Gambian Political Impasse - Fwa

We are always moving from one self inflected political turmoil in Africa to another.
Why are we like that? Is it something that is in our genes that we can't even manage power that is not much complicated, not to talk of development that requires research, invention, extreme hard work, discipline and monumental sacrifice?

Today we have been inundated with alleged assassination of the president elect of Gambia Adama Barrow. Thank God the man had refuted the story on his tweeter. Now let us address the germane issue that has attracted the world's attention in this tiny west African country.

Gambia is boiling because the defeated candidate in the presidential election election the incumbent president Yahya Jammeh is adamant that he will not hand over despite entreaties from ECOWAS and the international community.

It should be pointed out here that it will be illegal for ECOWAS or any other force in the world to invade Gambia and enforce Barrow's mandate. Morally it could be right, but legally is wrong. The United Nations and international law forbids any country to violate the territorial integrity of an independent nation by invading it. Although it had happened in the past ie America invading Iraq in search of phantom weapons of mass destruction, the invasion of Pakistan by America to capture Osman Bin laden etc, nevertheless, it is wrong in the face of international law.

Consequently, the options opened are:

1. The Gambian electorates should rise up through civil disobedience and resist Yahya Jammeh by refusing to go to work and paralyzing all economic activities.
2. ECOWAS, AU, other international bodies and all countries should isolate Gambia economically, politically, militarily and socially. Economic and other sanctions could Compel Jammeh to hand over.

Anything beyond these could be morally right, but legally wrong .

By: Fenny J Fwa