On behalf of the Executive Committee and the Workers Union of The Gambia, we are hereby expressing our profound pain at the incident of Tuesday 30 December 2014 attack, and express solidarity with President Jammeh and his Government. The Gambia is a small developing country that cherishes peace and tranquility hence all forms of violence should be avoided, especially for assuming state power.
We should avoid violence because it does not only end with those who excite it. It affects others, particularly children and women who have nothing to do with it. Gambians should learn lessons from other countries which have suffered the consequences of violence and the plight of being refugees.
The State House attack runs contrary to the constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, the AU and international protocols for changing a government. We believe that the barrel of the gun and the bullet are not the substitute for the ballot box as the means of effecting change of government,” the statement said. In accordance with the constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, every citizen has the right to form a political party and contest for elections (to elect and to be elected) and we should all repose our confidence in the ballot box as the means of effecting change of government and not by violence. We sincerely condemn the attack.
Ebrima Garba Cham, Secretary General.
The need for African unity
Dear editor,
The recent move made by the President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Earnest Bai Koroma in showing solidarity with The Gambia on the December 30th terrorist attack on State House is indeed heart-warming. African leaders need to be there for each other in good times and times of challenge. The Gambia has always been there for the government and people of Sierra Leone in the moment of supreme challenge. The Gambia had contributed immensely to restoring peace in Sierra-Leone and in more recent times fighting against the Ebola crisis.
In his telephone conversation with President Jammeh, Koroma, according to media reports, also expressed his appreciation for the support given to his country in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus. Since March 2014, over 3,000 people have died from the relentless spread of the Ebola virus throughout the West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.
Before the Ebola outbreak intensified, these countries were making remarkable economic progress—particularly Sierra Leone and Liberia, which experienced rapid economic growth in recent years after overcoming decades of civil strife. In 2013, Sierra Leone and Liberia ranked second and sixth among the top 10 countries with the highest GDP growth in the world (albeit their base levels of GDP are very small to begin with). Guinea, while growing more slowly at 2.5 percent in 2013, had high expectations for growth resting on its Simandou iron ore project, on to which international investors Chinalco, Rio Tinto, and the International Finance Corporation have signed.
Finally, I wish to use this opportunity to call on African leaders to intensify efforts aimed at further integration and unity of Africa.
Buba Sowe,
Bullock, Western region
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