ECOWAS, AU Launch National Peace Campaign and Dialogue in The Gambia

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the African Union, through its African Governance Architecture (AGA), have launched the National Peace Campaign and Dialogue on Democratic Reforms and Youth Participation in the Political Processes in The Gambia.

The Campaign aims to create an open and collaborative space for the youth to be part of the political processes as well as ongoing reforms and peace processes in The Gambia. It is also part of preventive diplomacy activities in support of a peaceful presidential and legislative elections scheduled for 4th December 2021 and 2022 respectively in that country.

The campaign is focusing among others on strategic issues meant to rally Increased awareness of the youth on the ongoing reforms, enhancing the understanding of the role of the youth in the democratic governance processes as well as the establishment of networking avenues for the youth, national and regional stakeholders and the institutionalisation of the concept of ambassadors for peace among the Gambian youth in order to rally for a more inclusive, democratic and credible electoral process.

At the launch, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said: “In the past, the Youth have been used as tools and being manipulated by conflict entrepreneurs to achieve their selfish goals. Today,it is gratifying to note that the youth are now engaged in decision-making processes that affect their lives. Remember that your destiny lies in your hands. So make good use of the opportunity. As ECOWAS, we share the conviction that now is the time to invest in the people, particularly the youth which is the peoples-centred investment for development, so that they can become agents of political and social stability.”

His statement which as delivered by the ECOWAS Resident Representative Mrs. Vabah Gayflor, lauded the initiative as one that is in consonance with the priorities of the country’s National Development Plan, the AU Agenda 2063, and the ECOWAS Vision 2050.

The Acting Head of the AGA-APSA Secretariat, Ambassador Salah Hammad, spoke in similar vein maintaining that: “The Gambia goes through Elections this year, this particular call for national dialogue and launch of a peace campaign is ideal. This dialogue and campaign will bring this youthful nation to embrace its differences, become one and support this important national exercise as a testament of the growing democratic space.”

He emphasised the need for an increased investment on youth and their meaningful engagement as leaders for peace and partners for change.

The campaign and dialogue is an outcome of the multi-stakeholder assessment mission that was led by AGA and held in partnership with ECOWAS, Democracy Elections Assistance Unit (DEAU) and African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), in August 2019. The mission’s findings elaborated on the commendable efforts the government was doing but also identified glaring gaps including the need to be addressed to support the meaningful engagement of the youth in electoral and political processes.

These findings paved the way for strategic engagement and support which was enumerated on the Joint Action of AGA –ECOWAS, DEAU with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The action plan was meant to also identify resources, experiences and capacity that can potentially address impediments for youth to exercise their full potential.

The Gambia Should Set An Example For Rest Of Africa in Elections Management

One of the things to consider now, as The Gambia comes face-to-face with the presidential election, is the words of Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas who had touched the appropriate chords when he cautioned the Gambian politicians and said he wants The Gambia to set an example for the rest of Africa. To let the world know that there is truly a new Gambia in which democracy, rule of law and the peaceful conduct of elections is the order of the day.

In his words of advice, this can only be achieved if hate speeches that can foment trouble and trigger violence are shunned.

As the political parties heighten their campaign activities, the tendency for some of them to pass unguarded utterances, some of them hate in nature, is becoming noticeable.

Some media practitioners especially broadcasters as observed by many Gambians appear to relish the hate speeches uttered by some politicians as they urge them on with their irresponsible ‘more fire’ push.

There are consequences to such irresponsible speeches which have the tendency to foment trouble and trigger violence.

Why would a radio station presenter decide not to stop a politician from continuing to pass remarks which can only inflame passions in a highly polarised country? And why will any print media allow some hate speeches to slip into its headline. It is unfathomable why politicians who make such remarks and the radio presenters or a writer who air or published them fail to understand the consequences of such behaviour.

At a time when the country is close to holding an election in which the stakes are high, we can only condemn such tendencies.

It is the responsibility of those manning such consoles to be on top of their assignments by denying perpetrators of hate speeches the oxygen to disseminate their toxic language.

Language, when not managed properly, can throw a country into avoidable turmoil as some countries have witnessed already. While it is easy to trigger violence; it is difficult to stop it.

As the December 4 date draws near, the desperation of some politicians who have access to a number of radio stations pushes them to make comments some of which should not be countenanced in any civilised society.

In countries that have learned their lessons from such irresponsible language, nobody wants to venture near such intemperate outbursts.

We have never endured the consequences of ethnocentric strife occasioned by hate speeches and pray never to do so now or in the future. The import of the admonition of Dr. Chambas can hardly be appreciated by naive journalists who take more delight in muddying the waters than promoting peace and stability of the country.

Although the role of the media in democracies cannot be marginalised, the irresponsible conduct of some practitioners alongside bad politicians who think like them is a cause for concern.

It is our hope that the many admonitions from various interest groups will make a positive impact on the upcoming elections.  

An Editorial Piece from The Voice, Gambia 

#GuineaElections: Opposition leader contests results in court

Cellou Dalein Diallo the main Guinea opposition leader has lodged an appeal at the constitutional court to challenge overturn the results of last month's presidential election.

His lawyer said there was irrefutable evidence of electoral irregularities.

Provisional results say the 82-year old incumbent, Alpha Condé, won the poll. He is now heading for a third term in office.

Dozens of people have been killed in political violence since Mr Condé decided to run again.

President Mnangagwa queries Foreign Observer Mission in Africa Elections

During a state dinner hosted by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa  for visiting Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, Mnangagwa said Malawi was a country that had held “harmonized presidential elections without foreign observers.” Elections were held without the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community and civil society organizations observing, “but they were successful, peaceful elections conducted by Malawi on its own,” he said.

He further emphasized that Southern African countries should consider holding their general elections without the presence of international observers

“This makes us think whether it’s still necessary in future for SADC countries to look for supervision from across oceans,” Mnangagwa said.

Chakwera, who was elected president in June, is on a two-day visit to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is due to hold general elections in 2023. 

Source: Bloomberg

#NigeriaElections2019 Leading Female Presidential Candidate Withdraws Race

Nigeria’s leading female presidential candidate has withdrawn from the crowded field of candidates to help build a viable coalition to take on the country’s two main parties.

Oby Ezekwesili announced she was dropping out as a candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria in a series of tweets Thursday. The former government minister and former president of the World Bank said the need for an alternative to President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party is “an urgent mission for and on behalf of the citizenry.”

Ezekwesili was one of 73 candidates running for the February 16 elections, but many believe the race is between President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, the leader of the PDP. The PDP governed Nigeria from 1999, the year civilian rule was restored, and Buhari’s victory in 2015.

The 55-year-old Ezekwesili led the “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign that raised awareness of the 270 girls who were kidnapped from their school in the northwest town of Chibok in 2014 by the Boko Haram militant group. She is also a co-founder of the anti-corruption group Transparency International.