Opposition leader promises return of Gambia to ICC

By Alieu Manneh

BANJUL, Gambia

The leader of a seven-party strong opposition coalition has promised that Gambia would rejoin the International Criminal Court and British Commonwealth if his side wins the upcoming elections in the country.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Adama Barrow, who is facing the country’s President Yahya Jammeh in the polls, said: “We will ensure that we respect all international agreements we are a signatory to and we will take the country back to the Commonwealth and the International Criminal Court.

“The ICC and Commonwealth and other international institutions are advocating for good governance – if you are doing that why should you fear.”

In 2013, Gambia left the Commonwealth, a 54-nation organization made up largely of former British colonies, saying it would "never be a member of any neo-colonial institution".

Also, in October this year, the country of 1.9 million inhabitants became the third state after South Africa and Burundi to quit the International Criminal Court, denouncing the war crimes court as an “International Caucasian Court for the prosecution and humiliation of the people of color, especially Africans.”

Omar Jallow, a former minister under Gambia’s first president and also a part of the opposition coalition, told Anadolu Agency the “attitude, enthusiasm, the lack of fear in the people to speak their minds and the commitment has demonstrated that Gambians are tired of APRC government”.

Gambians head to the polls on Dec. 1, while political campaigns in the country would end on Tuesday.

Jammeh has ruled Gambia for 22 years and he has vowed on national television about a month ago that he would neither lose in an election nor would he be dethroned by an armed incursion.

Barrow called the president’s claims a “bluff”.

The opposition leader also promised his government would release all political prisoners, review media laws and reduce the powers of the presidency.