The Gambia: UN Envoy Says Recent Elections Were Free But Democracy Needs Support
New York, Oct 6 2006 6:00PM
Although the recent presidential election in the Gambia was relatively free and fair, the tiny West African country
needs international support to help strengthen its democratic institutions, build up opposition political parties and
ensure its media are vigorous, well-trained and independent, the United Nations envoy for the polls said today.
The former Nigerian head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakr, appointed as the Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for the Gambia last month, told the UN News Centre that reports of widespread election manipulation were
either grossly over-exaggerated or unsubstantiated.
President Yahya Jammeh, who has been in power since 1994, was re-elected on 22 September after winning about two-thirds
of the vote, Gen. Abubakr said in an interview, which followed his briefing to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the
elections.
Some opposition presidential candidates have accused the Gambian Government of manipulation during the election
campaign, but Gen. Abubakr downplayed those reports and said any inappropriate actions were minor and did not affect the
ultimate result.
“There have been a lot of allegations or reports which were over-exaggerated,” he said, noting that independent election
observers considered the polling to be largely free and fair and without any foreign interference.
But Gen. Abubakr said voter education was poor and all political parties, especially those in opposition, need help with
capacity-building. He also stressed the importance of better training of the media, which he described as “ill-equipped
and ill-trained.”
The envoy called on the UN to increase its support of the Gambia’s democratic institutions and noted that the UN
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is examining programmes to boost media training in the
Gambia.
Ends