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In a shock move, an African dictator who said he would rule for a '"billion years" steps down after an election defeat. May he serve as an example to other dictators who hold elections.

Joy, disbelief greet President Jammeh's defeat in Gambia vote
Posted 03 Dec 2016

BANJUL: Gambians reacted with joy and stunned disbelief on Saturday to the defeat of President Yahya Jammeh, one day after he conceded that he lost an election set to end his 22 years in power.

Jammeh's government is accused of crushing dissent and torturing opponents and he had said he would rule for a "billion years". As a result, few believed he would allow himself to lose Thursday's vote against opposition candidate Adama Barrow.

But in an address on state-owned radio on Friday evening, Jammeh accepted results announced by the electoral commission showing his defeat in a move that stunned observers across the continent and sparked wild celebration in the capital Banjul...

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asi ... 39850.html

How could this happen? Did he do something to upset Russia?

Acting like a 'proper' dictator, the president-dictator of the Gambia has changed his mind about ceding power and called out the troops. He has now decided that the elections were not free and transparent. This is a common problem in dictatorships.

The Gambia: troops deployed to streets as president rejects election defeat
Yahya Jammeh had conceded result to Adama Barrow but now claims ‘fresh and transparent elections’ are needed

Troops have been deployed to the streets of Banjul, the capital of the Gambia, after the autocratic president, Yahya Jammeh, unexpectedly rejected his defeat in an election last week and called for a fresh vote.

Jammeh had initially accepted the result, ceding power after 22 years, to a coalition led by the opposition leader, Adama Barrow. But few observers expected Jammeh to give up control of the small west African country.

The election result – and Jammeh’s acceptance of defeat – was widely seen as a moment of democratic hope on the continent and prompted widespread celebration in the Gambia and elsewhere.

But in an announcement on state TV on Friday, Jammeh said he had changed his mind and wanted “fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a god-fearing and independent electoral commission”...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... ion-defeat

". . a god-fearing . . . "

Does that mean Jammeh is god?

Username Taken wrote:". . a god-fearing . . . "

Does that mean Jammeh is god?

Like a lot of dictators, he seems confused about who is the higher power ... easily done when you are dictator for life for 22 years or even longer.

Big disappointment for the Gambians though. Just one week of celebrating the end of the dictatorship before the dream ends.

Possible blueprint for a Cambodian scenario following the 2018 elections ? Time will tell.

Thomas Cook to fly almost 1,000 Britons out of the Gambia
The travel agent is cancelling all flights to Gambia until 20 January, thanks to ‘potential military intervention’

Thomas Cook is to fly almost 1,000 UK customers out of the Gambia, following a change in Foreign Office advice due to unrest in the country.
The west African nation has become a political battleground following presidential elections last month, with incumbent leader Yahya Jammeh unwilling to hand over power to the winner in the polls, Adama Barrow.

In response, the UK Foreign Office (FCO) are now advising against all but essential travel to the Gambia, citing the “deteriorating political situation and potential military intervention following the presidential elections on 1 December”.

In the latest of a series of attempts to retain power, a 90-day state of emergency was declared by Jammeh on Tuesday, two days before he is due to leave office...

The FCO have advised tourists: “The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul International Airport being closed at short notice.
“You should follow events closely, take extra care, keep in regular contact with your tour operator and airline and continue to monitor travel advice and social media updates in case tensions rise as the current political deadlock continues.”
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... the-gambia

This sounds familiar on a local level. Hmmm. Refusing to step down, military intervention. Damn I can not put my finger on it. What era was that? Early 90's perhaps. So sad how the memory lapses.

agreed. maybe it would have been different if the UN supervised the elections, or not.

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2016 12:06 pm How could this happen? Did he do something to upset Russia?

Dumb and dumberer.

frank lee bent wrote: ↑Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:41 am agreed. maybe it would have been different if the UN supervised the elections, or not.

He said god-fearing, not Saudi-sycophantic.