To use a metaphor, this ice cream called Gambia may just melt in our lifetime. Gambians should therefore take time and read the history of the former Yugoslavia. Now at the crossroads, we can decide to re-embark on a proper project called “New Gambia” or press the self-destruct button—the choice is ours.
President Barrow must be reminded that he is presiding over a minority government as less than 50 percent of the voters elected him (he won 45.5 percent, with Jammeh at 37.7 percent, and a third-party candidate, Mama Kandeh, at 17.8 percent). He also needs to remember all those who never voted for the coalition government.
Here is where the problem begins. The government has failed in its quest for national cohesion and, worse, there is no deliberate effort to build a cohesive country. All energy is directed towards building a hardened political support base.
Looking at his cabinet, diplomatic and other appointments, President Barrow evidently could not overcome the twisted, but key ideology, that drove the cocktail coalition to victory, as his political philosophy seems to be grounded in ethno-political chauvinism.
This political philosophy and ideology has been entrenched in Gambian politics since the country’s independence.
President Barrow is no different than his predecessors. He comes from the school of kunubaa where absolute tribalism, tokenism, and loyalty determine government appointments.
President Barrow’s predecessors also had many incompetent storytellers as cabinet ministers. President Barrow has already appointed someone with questionable academic credentials as a minister. Faces changes, while the governing style and situation remain the same.
Ethno-political chauvinism encourages one-track thinking and discourages critical discourse on issues affecting society. Everything is always all about our government, our president, our gods, we, and them.
This one-track thinking is replicated everywhere from regime-friendly folks on social media to self-appointed political analysts who are nothing more than the spin doctors of this ethno-political chauvinism.
President Yahya Jammeh kept a firm grip on dissenters during his leadership, from 1994 to 2017, as he viewed the intellectual community with suspicion and prosecuted them for being members of an imaginary and revolutionary political interest group.
The repression of dissent that is happening today is an exact replica of Gambia under President Jammeh and the tactics being used are from his political rule books that were written as survival kits for paranoid governments that react to every mosquito bite with a hammer.
This political chauvinism is involved in the delivery of justice and the enforcement of the law. In Jammeh’s administration, people who often prosecuted for political crimes where outside of this ethno-political group. Yahya was a bloody and ruthless leader who consumed the souls of his own followers and an equal number of others.
Freedom of conscience becomes dangerous and even more so if you are not a member of the presidential political cabal or a supporter of an ethno-political chauvinist group that refuses to abide by the twisted logic of the ideology.
Consider Dr. Ismaila Ceesay’s case. He is a UK-trained political scientist and a university lecturer, who is a marked man for simply engaging in intellectual debates. As a public intellectual, he writes and makes very hard-hitting commentaries on the Gambian politics to the chagrin of a government that wants us to believe that all is well despite stagnation and growing disillusionment resulting from hopelessness. Instead of the government engaging him intellectually, it uses its security forces to harass and intimidate him and deprive him of his entitled rights.
Many things in life seem mundane or of no significance. Unfortunately, many occurrences in life, good or bad, start equally as small or insignificant events. The government of President Barrow must now start afresh on a path that encourages national reconciliation, not by his rhetoric local media interviews, but by his real actions that earn the confidence of those who fought so hard to chase away dictatorship and restore democratic rule.
In a society where ethno-political chauvinism results in endless suspicion, the President and his political cabal ensure that drivers, aides-de-camp, cooks, and other aides are either close family members or members of their own ethnic community or politiqueras. Equally important, institutions like the Central Bank and the tax authority cannot be left in the hands of other countrymen known as the outsiders.
The first major task of any new government in the Gambia is usually to ethicize the ranks of the civil service by promoting, demoting, and firing recruits to achieve the most optimal ethnic saturation and politiqueras.
This ethno-political chauvinism most often emerges as sovereign nationalism and, if you happen to disagree, you become an enemy of the state, unpatriotic, or a thankless citizen who does not appreciate what government is doing. The core of an ethnic chauvinistic government is to make ethnic groups supporting the government think that they are somehow superior than the rest of the citizens.
To build ethno-political chauvinism, a leader must give people within his ethnic group something to hate. This could be another person, a group of people, a leader, a political party, or people who are descendants of a certain linage or clan. In this way, ethnic anger is galvanized and directed at the desired direction. This ethnic chauvinism finds its way into the delivery of justice and the enforcement of the law and order.
The arrest of Dr. Ismaila Ceesay has been dismissed by many as a farce as they see it as legally and constitutionally impotent. The act was no different from what existed under the previous dictatorships. I have seen many analysts dismissing the academic freedom and legal significance of Dr. Ceesay’s arrest. Most are stuck in the realm of a legitimate national security concern, especially people who are government supporters and insist that he should be prosecuted for inciting violence.
It is this belief in collective or political gains and a false sense of protection from government atrocities that encourages an increasing number of ordinary Gambians to make sacrifices against police brutality, celebrate the blatant shooting of fellow countrymen and children, close the NGOs, harass and intimidate the opposition, endure arbitrary arrests and prosecution, and suffer the clamping down on basic rights, including shutting down the press and broadcast media.
Every opponent is deemed an agent of darkness who is steeped deeply in the practice of witchcraft and devil worship. Prayers are not conducted by any member of the clergy as there is an elite group of political imams and mosques who do the bidding in furthering this ethno-political chauvinism.
There is no indication that Gambians will soon move away from this path. Probably another formation of ethno-political chauvinists will find their way into the state house and then the process starts over again. This time, it will be another group of Gambians crying foul against oppression from the government. Others will laugh and celebrate blood and oppression. If so, then we have normalized chauvinism.
Alagi Yorro Jallow, excellent article, but name me one country in this world, that is not suffering from these types of problem? The Gambia is definitely not the only one, but I’m not saying that it can’t be the first to cure it either, with the majority of the world being God fearing (at least 51%+) and guided by their holy books, how can this be possible? Showing so much hate for your brother!
And please don’t blame the devil, mankind love to use the devil as their get out of jail card too much.
The ideal sought in the message for social capital characterised by TRUST is to me very crucial. I also believe that at the bottom level, our people have lived , albeit not perfect, together in mutual respect for each other’s ways.
But where am not sure the author is heading is why Dr. Ceesay fits into tribal chauvinism? Is Dr. Ceesay at receiving end of persecution because he happens to come from another ethnic as tge captains of today’s Gambia?
Should New Gambia Follow in Senegal’s Footsteps or Nigeria’s?
It has been a year since President Barrow and the Coalition took the reins of government. The New Gambia is at a cross-road: For our leaders, follow in Senegal or Botswana’s footsteps and prosper–or follow in Nigeria or Zimbabwe’s footsteps, and be relegated to a state of decrepitude and irrelevance–on the World stage. It is your pick! Gambia’s leaders do not have to look far for a country to emulate. It is our neighbour: Senegal.
First, emulate Senegal’s system of strong government institutions. When Abdoulie Wadda reneged on “Term Limits”, the Courts upheld the Constitution. Anyone who follows Senegalese media knows that they are free to criticise the government. The only barriers between citizens and a demagogue or dictator are strong government institutions, and a “Free Press”. Can you imagine what America under Donald Trump would look like if there were no checks and balances on his powers? It would be as chaotic as any African or Third World country, under a Dictatorship. Remember, Trump’s party controls both legislative branches of government, but it is the Courts that curb his powers.
Second, strive to add value to our produce and raw materials. Senegal’s Industrial Zone near Dakar does a lot of “Value Added” processing. By that I mean, transforming crops from harvest, and raw materials into the finished goods. In the case of groundnuts, it is the processing of the harvested groundnuts into consumable goods like candy bars, biscuits, peanut butter, cooking oil, and a host of other products, requiring groundnuts as an ingredient. Fish caught by fishermen should be processed, packaged, and placed on supermarket shelves, for the consumers or exported. Cotton should be turned into yarn, and textiles, not export it to Europe, and then import as fabric or textiles. It is all about controlling the production line, from cultivation or extraction, to the consumable finished goods, and—ultimately–creating jobs.
A large percentage of The Gambia’s groundnuts is bought by Unilever in London, The Roasting Company in Lincolnshire, England, Nestle in Switzerland, Hershey in Pennsylvania, or to other Nut Processing companies around the world. The workers at these companies “add value” to the Gambian groundnuts and produce all sorts of end products or finished goods. These workers earn high wages and have a high standard of living. Meanwhile, a farmer in Jokadou Bakang or Karantaba, who toils under the sun for 6–8 months a year to cultivate the groundnuts, on a few acres, can barely feed his/her family. What a disparity? Subsistence Agriculture or small scale farming does not pull farmers out of poverty. Trust me–my parents were farmers! Agriculture should be mechanised (use of machines). Mechanised Agriculture or large scale farming requires less farmers, yet produces more output than Subsistence Agriculture or small scale farming. In 1900, over 75% of Americans worked in the farming sector. In 2000, less than 2% of Americans worked in the farming sector, yet their harvest was greater than the harvest in 1900. This exponential growth in crop yield, in a century, was due to new farming equipment, fertilizers, and cross pollination–thanks to the advances in the Sciences.
Those of you familiar with accounting or manufacturing know the 3 stages of production: Raw Materials, Work-in-Process, and Finished Goods. The Work-in-Process is the “value adding” stage of manufacturing, and it is where the most jobs are created. Economists don’t call the “Work-in-Process” stage of manufacturing the “Value Adding” stage–for nothing–because it is. This is the reasoning behind Britain and other European countries’ “Value Added Tax” (VAT) policies. Denmark processes imported milk into all sorts of dairy products; Switzerland turns imported cocoa into various confectionery, candy bars, and beverages. Their citizens have the highest standard of living, according to the United Nation’s Development Index. On the other hand, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which are richly endowed with natural resources and export them to be processed in European and American factories, have the lowest standard of living, according to the UN. Denmark and Switzerland cannot compete head-to-head against big Economy countries of France and Germany; instead, they find their comparative advantage niche or sectors and focus on them. In their case, Dairy and Cocoa products respectively. The bottom line is–when you export raw materials or produce to other countries for the “value added” stage of production, you are actually Exporting Jobs.
It would have been great if the markets for our crops and raw materials were not Europe or America. Nigeria should have been the destination of our produce and raw materials. However, Nigeria has been a huge disappointment for Africa, especially West Africa, where one in four is a Nigerian. Under ideal circumstances, Nigeria should be the economic engine of our region: providing markets for our produce and raw materials. Instead, she is mired in tribal conflicts, rampant corruption, and bad governance. Germany, Britain, and other northern industrialised countries of Western Europe provide markets for the farmers of Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Southern France. America provides markets for the farmers of South America. Japan provides markets for the farmers of the South East Asian nations. The trade between these countries mutually benefits them. That is partially what led to the advancement of these countries. It is obvious that Spanish vegetables will be cheaper in Germany than Gambian vegetables, all things being equal, because Spain is close in proximity to Germany, unlike Gambia, which is thousands of miles away.
Gambia being a small and resourceless nation does not destine us to be poor. Singapore, Malta, Luxemburg, Denmark, and Switzerland are prime examples of small, resourceless nations–but they are rich. To be endowed with natural resources does not equate to prosperity. Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Democratic Republic of Congo are endowed with natural resources–but they are poor. It comes down to good governance, zero tolerance for corruption or tribalism, and an educated workforce. Completion of High School is essential for a skilled workforce; therefore, attaining a High School Certificate should be one of the government’s top priorities. As a result, government should invest in education, because an educated workforce will be vital for operating the machinery in the factories. Government should aspire to reduce youth unemployment; it is critical for social and economic stability of the country.
The Gambia and African countries should position themselves to inherit some of the manufacturing that will inevitably exit China, as Chinese workers become more affluent and demand higher wages. As the cost of labour increases in China, the owners of capital will seek cheaper locations for manufacturing. That is how manufacturing moved from Britain, after the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, to Europe, America, and today, China. Forty years ago, the Chinese and South Korean landscapes were littered with rice fields; today they are the hub of manufacturing in the world. We can replicate what China and South Korea did, if we are determined. There are 3 stages of Economic Development of countries: Agrarian/Agriculture, Manufacturing, and the Services. The developed countries of Britain, Switzerland, France, and The United States are Service Economies. In Service economies, Banking, Insurance, Hotels, Restaurants, and Entertainment become the largest sectors of the economy.
The transition from an Agriculture/Extraction Economy to a Manufacturing Economy should be facilitated by the government. Government can guarantee low interest loans to Gambian entrepreneurs, through the African Development Bank, World Bank, Islamic Bank, IMF, or Direct Foreign Investments. Reduce taxes to attract Direct Foreign Investments. In this age of Globalisation, it does not matter who builds a factory in one’s country, be its citizens or foreigners. Where the jobs are located is more important. The local workers employed by a foreign company spend their wages in local shops and pay local taxes. Attracting Direct Foreign Investments is what China did to pull hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. While attracting Direct Foreign Investments to build factories, the government should protect the new startup companies from competing with the large multi-national companies, head-on, through tariffs and quotas. Once they are firmly established, government can lift those trade barriers. All the developed countries protect their young companies from foreign competition. It is similar to a mother protecting and nurturing her young, till they are strong enough to face the harsh realities of the world. When your citizens buy locally manufactured goods, they are reducing their country’s use of foreign currency reserves. Having a strong foreign currency reserve translates into a stronger currency and a favourable exchange rate.
Third, promote a local language that can be spoken by most of the population. Former President Senghore of Senegal, who was a poet, understood the importance of language and deliberately promoted Wollof, so that Senegalese, of all tribes, could understand one another. The Serrers in Sine, the Lebous in Dakar, the Fullahs in Mattam, the Mandinkas in Tamba Kunda, and the Jolas in Casamance have one thing in common: understanding basic Wollof. That does not mean that they give up their culture, language, or traditions. Commonality in language enhances understanding and national cohesion. Another route for a common local language is that of our English speaking neighbours of Sierra Leone and Liberia: Creole. All Sierra Leoneans and Liberians can speak Creole. If our leaders cannot agree on Mandinka, Wollof, or Creole being the local lingua franca, English is an excellent alternative. It is spoken in every part of the globe; it is the language of Commerce, International Diplomacy & Organisations, Air traffic Control, and the Internet. Another benefit we derive from our usage of English is Tourism, being the only English speaking country in our immediate neighbourhood.
Today, we see all Germans as one nationality or tribe, but the Bavari of Bavaria, the Saxons of Hanover, and the Allemanni of Baden Wurttemberg and Swabia were Germanic tribes, speaking different Germanic dialects. However, today, all Germans understand basic standard German. Another example is the tribal setup of Saudi Arabia. While most Saudis identify themselves as belonging to the Al Sudari tribe, there are the Al Sharma, Al Hashemi, and other smaller tribes. In fact, the Prophet Muhammed belonged to the Al Hashemi tribe and the Qurasey clan. These Saudi tribes have their dialects, but they understand basic standard Arabic.
Africa’s newest country, South Sudan, is embroiled in tribal warfare between the Dimka and Nuer tribes, after they jointly fought for independence from Sudan, rendering the country ungovernable. Robert Mugabe’s Shona tribe fought alongside Joshua Nkomo’s Ndebele tribe, for independence. After attaining independence, Mugabe selfishly turned his weapons against his wartime allies, Joshua Nkomo’s Ndebeles. After he subdued the Ndebeles, he waged another war against the white farmers, who were mechanised or large scale farmers. The white farmers’ confiscated lands he divided among his followers were not large enough for “Mechanised Agriculture” or large scale farming. Within a generation, Zimbabwe transitioned from being an exporter of food–to an importer of food.
We should emphasise our national identity rather than our tribal identities, just like Senegal. No single tribe has ever achieved greatness—ALONE! The great empires were comprised of multiple tribes and ethnicities. Be it Mali, Ghana, Rome, Egypt, or Mauryan (roughly modern India) empires!
Tumbul Trawally
Seattle, USA
206 225 9782