The insatiable lust for power
The political unrest unfolding in The Gambia is really unfortunate.
Despite numerous attempts by a United Nations-sanctioned West Africa envoy to force Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh out of office following elections last year, things are not looking good in that country.
The controversial Jammeh received praise from all and sundry when he initially conceded defeat to businessman Adama Barrow in December last year.
For many it was a sign of maturity and democratic hope for Africa, which is often mired in controversy when it comes to elections.
But in a dramatic U-turn, Jammeh refused to accept the results and is now challenging the outcome in that country's Supreme Court. As it stands, the situation in Gambia is tense, with Jammeh having declared a national state of emergency.
In fact, the Nigerian and Senegalese authorities have confirmed that it was preparing soldiers to help join the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) troops that would be deployed to Gambia. Just a day before he was supposed to end his tenure as president of Gambia, parliament extended Jammeh's rule for another 90 days and condemned what it called the “unlawful and malicious interference” of the African Union and Senegal in its country's affairs. While Jammeh has demonstrated his desperate need to cling to power, the Gambians find themselves on the edge as foreign military intervention looms large. Although Senegal and Nigeria have indicated that military intervention will be a last resort, there is enough reason to believe that Gambia is headed for a disastrous political spell in the coming days and Africa can ill-afford that.
Even if the Ecowas operation is granted approval, there is no consensus that would offer a risk-free intervention.
Just look at Libya today following the killing of Muammar Gaddafi.
It is still a fractured country and Libyans can attest that they were better off under Gaddafi's rule. Will military intervention restore the much-needed stability or will it exacerbate the political unrest in Gambia?
Only time will tell.
Despite numerous attempts by a United Nations-sanctioned West Africa envoy to force Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh out of office following elections last year, things are not looking good in that country.
The controversial Jammeh received praise from all and sundry when he initially conceded defeat to businessman Adama Barrow in December last year.
For many it was a sign of maturity and democratic hope for Africa, which is often mired in controversy when it comes to elections.
But in a dramatic U-turn, Jammeh refused to accept the results and is now challenging the outcome in that country's Supreme Court. As it stands, the situation in Gambia is tense, with Jammeh having declared a national state of emergency.
In fact, the Nigerian and Senegalese authorities have confirmed that it was preparing soldiers to help join the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) troops that would be deployed to Gambia. Just a day before he was supposed to end his tenure as president of Gambia, parliament extended Jammeh's rule for another 90 days and condemned what it called the “unlawful and malicious interference” of the African Union and Senegal in its country's affairs. While Jammeh has demonstrated his desperate need to cling to power, the Gambians find themselves on the edge as foreign military intervention looms large. Although Senegal and Nigeria have indicated that military intervention will be a last resort, there is enough reason to believe that Gambia is headed for a disastrous political spell in the coming days and Africa can ill-afford that.
Even if the Ecowas operation is granted approval, there is no consensus that would offer a risk-free intervention.
Just look at Libya today following the killing of Muammar Gaddafi.
It is still a fractured country and Libyans can attest that they were better off under Gaddafi's rule. Will military intervention restore the much-needed stability or will it exacerbate the political unrest in Gambia?
Only time will tell.
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