(Americans
had their September 11, we Gambians had our December 9 - 9/12/ 2016-20/1/
2017:)
The
period from the night of 9 December 2016 when ex-president Yahya Jammeh
attempted to reverse his December 1 polls loss to President Adama Barrow until
last Friday when he ‘relinquished’ power in the face of an ECOWAS military
intervention, is rightly Gambia’s 40 days of terror.
For
over a month, Gambians have lived their longest nights, darkest days, and
grimmest weeks. We saw our hopes for peaceful political change after 22 years
of one-man rule, dashed to smithreens. Trauma afflicted all of us. During these
40 days of terror, we have become Internally Dipslaced Persons, refugees (yes,
Gambians became refugees for 7 days) and exiles. We have been subjected to
untold psychological torture, economic deprivation, and moral atrophication.
The name of our dear country became associated with ‘election dispute’
‘political impasse’ ‘political deadlock’ and similar unsavoury adjectives. In a
swoop, celebration of democratic gain through a free and fair election had turned into a funereal cat and mouse game
where the little left of the dignity of critical state institutions was squandered as they tried to defend the
undefendable. Also squandered during the dark days of 9/12/16-20/1/17, was the
honour, professionalism and dignity of certain Gambians who should have risen
up to the occasion to defend justice and freedom and they did not.
The
whole 40 days of terror was manufactured and largely useless. Manufactured
because the volte face which led to the deadlock was uncalled for and only self
serving; useless, because it took the putschist back to square one:
relinquishing power peacefully (as was earlier promised) to the democratic
elected President Barrow. This is why the whole charade has the hue of an
elaborate scheme in vindictive collective punishment of Gambians irrepective of
political persuasion. Or was it the madcap antics of a deceiving despot to
cling to power?
Yet,
our 40 days of terror were also of hope.
Gambians suddenly became patriotic. People will tell you of the sleepless nights and the days of worry
and mental anguish they had since December 9, all because they care so much for
the fate of The Gambia.
The
universal national condemnation of the December 9 charade was also unique. From
the Bar Association to the Teachers’ Union to the Bankers Association,
University students and ordinary people, all sectors of Gambia rose up against
the attempted putsch on the December 1 Verdict. Gambians for once woke up from
their slumber, stopped being in denial and launched a sustained assault against
the attempted electoral hold up. This to me marked the start of Gambian Civil
Society, and I am confident this patriotic fervour generated since December 9
will not die. It will remain to help us be master and mistress of our own
destiny.
In
many ways, we are all victims of December 9. Yet, we are also all perpetrators.
Why? Because, we kept quite and played it safe and allowed our country to descend
into the abyss of one-man rule.
Never
Again! Never Again! Never Again!
Hassoum
Ceesay, a noted historian, author and curator, is the author of many books and
essays on aspects of Gambian history.
