- As Gambians Welcome Adama Barrow
It was a global celebration over the weekend as a new era was ushered in in the United States of America and the tiny African country of Gambia, both of which witnessed a dramatic change of government.
While billionaire businessman, Donald Trump, was inaugurated as the 45th President of the US in an historic ceremony in Washington, DC, 51-year-old Adama Barrow, in a dramatic twist, took the oath of office in nearby Senegal following the refusal of outgoing President, Yahaya Jammeh, to vacate office as Gambian President after over two decades in the saddle despite losing at the polls.t was a global celebration over the weekend as a new era was ushered in in the United States of America and the tiny African country of Gambia, both of which witnessed a dramatic change of government.
With today being the first working day after Trump’s inauguration, expectations are high over his promises to hit the ground running on his very first day of work, especially his resolve to reunite America and make it great again.
Among questions being asked is: How does he hope to unite the country despite the divisive tendencies as well as plans to revoke most of his Predecessor’s programmes like the Obamacare?
But his pledge to make the US military great again and give more jobs to Americans which he has reiterated is receiving wild applause from conservative Americans while a lot of people are yet cautious on how he would achieve these without a backlash from the Democrats and still make whole world save. In a passionate appeal during the earlier inauguration ceremonies, he had recalled that all Americans had gotten tired over what was happening in their country and wanted a change promising that he would provide that change which would affect everything in a very special way.
Trump’s focus is to work hard to turn things around, get the jobs back for Americans, strengthen the American Military, strengthen the borders as well as many things that he said had not been done in the country in decades — signal of a radical departure from other Presidencies.
Above all, majority of commentators and analysts are yet cautious on the nature of the change being promised by President Trump, especially the fear of stirring up another global confrontation, a development that would be clearer in the days and months ahead.
Besides, there are hard feelings — and fear in America which sees Trump’s win as unfair and unjust — given Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by almost 3 million votes; Russia’s alleged meddling in the election intended to boost Trump’s chances, as well as the unprecedented way Trump presented himself during the campaign. To him, it seemed, no one was beyond reproach or the basest insult.
Thus, it was a big surprise of the century when despite all speculations, Trump was declared the winner over his Democratic Challenger and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
In Gambia, it’s a different ball game altogether, though a dangerous kind of scenario too. In spite of the intervention of a joint West African Force, Yayah Jammeh declined to step down despite the resignation of majority of members of his cabinet, the Vice President and the declaration of the Gambian Military to back the new President.
Following protests against him, Jammeh’s wife and family members were said to have fled the country before the West African Force entered Banjul, the capital city.
As at Thursday afternoon when the African Force entered the country giving a 24-hour ultimatum to Jammeh to vacate office with the expiration of his term, Jammeh was still holding to straws by rushing to the Supreme Court to stall his removal in spite of declaring a 90-day state of emergency in the tiny country — all in efforts to play for time.
Barrow, while taking oath in nearby Senegal had asked the Gambian Army to be loyal to his new government.
Celebrations had erupted in the Gambian capital, which has been on edge over the crisis in the former British colony in West Africa. Dressed in white, 51-year-old Barrow waved to crowds at the ceremony, seeking to end the 22-year rule of Jammeh, who has not been seen but is believed to be still holed up in Banjul.
“This is a victory of the Gambian nation. Our flag will now fly high among those of the most democratic nations of the world,” he said.
Barrow, a real-estate agent-turned-politician, flew to Senegal on January 15 after weeks of rising tension over Jammeh’s intransigence.
Shortly after the inauguration, the UN Security Council unanimously backed efforts by the regional bloc, ECOWAS, to force Jammeh to hand over power, without formally authorising military action.
“I command the chief of defence staff and officers of high command to demonstrate their loyalty to me as commander in chief without any delay,” Barrow said at his inauguration, adding: “I command all members of the armed forces to remain in their barracks, those found wanting or in possession of firearms without my order will be considered rebels.”
Barrow, an opposition coalition candidate, defeated Jammeh, who had ruled the former British colony since taking power in a coup in 1994, in a surprise election win on December 1 which Jammeh himself first acknowledged his loss before reneging.
But Barrow supporters on Thursday evening took to the streets of Banjul, where soldiers were seen but did not intervene.
“For the last 22 years we were living under a state of dictatorship,” Corra Kah said in a suburb of Banjul as he watched the inauguration. “Now we are free”.
In the off-the-cuff remarks, army chief, Ousman Badjie, insisted his soldiers would not get involved in a “political dispute” or prevent foreign forces from entering the West African nation.
