Coalition for Change – The Gambia Distances itself from Gambia Gov’ts Position on Cote D’Ivoire

Press Release Refccg18/4/11

The Coalition for Change – The Gambia (CCG) wishes to dissociate itself from the statements and position of the Gambia Government on events in Cote d’Ivoire.

The most recent inconsequential state televised statement of President Jammeh calling for fresh elections and refusing to recognize President Alassane Ouattara in defiance of the international community, despite findings by virtually all independent observers and monitors that Laurent Gbagbo lost the November election, underscores the pariah character of the Gambian regime. 

The amateurish manner in which the statement touched on an array of issues – Lumumba, Sankara, Compaore, imperialism, etc. – is a shame to many Gambians.

The world may not be aware, but the Gambian people know that anytime President Jammeh senses the hotspot, he starts throwing mud hoping it will stick.  From his pronouncements relating to AIDS, homosexuals, human rights defenders, the Iran arms scandal, the Libya crisis and Gaddafi, the Holy Qur’an burning, to the Cote d’Ivoire, Jammeh has always had something to hide or deflect. 

 The most recent rant also raises serious concerns on President Jammeh’s reaction if he were to lose the November 2011 presidential elections.  Will he, like Gbagbo defy all logic and reason, despite all evidence to the contrary and cling on to power by any means necessary?

President Jammeh’s latest remarks further strengthen the resolve of the CCG and progressive Gambians to ensure that 17 years of repressive rule must come to an end now.

The CCG is therefore calling on Gambians, the people of Cote d’Ivoire, West African Citizens, and the international community to disregard the Jammeh administration’s rants on Cote d’Ivoire.  The statement does not in any way reflect the position of the Gambian people vis-à-vis developments in that country.  The people of The Gambia support the position of ECOWAS, the International Community and recognize the democratically elected government of President Alasanne Ouattara.

The CCG takes this opportunity to congratulate Presidentt Ouattara, the Government and people of Cote D’Ivoire. 

The group also renews its call to all freedom and peace-loving organizations and individuals to support us in the campaign to end despotism and dictatorship in The Gambia.

SIGNED:

CCG EXECUTIVE

April 18, 2011

CONTACTS:

NDey Tapha Sosseh, Secretary-General / Spokesperson SGCoalitonForChangeGambia@gmail.com

CoalitonForChangeGambia@gmail.com, TheGambiaVoice@gmail.com, ccgtg411@gmail.com

TWITTER: @ChangeGambia, @KomboMansa, @TheGambiaVoice

Facebook group: Coalition for Change – The Gambia

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[i] Coalition for Change Gambia has as its members, journalists, lawyers, doctors, businessmen/women and civil society groups in and outside The Gambia concerned about the deteriorating state of affairs in The Gambia. Further information and details, including requests for membership can be accessed and processed through the Secretary General.

[ii] Interested media organisations should contact the Secretary General for more information.  Audio material is also available and can be accessed upon request.

Gambia News :Gambia's dictator spurns Ouattara as Ivory Coast president

Expatica  -The Gambian government said Saturday it would not recognise Alassane Ouattara as president of Ivory Coast following the ousting of his rival Laurent Gbagbo with the help of UN and French forces.

"The Gambia government would not recognise any president, including president Ouattara, or government in Africa that has been imposed by forces outside the African continent for whatever reason," a statement said.

"We know what those governments and presidents stand for in Africa as they loot African resources on behalf of the powers that brought them to power", the statement from the office of President Yahya Jammeh added.

The statement, which was also carried by state broadcaster GRTS, called for "an impartial and comprehensive investigation into all the atrocities carried out in Ivory Coast by a team of honest and decent Allah-fearing people."

"Alassane Ouattara and his forces cannot go scot-free and blame everything on President Laurent Gbagbo, who according to the Ivorian constitution is the legitimate president of Ivory Coast", it said.

Forces loyal to both sides have been accused of massacres in recent weeks as Ouattara, recognised as president by the United Nations and the African Union following a disputed vote in November, fought to take power.

"As far as we are concerned, the only solution to avert a long drawn-out civil war with all its attendance consequences in Ivory Coast is to reorganise presidential elections in the shortest possible time," the Gambian government said.

"In the meantime, an interim government of national unity should be formed without Alassane Ouattara as he also has a lot to answer for," it said.

"One thing that is very clear to all Africans today is that the plot to re-colonise Africa is very real and we most stand up to it."

Banjul called on the UN to ensure the safety, protection, and well being of Gbagbo, "the constitutionally legal president of Ivory Coast", and set him free.

"He cannot be tried while Alassane Ouattara, the internationally selected president of Ivory Coast, goes scot free after massacring thousands of civilians just to be president", the statement said.

Events in Ivory Coast "have vindicated us in our earlier assertion that Western neocolonialist-sponsored agents in Africa that owe allegiance only to themselves and their Western masters are ready to walk on thousands of dead bodies for the Presidency," it charged.

Gbagbo has friends in Africa.

By Barry Malone

ADDIS ABABA .South Africa, Togo and Angola are possible safe havens for Ivory Coast's besieged Laurent Gbagbo should he negotiate an exit from his West African country, African Union sources said Wednesday.

Mauritania and Gambia were also being touted as forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo's rival, Alassane Ouattara, launched what was billed as a final assault on the presidential compound in Abidjan, where Mr. Gbagbo was hunkered down.

"South Africa has offered several times before and Togo is now indicating to us that it could be willing to take him in," a senior AU official in the Ethiopian capital said of Mr. Gbagbo's asylum choices.

"Togo is not a great option, though, as there will obviously be fears that he could cause problems and spoil peace from there -it's so close to Ivory Coast. I'm betting strongly on South Africa," added the official, who declined to be named.

Two other diplomats in Addis Ababa also said they had heard South Africa and Togo had made asylum offers, while reports circulating at AU headquarters suggested Angola as another possibility.

"Angola has always been pro-Gbagbo," said one Western diplomat.

"I think there's a good likelihood of Angola taking him in if there's a settlement. You only have to look at their history."

The United Nations said in March it was investigating suspected arms transfers to Ivory Coast in breach of an embargo, including a cargo delivery from Angola.

There were also regular reports in 2002 that Angola supplied arms including armoured vehicles to Ivory Coast when rebels tried to oust Mr. Gbagbo from the presidency.

Angola has denied that mercenaries from the country have fought for Mr. Gbagbo.

AU diplomats said Uganda was an outside bet to shelter the Ivorian strongman. This year, Yoweri Museveni, its long-serving President, attacked the United Nations for recognizing Mr. Ouattara as the election winner.

Mr. Museveni, who won his own disputed presidential poll in February and faced possible opposition protests, said there should be an investigation into the Ivory Coast poll.

Meanwhile, forces loyal to Mr. Ouattara launched a heavy and sustained attack on the bunker where Mr. Gbagbo was defying efforts to force him to surrender and leave the country. By lunchtime, the troops were inside the compound.

The former colonial power, France has taken a lead role in talks to persuade Mr. Gbagbo to hand over power to his rival Mr. Ouattara and end a four-month standoff over a November election that UNcertified results say Mr. Ouattara won.

Alain Juppé, the French Foreign Minister, who was involved in the mediation between the warring groups, said Mr. Gbagbo had "no future" and it was "absurd" for him to hang on.

"The negotiations that were carried out for hours yesterday between the entourage of Laurent Gbagbo and Ivorian authorities have failed because of Gbagbo's intransigence," he told parliament in Paris.

Mr. Gbagbo refused to sign a UN document acknowledging Mr. Ouattara had won the election.

"I do not recognize the victory of Ouattara. Why would you want me to sign this?" he told France's LCI news channel. "We are not at the negotiating stage. And my departure from where? To go where? For peace to return to Ivory Coast, I and Ouattara, the two of us, have to talk."

Mr. Gbagbo's spokesman said the assault on his residence, where he was thought to be accompanied by his wife Simone and some of his seven children and stepchildren, was an attempt by France to "assassinate" him.

But a spokesman for proOuattara forces said Mr. Gbagbo would be handed over to Mr. Ouattara.

"We are going to his residence to fetch him and put an end to this comedy. This charade must end because the country is collapsing," he said.

Source: National Post