APRC protesters demand unconditional return of former President Jammeh from exile

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

Thousands of supporters ofthe opposition Alliance Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party on Thursday staged a protest at Sukuta Traffic Light, Kombo North district, West Coast Region demanding for the unconditional return of ex-President YahyaJammeh.

The party leader, FabakaryTombongJattawho read the petition on behalf of the party called on government and the international community such as Ecowas, African Union (AU) and United Nation (UN) to fully implement the joint declaration, particularly the unconditional return of the former President Jammeh.

Jatta told the crowd that the Ecowas mediation panel led by Nigerian President, Muhammed Buhari was the very team that ended the political standoff on ground to ensure Jammeh’s immunity.

“Concerted efforts by the international organizations such as Ecowas, AU and UNconvinced ex-President Jammeh to accept a negotiated exit from power to ensure peace,” he said.

He added that when the mediation ended Mr. Buhari produced a tangible joint declaration concerning peaceful transition of power, explaining that the declaration was a combination of the international community to convince Jammeh to leave.

On behalf of APRC, hecommended and knowledged the tremendous efforts of ex- President Jammeh’sbenevolence and great interest for the country.

The APRC interim leader went to the Ecowas, Au and UN offices to deliver their petition for the return of the former Gambian president.

Yankuba Colley, national mobiliserfor APRC said his party looks forward to seeing the urgent and unconditional return of former President to home.

For Colley, Jammeh’s return to the country cannot be a threat to national security.

“We believe in himand him alone and we are going to follow him to death,” he argued.

He noted that his party could havedrawn a bigger crown than it has but they were late to receive the permit.

He commended President Barrow’s administration for giving his party a permit to protest.

Doudou Jah, deputy party public relation officer (PRO) for APRC told journalists that his party had been engaging the Gambia government and the international community to make sure the joint declaration is implemented but that none of these bodies take them seriously.

“So, we believe it is time for us to call our party militants in large number to march in solidarity to remind them that they must implement the joint declaration,” he said.

Mr. Jah described the delay in the issuance of permit as foul play by government.

He intimated that the crowd could have gone beyond expectation but many failed to appear in the solidarity march because they thought if the party is not given permit the activity would be hostile.

According to him thesaid joint declaration includesan agreement for Jammeh to leave to make sure peace prevail in the country and come back any time he wishes to protect his properties and family members.

He said the declaration also guaranteed the protection of Jammeh’s political comrades and former government officials from harassment.

The former Gambian leader overthrew the country’s first president, Sir DawdaJawara in 1994 alleging him of corruption and other forms of injustice.

Two years later he formed a political party (APRC) and ruled the country for 22 years with an iron fish.

Since 1996 former PresidentYahyaJammeh’s governmentcould not be changed through the ballots until 2016 when he was defeated by the 2016 coalition led by the current President Adama Barrow.

After the pronouncement of the 2016 presidential elections result former President Jammeh conceded defeat but he later changed his mind, rejected the election result and requested for a return to the polls. This issue caused over a month political impasse.

The political impasse led the Economic Community of West African States (EWAS) interference and pressure Jammeh to exile at Equatorial Guinea.

APRC supporters came out in their large numbers demanding for the implementation of what they called ‘joint deceleration,’ especially for Jammeh’s unconditional return to The Gambia.