afrol News, 26 July - Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh, was among the few African leaders that had missed the tense debate surrounding a unity government in Africa. At the height of the unity debate nothing has been heard from President Jammeh, but it is apparent that he can no longer chew his disgust about the initiative, regarding the blowers of the unity trumpet as jokers whose efforts are aimed at insulting Africa.

Jammeh holds the view that a unity government is a mere dream in the absence of total independence.

“How many countries in Africa are really independent - politically or economically? We cannot have a United States of Africa when people cannot move from one country to the other,” he told the ‘Gambia Radio and Television.‘

He blamed African leaders championing the cause for not correcting the ills of their anti-African integration policies instead.

He says Africa’s problem goes beyond creating a mere unity government. Rather, he argued, the continent needs to bring about unity that would solve the common problems that “constitute a real fix for every African.“ President cites poverty, disease and violence as the continent’s pressing issues.

Jammeh would not understand why Africa is calling for a unity government when some african countries still belong to the Arab League. He fears this might paralyse the functions of a unity government.

“Somebody wants to be an emperor for Africa but one thing is very clear The Gambia will not be colonized twice.”

He says the concept of real African unity must be based on the fact that one country’s problem becomes a common problem. Jammeh said the unity concept should be championed by people at grassroots.

African leaders failed to agree on the formation of a pan-African government, which according to experts, would defend the collective interest of Africa globally as well as shape a better living for all.

But President Jammeh has got alternatives to the unity government.

Hear him, “why don’t we put up our resources together to create a fund where we will be free from the IMF and the World Bank, so that we have an African Monetary Fund where all African countries can benefit.

“Our unity will only become meaningful if people know each other, relate and interact freely as Africans.”

President Jammeh’s government has been at the wrong side of the western powers who keep on questioning his country’s dwindling human rights, press freedom and political freedom. As a matter of fact, The Gambia decided to roll diplomatic ties with anti-western countries such as Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, among others.

Against this background, it has become part of Jammeh’s tradition to grind axe with the west any time he has got the platform to do so. No wonder he is at it again.

“Instead of putting an end to Africa’s wars,“ Jammeh alleged, “the G8 sees the golden opportunity in fuelling wars in Africa by saying that African leaders must judge each other.” He asked whether the same scenario is happening in the west.

Jammeh wonders why Africans and Asians are being killed on a daily basis, yet no investigations take place simply because they are not Europeans.

By Musa Saidykhan

© afrol News

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