US president, another elected president, some 6,500 km away in Gambia, West Africa, was struggling to come to power despite his legitimate election. Newly-elected president Adama Barrow was forced to take the oath of office in neighbouring Senegal on January 19 while the outgoing president, Yahya Jammeh, was being persuaded by regional leaders to leave the country to avert military intervention.

Ultimately, after weeks of pressure from regional players and the threat of arrest by West African troops, Jammeh and his wife left Banjul, the Gambian capital, late on January 21, for Equatorial Guinea, ending his 22-year rule. He was accompanied by Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, who played an important mediatory role.

President Barrow returned to Gambia on January 27 and chose to stay at his own home until the security clearance of State House, the official residence of the president. Later, there were reports of recovery of a huge quantity of arms from State House.

During his inaugural speech, Barrow called upon the Economic Council of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United Nations to “support the government and people of Gambia in enforcing their will”.

The swearing-in ceremony at the inauguration of Gambia President Adama Barrow at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, January 19, 2017, Reuters/UNI

The swearing-in ceremony at the inauguration of Gambia President Adama Barrow at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, January 19, 2017, Reuters/UNI

The three agencies were closely working for smooth transfer of power in the country. ECOWAS took the lead both in setting the agenda and launching the diplomatic exercise involving five rounds of presidential missions to Banjul and incorporating six heads of state, including Noble Peace laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia.

According to Al Jazeera, Barrow, while addressing his first press conference in Banjul, said Gambia was a republic and “not an Islamic Republic”.  The country has an approximately 90 percent Muslim population. “Islamic” was added to the country’s name by Jammeh in 2015.

Barrow, while describing his proposed reforms, also vowed to reform the country’s notorious intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and promised to ensure media freedom.

ECOWAS, apart from its diplomatic efforts, also exerted pressure on Jammeh with a credible threat of military action. A December 17 summit of the regional leaders resolved to “undertake all necessary action” and mobilised their troops to enter Gambia on January 19, setting a deadline for Jammeh to relinquish power.

Returnees from Barra seen on arrival at Banjul Port a day after President Yahya Jammeh departed from Banjul, Gambia, for exile, January 22, Reuters/UNI

Returnees from Barra seen on arrival at Banjul Port a day after President Yahya Jammeh departed from Banjul, Gambia, for exile, January 22, Reuters/UNI

Equatorial Guinea, the exile destination of Jammeh, is not a signatory to the Rome statute enabling establishment of the International Criminal Court. This guaranteed that Jammeh would not be extradited if the new government decides to prosecute him.

Jammeh is the first president to peacefully hand over power in Gambia since its independence from British rulers in 1965.

After defeat in the December 1 election, Jammeh initially conceded defeat but later called the elections fake. But, as pressure mounted,  Jammeh, who had once said he would rule Gambia for a billion years, said he would stand down and that it was “not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed.”

Africa is full of longtime dictators or undemocratic heads of state. Equatorial Guinea and Angola are under continuous rule for 37 years by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Jose Eduardo dos Santos, respectively; Cameroon has been ruled by Paul Biya for 34 years, Uganda by Yoweri Museveni for 31 years, Zimbabwe by Robert Mugabe for 29 years, Sudan by Omar al-Bashir for 27 years, Chad by Idriss Deby for 26 years, Eritrea by Isaias Afwerki for 23 years and Gambia was under Jammeh for 22 years.

Before assuming power Barrow assured Jammeh of all rights legally ensured to a former president including immunity from prosecution. He also confirmed that Jammeh will be permitted to keep a fleet of luxury cars.

According to the BBC, luxury cars and other items were seen being loaded onto a Chadian cargo plane on the night Jammeh left the country.

The change of guard in Gambia was an exemplary exercise in many ways. It was a rare occasion in history when a dictator was forced to leave through successfuldiplomacy without a drop of blood being shed.

According to a December 2016 ministry of external affairs report, some 600 Indians are engaged in trade and private business in Gambia. India’s relations with the country are marked with cooperation in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the United Nations. Indian exports to Gambia include cotton yarn, fabrics, cosmetics, drugs, pharmaceuticals and semi-finished iron and steel products whereas Gambia exports cashew and cotton to India.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi visited Gambia as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2015. Gambian Vice-President Isatou Njie-Saidy participated in the India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi in October 2015.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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Modi trump

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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Donald Trump

The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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