Gambia: Simultaneous Challenges Facing the Government of the Day

The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) government which has ruled the Gambia for almost 22 years is facing its toughest and most challenging political and economic upheaval during its lengthy tenure. After coming to power through a military coup in July 1994, and subsequently transforming the country back to civilian rule following a 2 year transition period, the APRC party has won four out of four presidential elections hoping to making it five out of five this coming December. As general election approaches, the government is simultaneously tested on two fronts - challenges which require a great deal of political maturity to manoeuvre.

The Border Crisis

Since February 2016, the borders between Gambia and Senegal have been shut resulting to massive sufferings of the people and severe economic losses. The Senegalese government is adamant that they are not responsible for the closure while the Gambia government continue to maintain that their side of the border remained open. So the blame  for the border closure therefore rest entirely on the shoulders of the Senegalese Transport Union who accused the Gambia government for outrageously hiking the tariff for Senegalese trucks passing through The Gambia to Casamance (Southern Senegal) without prior consultation.

Senegalese trucks stranded at the border. Source: kaironews

Apparently, there are now calls for dialogue between the two countries to sort out this mess once and for all. But how can there be a dialogue without any of the countries accepting responsibility for the mess in the first place? It then means that the Senegalese Transport Union must be involved in any potential dialogue. Just to buttress on the contrast in democracy between the two countries! Unionist in Senegal are so much empowered to a point that, a mere Transport Union can claim responsibility for closing the country's borders without any repercussion. Whereas in The Gambia, the Transport Union is banned from any involvement in the country’s transport sector.

If unionist were equally empowered in the Gambia as they are in Senegal, this whole situation could have been dealt with differently. The two country’s transport unions could have therefore negotiated at their levels and in their capacities. And if they fail to reach an agreement, then the two governments can step in. But now even if the Gambia government are ready to enter into dialogue with their Senegalese counterpart, it is highly likely that they will be forced to negotiate with the Senegalese Transport Union which is a big blow to their reputation. Talks are however expected to begin by mid May but mind you, it’s not going to be easy. I heard one of the Senegalese Transport Union leaders in in an interview saying that, any agreement on reopening the borders must include the construction of the Trans-Gambia Bridge which was agreed some years ago.  

The UDP Uprising

On the fateful day of April 14th 2016, a handful of United Democratic Party (UDP) supporters led by the party’s youth mobiliser assembled at the Westfield junction displaying a banner which read ‘We need political reforms’. Minutes into the protest, they were rounded up and bundled into trucks by officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU). With rumours circulating that the youth mobiliser - Mr. Solo Sendeng  was tortured to death overnight, the Party leader - Lawyer Ousainou Darboe together with a significant number of his executive and non-executive members took to the streets two days after in a reactive protest to demand the release of Solo Sendeng, death or alive! This demonstration also ended as soon as it started and they were all rounded up and arrested by the police.

Anti-Government protesters. Source: jollofnews

For over three weeks now, the UDP leader and his party militants have been plying between the State Central Prison - Mile II, and the courts in Banjul prompting a large number of disgruntled UDP supporters and sympathisers to congregate in and around the courts during hearings, to demand the immediate and unconditional release of their party leader and supporters. Despite the public outcry though, the UDP leader and his party militants continue to languish in prison having been denied bail on numerous applications by state prosecutors.

It is fair to say that the authorities are treating this case rather too cautiously as the international community is closely monitoring the case. It also appeared that the security forces are now employing a rather common-sense approach to the matter. We have seen some very incriminating banners being displayed around town lately. People especially women are also openly voicing their grievances regardless of the presence of armed security officers. These are things no one would have imagined in The Gambia prior to the incidents of April 14th and 16th.

Trying times for the government indeed! The lengthy border closure does not go down well with most people and the continued incarceration of Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and his supports further fuels the general public's anger. A political maturity is therefore needed to defuse any potential crisis in the country. The government should try by all possible means to negotiate the permanent opening of the borders with Senegal, and to work out modalities for the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned UDP militants. Failure to do so could easily lead the Gambia to be next fail state in Africa. May Allah (SWT) forbid that!