"I think Gambians ought to be commended for the peaceful manner in which they have dealt with this increasingly tense situation, and in spite of Jammeh’s many provocations. Overall, Gambians are simply ready to move on. They are ready to move on from the Jammeh dictatorship and begin to heal from the collective trauma that they have suffered since July 1994."
Expert Commentary: A Pariah State in West Africa (The Cipher Brief – January 11)
Gambian Court Delays Election Decision to Next Week (Associated Press – January 10)
"The Supreme Court case faced an issue of credibility from the very outset," said Jeffrey Smith, a human rights activist and founding director of Vanguard Africa, a U.S.-based group that worked with Gambia's opposition coalition. "That Jammeh was appointing the same judges who would hear his own court petition is an absolute mockery of justice."
As Gambians Lose Fear, Jammeh’s Isolation Grows (Reuters – December 16)
The Gambia: Is it on Path To Turmoil? (Al Jazeera Inside Story program – December 11)
He is reputed to be one of the world's most repressive and eccentric leaders who vowed to rule The Gambia for a "billion years".
Following the presidential election 10 days ago, Yahya Jammeh shocked many by accepting defeat to his rival Adama Barrow.
Jammeh's conciliation was seen as the start of a new era of democracy in the smallest nation in mainland Africa.
Now it appears Jammeh won't be relinquishing power at all.
Will his demand for a new election mean chaos and instability? And how can a peaceful transfer of power be achieved?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Halifa Sallah - Spokesman for Gambian President-elect Adama Barrow
Jeffrey Smith - Executive Director of Vanguard Africa
Murtala Touray - West Africa analyst
The Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh Reverses Course, Rejects Election Results (Africa Times – December 9)
ADVISORY: Yahya Jammeh's rejection of democracy in The Gambia
ADVISORY: YAHYA JAMMEH’S REJECTION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA
Vanguard Africa raises concern about latest developments in The Gambia
On the evening of December 9, exactly one week after the Gambia’s momentous election, which saw long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh concede defeat to opposition challenger Adama Barrow, the country’s democratic trajectory has been thrown into doubt. This evening, sitting President Yahya Jammeh announced live on state television that he “decided to reject the outcome of the recent election.” Citing unspecified “abnormalities,” Jammeh demanded “fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a god-fearing and independent electoral commission.”
This turn of events in the Gambia is deeply troubling and opens the lid on long-simmering tensions in the country and deepens concern over pre-election fears of state-led mass killing. Under Yahya Jammeh’s rule, the Gambia became notorious for its rampant human rights abuses and the type of unaccountable leadership that prompted Gambian citizens to vote in droves against him last week. Following the entirely peaceful elections, Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat to President-elect Barrow live on national television. This sudden change of course clearly violates a host of international and regional legal conventions, in addition to the Gambia's own rules that govern presidential transitions, of which this was a historic first.
“On December 1, the Gambian people spoke unequivocally and stood bravely by voting in droves against twenty-two years of tyranny and dictatorship,” said Vanguard Africa’s executive director, Jeffrey Smith. “We encourage all Gambians, regional leaders and the United States government in particular to remain vigilant and to not allow democracy to be hijacked. We also urge Gambian citizens to document attempts at intimidation and violence and report them to Vanguard Africa.”
This week, the people of Gambia spoke resoundingly in favor of democratic governance and in favor of a brighter and more prosperous future. In the lead up to and during the Gambian election, the international community, including major media outlets, answered the call and helped to shed a much-needed spotlight on the country. It is time to do so again.
ADVISORY: Ghanaian opposition party awaits victory confirmation by Electoral Commission
ADVISORY: Ghanaian opposition party awaits victory confirmation by Electoral Commission
Second Successful Election in a Week Signals Democratic Surge Across Africa
Due to Ghana’s position as a democratic leader on the African continent, Vanguard Africa has closely followed the elections and has been in close communication with activists and political parties long before our organization was formed. On this truly historic day, the Vanguard Africa team sends warm and well-deserved congratulations to all Ghanaians for yet another peaceful, free, and fair election.
Ongoing tallies published by local outlets in Ghana point to a decisive win for Nana Akufo-Addo and his National Patriotic Party (NPP) by an absolute majority. Although the Electoral Commission has yet to announce the official results, the NPP is confident of its victory and expects incumbent President John Mahama´s concession call this evening.
"Our representatives at the Electoral Commission have verified and endorsed the result sheets from 241 of the total 275 constituencies. We are ahead by over 1 million votes nationwide and by 10 percentage points overall, well above the absolute majority threshold that is needed to win," Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a Senior Advisor to Mr. Akufo-Addo, said to Vanguard Africa today.
This is Mr. Akufo-Addo´s third attempt at Ghana’s presidency after two controversial second-round defeats. In 2008, despite winning the first round by more than 100,000 votes, he ultimately conceded defeat to John Atta-Mills after losing by less than half a percentage point in the subsequent run off -- a move that was highly praised by regional leaders and the international community. He was again narrowly defeated in 2012 by incumbent President John Mahama.
Ghana has a long and respected tradition of peaceful democratic transitions, exemplified by its last two elections. In order to avoid potential tension and mistrust in Ghana’s democratic institutions, Vanguard Africa calls on the Electoral Commission to swiftly ratify the election results and to communicate more openly with Ghanaians and the international community who are actively following the election. Following the truly historic events this past week in the Gambia, we at Vanguard Africa are collectively energized and enthused for the future of democracy in the region.
Disclaimer: Several members of the Vanguard Africa team have supported Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP since 2008, but the organization was not on the ground for this election.