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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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US reiterates its call for fair, transparent, legal process for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, speaks on Congress frozen accounts

The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections.

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A day after India summoned an US diplomat over their remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, the US reiterated its call for fair, transparent, timely legal processes on Wednesday.

Responding to questions on India summoning Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that they will continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Notably, the meeting at the foreign ministry’s South Block office lasted nearly 40 minutes yesterday with India objecting strongly to the US remarks on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.

Matthew Miller also responded to a question on the Congress party’s frozen bank accounts. The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. He added that the US encourages fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of the issues.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested last week by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to the Delhi liquor policy scam. Earlier, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Sanjay Singh were arrested in the same case.

The External Affairs Ministry had earlier stated that states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies, adding that it could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.

The Ministry further emphasized that India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. It mentioned that casting aspersions on India’s legal procedure is unwarranted.

The United State’s remarks followed days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial. The Indian government labelled their remark as blatant interference in internal matters.

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5 Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan

This is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

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Nearly five Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion during an attack on their convoy by a suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday. Reportedly, the suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers travelling from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu, situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur said that five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack. As yet, none has claimed responsibility for the attack. Bisham Station House Officer (SHO) Bakht Zahir asserted that the incident was a suicide blast and the authorities concerned were collecting the evidence.

The Station House Officer further added that security arrangements were tightened at the spot and the bodies were being shifted to a hospital. He added that they will investigate from where and how the vehicle of a suicide bomber came and how it happened. Notably, this is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

Previously, two attacks hit an airbase and a strategic port in the southwest province of Balochistan where China is investing billions in infrastructure projects. Several Chinese engineers and Pakistani construction workers have for multiple years been working on hydroelectric projects as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative in the western province of Khyber-Paktunkhwa.

Notably, Dasu is home to a significant dam project, has been a target of previous attacks. Earlier in 2021, the attack in Dasu resulted in the deaths of nine Chinese nationals, along with two Pakistani children. The incident occured when a bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers to the Dasu Hydropower Project site was targeted.

There was confusion surrounding the nature of the attack initially, with some reports suggesting it was a bus accident. Nonetheless, subsequent investigations revealed that it was indeed a terrorist attack. The bus was hit by a blast, leading it to plunge into a ravine.

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US bridge collapses after being hit by ship

The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

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Major portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, US collapsed on early Tuesday morning after it was hit by a large container ship. The incident occurred at nearly 1.30 am (US local time). The Baltimore City Fire department said the collapse is a mass casualty incident.

According to reports many vehicles fell into the river below. The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

It seems the vessel had hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in many places and plunge into the water. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink. Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, the registered owner of the ship, and the manager, Synergy Marine Group, said it is a Singapore flagged ship Dali which collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

He said the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined; the Dali has now mobilized its qualified individual Incident response service. It added that all crew members, including the 2 pilots who were aboard, have been accounted for and there are no reports of injuries.

The local traffic police said all lanes on both directions of the bridge have been closed and the traffic is being de-toured. Maryland Governor Wes Moore also declared a state of emergency after the collapse of the bridge. The bridge was opened in 1977, spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. It is named after the writer of the Star Spangled Banner.  

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