Photo: Former President Jammeh

Jammeh Succeeded In Dislodging Jawara Due To Fractions Divisions- Says Prof Saine

By Ousman A. Marong

Professor Abdoulie Saine of Miami University has on Monday 20 January 2020 told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) that former President Jammeh succeeded in dislodging Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara due to political fractions, and ethnic divisions within the Gambia National Army (GNA).

“The GNA was a fractured institution with numerous challenges thus exacerbated with political and ethnic division,” he said.

According to him, the army in those days does not subscribe to the civilian belief because they (army) thought theirs was best.    

The 69-year-old said order, disorder, greed and competition from the army with their civilian counterparts visa-visa the politicians were also contributing factor towards the successful overthrowing of Sir Dawda.

He made the deliberation at Dunes Hotel in Kololi, testifying before the commission on the 11 sessions of the public hearing.

On Military Institutions

He said former President Jammeh's view on issues was also seen as a believer in which he (Yahya Jammeh) referred to as witch-craft.

“Jammeh and his cohorts were hosts with religious leaders, interest individuals who were preserved and in the end, the winner takes no cost. We were living in a “dog eat dog wall” system of governance,” he asserted.

Sectorial and Environment Factors

He said the creation of ''ghetto's'' with different “Terri-Kaafo’s” within the officers-co also contributed to the unseating of former President Jammeh.

He revealed that former President Jammeh succeeded in becoming a dictator by restoring the death penalty.

He said Jammeh succeeded more in self-perpetuating himself by banning some political parties.

On Professional Association (the Bar)

“The press was muzzled to the core with arson attacks on some media houses seeing thus seen to be critical of the regime,” he remarked.

He said the culture of silence was the order of the day.

He alleged that Jammeh was using machinery’s judges to rule in his favor.

He said Jammeh was also using luminaries to help him craft the constitution.