President Yahya Jammeh has warned family members of diaspora activists who he said are supporting extra constitutional efforts to end his presidency with financial provision from Western powers, failing to mention any specific nation, to stop taking remittances from them or be detained without trace. He said that those who have family members in the west and are using money from them to campaign against him will be severely dealt with. He further said that they should stop taking money from them or they "will disappear with them for seven million years and no one can do anything about it.”
Coup attempts launched from the diaspora.
President Yahya Jammeh has faced strong opposition from Gambian dissidents mostly living in the United States and the United Kingdom.
But, after an August 2012 execution of nine death row inmates, opposition to President Jammeh’s rule became stronger and gained ground in Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Scandinavia.
Response to discontent.
Jammeh’s comment was seen as a response to his discontent in the sentencing of four Gambian-Americans who supported a military expedition to overthrow his regime. The December 2014 early morning raid saw three of the attackers’ dead after weapons including M-16 automatic and sniper rifles were shipped to The Gambia masked as used clothing. In The Gambia, the four, including a special force operations specialist and a former Air Force Sergeant would have been sentenced to death or, if lucky, have a life sentence.
TheGambian authorities are not happy with the couple of months jail term and the few hundred dollars fine they received from a Minnesota federal court. Six Gambian military officers accused of being complicit in the thwarted attempt are appealing their sentences in Banjul.
Use the ballot or be killed.
Mr. Jammeh said those seeking to see the end of his 21-year iron fist rule of one of Africa’s last known dictatorshipsmust use the ballot box as the country heads to the polls in December with Jammeh seeking a fifth term.
He threatened to execute anyone who attempts to oust him militarily. With Jammeh predicted to win in a landslide in the already violently marred votes, critics say all avenues for democratic change have been blocked, especially with the introduction of new electoral laws that do not favor free and fair elections.
Remittance higher that toursim income.
Remittances make up to 22 percent of the The Gambia’s GDP – higher than tourism. Gambians living abroad send millions of dollars back home to their families mostly for their basic needs – feeding, health care, and education. A good number of diaspora Gambians are against President Yahya Jammeh’s rule and holding back their remittances – which is likely not going to be the case due to the morals of having to take care of your family in the Gambian culture – will in heartbeat render the economy stagnant and the country insolvent.
