What went wrong?
I had to dig out the
video where President Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat and actually called the
winner of the December 1st presidential election in the Gambia,
Adama Barrow to congratulate him.
Between the 1st
of December 2016 and January 2017, what happened.
Read the full
transcript of a phonecall between President Jammeh and Barrow before watching
the video.
Jammeh: “Hello your excellency President-Elect
Mr. Barrow. I am fine. I am calling you to wish you all the best. The Gambian
people have spoken and I have no reason to contest the will of the mighty
Allah.
I wish you all the
best, the country will be in your hands in January and you are assured of my
guidance on your transition and when selecting a government but you have to
work with me as I plan to go to Kanilai and hand over the State House to you.
You are the elected
president of the Gambia and I wish you all the best. I have no ill will and I
wish you all the best. (APPLAUSE)”
Barrow: “The Gambia is more important than any
one of us.”
Jammeh: “Thank you.”
Barrow: “And also we thank you for all the hard
work for 22 years.”
Jammeh: “Thank you.”
Barrow: “We will continue from where you
stopped.”
Jammeh: “Thank you.”
Barrow: “And inshallah (God willing) we will
seek any advice in any area we will always consult you.”
Jammeh: “Thank you though I will be a farmer in
Kanilai.”
Barrow: “I am here with my team.”
Jammeh: “Convey my
congratulations to all your team. This is transparent, this is the will of
Allah and as a Muslim I accept it in good faith. The Gambian people have chosen
you. After 22 years I am grateful to the almighty Allah for that.
And remember I came on
a Friday the 22nd of July and I lost on Friday the 2nd of December. It’s not
the 22nd but the 2nd of December. Allah is telling me that my time is up and I
hand over graciously, with gratitude to the Gambian people and gratitude to the
almighty Allah to you.”
Barrow: “Thank you very much. I think
(inaudible) in the Gambia.”
Jammeh: “Yes.”
Barrow: “I was born on a Friday.”
Jammeh: “What date?”
Barrow: “February 1965.”
Jammeh: “1965.”
Barrow: “1965 yes.”
Jammeh: “So you were born before independence?”
Barrow: “Yes.”
Jammeh: “So you are a few months older than me.
All the best. Well I think that is why they didn’t call you ‘Old Pa’ (LAUGHS) I
wish you all the best Mr. Barrow. Ok?”
Barrow: “Thank you.”
Jammeh: “And you have my full support let us
make sure you work towards peace and… “
Barrow: “Peace and stability, yes.”
Jammeh: “Because without peace and stability let
me make it clear you cannot achieve anything anywhere in Africa. I wish you all
the best.”
Barrow: “We are looking forward to having a
meeting with you.”
Jammeh: “Yes we will work on.”
Barrow: “That will give us the opportunity.”
Jammeh: “Yes we will
meet next week.”
Barrow: “Next week?”
Jammeh: “It depends on your calendar you are the
president elect now and I am the outgoing president so you give us time. From
Tuesday, any day I’ll be free.”
The full concession – address to Gambians and call to Adama
Barrow
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