Critical - Objective Politics, Patriotic - Restricted Narrowly Confine Politics and Parasitic Non-State Political Serpents: What does the Future Hold for Gambia’s Political Landscape?
When one quickly analyze the political landscape of tiny minuscule Gambia since the July 22nd Military Coup of 1994, it could best be characterized as one comprising of Critical objective actors, patriotic- restricted narrowly confined actors, and Parasitic Non-State Political Serpents.
The critical objective political actors are those who are critical but maintain objectivity in their political engagements and activities. They are comprised of mostly students, academics, some former military officers and opposition politicians. A growing number of young Gambians could best be characterized under this group. Sometimes members of the group are seen as sympathizers to the ruling government based on their objectivity on related Gambian issues – that is giving credit as they paddle through the unknown political horizons. Others categorize them as those who compromised their integrity; an assertion that could reasonably be dispelled. This is so because it is important to understand that some of these people have deeply rooted political conflicts with the ruling government, but a track of their political activity would show a shift to one of objective political engagement: a strategic political move adopted for the purpose of containment.
This group is indeed a force to reckon with. Their exposure to the academic world brought to light several experiences, strategic lessons and conclusions. Members of this group are committed to the achievement of a progressive sustainable democratic process. They are moderate independent liberal think – tanks that are willing to go at length in engaging the dictatorship. It could be argued that great lessons must have been drawn from the experiences of Kenya and Zimbabwe, but how well they have mastered the art of doing so remain to be the very good question. Most of them are also determined to work with the actors restricted to the narrow confines of their political machinations.
The second group comprise of those restricted to the narrow confines of their political machinations. They are the hard liners who view the slightest objectivity in our political dispensation as somehow compromising. Members of the group also include former military men, civil-society activists, torture and persecuted victims, students and victims of crimes against humanity and some opposition politicians. For this group it is a deeply rooted contention that dealing with a callous government that is tainted with the blood of innocent citizens compromises universal values of human dignity.
Reflecting on the numerous rights abuses from 1994 – Summary executions of November 11th 1994, the shooting and burning to death of former Finance Minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay, the shooting deaths of April 10th and 11th 2001 student demonstrators, the shooting death of Journalist Deyda Hydara, the summary executions, tortures and disappearances of members of the security forces and ordinary citizens, and numerous other foul plays crafted by the brutality of the repressive regime – one could rightfully understand the reasoning of such a group. How far this group is ready to go at lengths is a good question that must never be under –estimated.
Members of this group are indeed true patriots committed to propel tiny miniscule Gambia to the fore of developments in the global political arena. They are patriotic Gambian Citizens committed to ending dictatorship, and paddling the nation on a path that has the rule of law and justice as the anchor of national development and transformations of modern times.
Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, and the late long time dictator of Zaire Mobuto Sese Seko, were sent packing by such committed patriots. How far this group is ready to go at lengths is the good question that must never be under –estimated. What is certain is that, the volatility of The Gambia’s political landscape is what has become troubling. Hopefully the Gambian authorities will end impunity and callousness, engage political opponents with honesty and mutual respect, and responsibly reconcile the nation with its past.
The third group is the Parasitic Non-State Political Serpents. They act neutral and have no stake whatsoever into Gambian politics. Group members pretend to be opposition sympathizers when in actuality; they are the deadly political serpents exploiting the ruling government for monetary and material gains whilst oppressing the opposition camp. Members of this group include Gambians and Non-Gambians alike, foreign criminal gangs, professionals of international organizations and students. Some members of this group hide under the banner of civil society organizations and their deadly political machinations are influenced by hunger for material, cash and their lack of respect for human dignity.
It must therefore be noted that with all the reported developments over the years, our political landscape remains to be in a serious state of volatility. Reports of death threats, disappearances, torture, and attacks on the media, weak institutions, nepotism and the Gambia’s relevance to the crisis in neighboring Casamance, Southern Senegal has raised national and international alarms.
Paradoxically, in view of the volatile political landscape, it could rightfully be argued that the Gambia may be slowly, but certainly creeping towards instability. And that is not what the sub-region needs. The African Union (AU), The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations (UN) must therefore aggressively and progressively call for reforms across the governance landscape of the Gambia. Reforms in the Constitution, Security and Armed Forces, the executive and legislative are what The Gambia badly needs.
A failure to call for reforms may lead to violent political instability that may spread to neighboring Senegal and Guinea-Bissau thus becoming West Africa’s Second major violent Regional Conflict.
*Only the sky may be the limit before the good books are called to account for national sojourns*
The author is an Independent Researcher, Analyst and Consultant. He also produces The Sword of Truth at http://www.sofawarrior.blog.com/ . he could be reached by email at bsm235@nyu.edu.
