Jammeh denies role in destabilizing Gambia
Former President Yahya Jammeh has released another audio statement, denying any role in destabilizing The Gambia and accusing the administration of misleading the international partners, and mismanaging the country’s oil resources.
In the recording, Jammeh distanced himself from any opposition group, saying he will not support violence.
I’m a responsible person,” Jammeh said. “There’s no way I will use somebody to destabilize The Gambia because I’ve seen countries, African countries that were… brother feature, and all of a sudden, really they are at war with each other. With all the resources, natural resource they have, their people are destitutes, and outsiders are benefiting from their own natural resource, their wealth. Would I do that? I will not do it for anything.”
Jammeh recalled events around January 2017, saying he made clear he would not order bloodshed.
“When I took over, the more powerful force was in the country, and I decided that I am not going to change… Then I made it very clear on that Thursday that tomorrow is 22nd and it’s going to happen. If you are ready to die, just tell your mom goodbye… That person is not born yet and will never be born. That come and drag me to do something. It was all lies.”
He added a religious reference to being lied against: “When they lie against me, you take my sins. Don’t you know that? Go to Sahib Buhari. They had it. When they lie against somebody, you take his sins or her sins.”
Accusations against Barrow and claims about Russia
Jammeh said someone sent him an audio of Adama Barrow speaking about him.
“I had him saying that Jammeh is always going to Moscow, and I think even I, I think I heard him say, ‘Is the Russians that are going to bring Jammeh to the Gambia?’ Where did he get this?… Why would the Russians bring me back to the Gambia? If that is what Allah said, okay.”
The former president accused the current government of misusing assets seized after 2017.
“You stole my properties… Have you started looting everything and selling it for your own personal interest? If you are taking it and giving it to the Gambians, I’ll be very happy. That’s my sadakat to the Gambians. But they decided to steal it and give it to our enemies and to your family.”
Jammeh also questioned an oil agreement signed under the coalition government, without naming the company.
“Who signed the deal? That was during the coalition government. So-called overshoot party. Do you love the country? Why did they sign for the oil? The deal mean that Gambia is losing, that’s our future…
He also accused security forces of “Using military drones to shoot people who go out to fetch firewood,” adding, “you’re going too far. You’re going too far.”
Jammeh has been living in exile in Equatorial Guinea since January 2017 following ECOWAS intervention after he initially refused to cede power to President Barrow. The Barrow administration set up the TRRC and a Commission of Inquiry into Jammeh’s assets. Several of those assets have since been auctioned or transferred to state management.
Source: The Point
