Gambian President Adama Barrow faces backlash over dictatorial comments
Gambian President Adama Barrow is facing severe backlash from across the political spectrum after making incendiary remarks during the launch of a new bureau for his ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in Brikama, Banjul.
President Barrow implied that 75-year-old lawyer and opposition figure Ousainou Darboe would need to be deceased before he would consider relinquishing power, local news outlet, Fatu Network reports.
"I will take an oath today that I will remain as president until Ousainou Darboe dies. Until such time that he is dead, I will remain president. That is the contract I have signed. When his death is announced, and I attend his funeral, then I will be fulfilled as president, and I can step aside," Barrow declared.
The remarks have been widely condemned as irresponsible, dangerous, and constituting hate speech. Critics argue that such statements are a direct threat to Darboe’s life and well-being.
Essa Faal, the former lead counsel of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and a candidate in the 2021 presidential election, was among the first to denounce Barrow’s comments.
In a statement released on Sunday, Faal said: "Such language has no place in our political discourse, and I stand with fellow Gambians in condemning this troubling statement. While political differences are natural, they must not lead to vile remarks, especially from a head of state. Leaders must uphold civility, respect, and decency, especially during times of political tension and economic challenges."
The Gambia For All (GFA) party has also condemned the president’s speech describing it as undemocratic and unacceptable.
“It is not the first time that President Adama Barrow has shocked the nation with his usual unrefined, undemocratic, and plainly unacceptable hate speeches, given on the spur-of-the-moment, at random political rallies throughout the country,” the party said in a statement.”
Adding that, “the latest outrage from the President was in Brikama, where he was heard wishing for the death and actual burial of UDP opposition leader Ousainou Darboe. This has really gone far beyond the pale of acceptable political discourse. For a democratically elected leader of a country, to say that he will not relinquish power unless he sees the main opposition party leader “dead and buried” is indeed a big threat to national security.”
Barrow has been president of Gambia since 2017 having defeated Yahaya Jammeh in the 2016 presidential elections.
