THE GAMBIA: PRESIDENT'S YEAR-END INTERVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANJUL 000011

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PASS DAO, ODC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2016
TAGS: PREL ECON ENRG PGOV PHUM PINS KMCA GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: PRESIDENT'S YEAR-END INTERVIEW

REF: A. 05 BANJUL 858

B. 05 BANJUL 749

C. BANJUL 4

D. 05 BANJUL 767

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Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH D. STAFFORD FOR REASON 1.4 (B/D)

SUMMARY
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1. (C) In a year-end television interview, President Jammeh,
in a vintage, shoot-from-the-hip performance, spoke of
general economic improvement in 2005, while characterizing
the dismal state of public utilities as among the country's
"dramatic failures." He was optimistic about prospects for
development of The Gambia's oil deposits, whose actual
magnitude is unknown. On the 2006 presidential election,
Jammeh expressed confidence that his record of achievement
would ensure his re-election and was dismissive of the
opposition. He criticized the "international community"
including, inter alia, the U.S., for alleged failure to
intervene in Senegalese/Gambian crisis in August/October.


2. (C) Jammeh indicated his readiness to deal firmly with
anyone threatening The Gambia's security and stability,
asserting "if I have to kill 20,000 persons so that the
country's 1.5 million persons survive, I will do so." He
warned that those engaging in any violent protest activities
would "not see the world again." (Comment: we do not/not see
the preceding statements as portending executions, but regard
them as latest examples of worrisome rhetoric calling into
question the extent of Jammeh's commitment to democratic
norms. End comment.) On other topics, Jammeh criticized other
unnamed African leaders for grandstanding in their regional
mediation efforts (possible reference to Nigerian President
Obasanjo),gave assurances that his anti-corruption effort
will continue, and called on Gambians to demonstrate greater
patriotism. END SUMMARY.

A YEAR OF "DRAMATIC SUCCESSESS AND DRAMATIC FAILURES"
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3. (SBU) In his year-end interview with the national
television service (GRTS),President Jammeh turned in a
vintage, shoot-from-hip performance. At the outset of his
often-rambling remarks, he described 2005 as a year of
"dramatic successes and dramatic failures" for his government
and country. Jammeh went on to characterize general
improvement of the Gambian economy as a major success story,
while making clear that the country's woefully inadequate
public utilities sector was among the "dramatic failures."
He warned officials of the national utilities company, NAWEC,
responsible for supplying water and electricity, that their
performance had to improve. Alluding to frequent water and
power outages in the capital, he called for the resignation
of any (opposition) "politicians" at NAWEC who sought to
cause hardship to the public in an effort to damage the GOTG
leadership's image with an eye to the Presidential and
National Assembly elections scheduled for 2006-7.

OIL SECTOR
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4. (SBU) Jammeh was optimistic about prospects for
development of The Gambia's oil reserves, giving assurances
that they were sufficient for commercial exploitation.
(Comment: In fact, we gather that uncertainty persists among
U.S. and other foreign firms as to whether the country's oil
deposits are sufficent to make extraction commercially
viable. End comment.) He indicated confidence that, in
addition to the Canadian firm, Buried Hill Energy Company,
that recently signed a preliminary agreement with the GOTG
for exploratory drilling (ref a),other companies would step
forward to conclude such agreements. He took the occasion
to criticize other unnamed African governments at length for
allegedly shortchanging their own citizens by being overly
generous in granting oil production concessions to foreign
firms. Jammeh pledged to ensure that the Gambian people
themselves benefitted first and foremost from oil revenues.

2006 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
--------------


5. (SBU) Asked about his strategy for seeking re-election in
2006, Jammeh boasted that his record of achievement during
his eleven years at the country's helm would be sufficient to
ensure victory. He remarked, "after all I have done for The
Gambia, there should be no need for me to campaign, as the
people are aware and grateful." He was dismissive of the

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opposition parties, characterizing them as making "no
contribution" to the country's development. He described the
three opposition politicians in the National Assembly as
doing nothing but "howling and collecting their salaries"
(i.e. stipends as parliamentarians).

TIES WITH SENEGAL
--------------


6. (SBU) The interviewer complimented Jammeh on his October
21 trip to Dakar to resolve the August/October crisis with
Senegal over transport and border issues, but asked why it
had taken so long to find a solution (c.f. ref b for
background on the crisis). Jammeh responded that he had
waited for the "international community" (he cited the U.S.,
UN, AU, EU) to help resolve the crisis, but in the end
decided to mount his own initiative (reference to his Dakar
trip) when it allegedly failed to act. (Comment: Jammeh
ignored the various international, including U.S.,and
regional efforts to promote a solution. End comment.) He
repeated previous allegations that the crisis was due to
misinformation provided to Senegalese authorities by
unspecified Gambian opposition elements intent on
destabilizing the Gambian/Senegalese relationship as part of
a power bid.

NATIONAL SECURITY
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7. (SBU) Asked about national security, Jammeh made clear
that it was his uppermost concern, remarking that "in the
absence of security, The Gambia's development is not
possible." He promised to deal firmly with anyone who
threatened the country's stability and security and indicated
his readiness to sacrifice the few to save the many with his
statement, "if I have to kill 20,000 persons so that the
country's 1.5 million persons survive, I will do so." In an
apparent reference to mass rallies planned by the opposition
coalition, NADD (ref c),Jammeh warned that those engaging in
any violent protest activities would "not see the world
again" and noted, in this regard, deaths resulting from
violent student protests in 2000.

FOREIGN POLICY
--------------


8. (SBU) The interviewer spoke of mediation efforts by Jammeh
in previous years, citing Guinea Bissau, and asked about his
plans for new initiatives. Jammeh, who claimed credit for
ending the conflict in Sierra Leone, responded, that he would
continue to pursue mediation efforts in "low-profile"
fashion," but gave no indication of specific endeavors
underway. He contrasted his "low-profile" style with that
of "some regional leaders, who act like clowns and seek
publicity and titles." (Comment: Jammeh may have been
referring to Nigerian President Obasanjo, in particular,
given the former's past negative comments about him. End
comment.)

ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN, DISMISSALS OF OFFICIALS
-------------- --------------


9. (SBU) Jammeh gave assurances that his anti-corruption
effort, the "No Compromise" campaign, would continue "as
long as I am President." He also indicated that his frequent
dismissals of GOTG officials would continue, saying "heads
will roll in 2006" because of poor implementation of
road-building and other public works projects.

A FINAL WORD TO GAMBIANS
--------------


10. (SBU) The interview ended with Jammeh appealing to the
citizenry to enter the new year with a "drastically changed
attitude," calling upon Gambians to demonstrate greater
"honesty and patriotism" so as to promote individual and
collective well being and development.

COMMENT
--------------


11. (C) Jammeh's remarks contained familiar ingredients,
e.g.,focus on national security and stability, derisive
commentary on the opposition, boasting of supposed personal
diplomatic and other achievements, criticism of unnamed
African leaders, and swipes at the international community
for alleged indifference toward African crises (in this case,
the Senegalese/Gambian crisis). His lecturing of the
citizenry on the need for greater patriotism was also

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familiar. His interview has so far attracted little
publicity in the media and elsewhere, although the opposition
and several private journals have criticized his statement
about "readiness to kill 20,000 persons." At this point, we
do not view this statement -- or that about violent
protestors "not seeing the next day" as portending
executions, but rather as the kind of clumsy and worrisome
rhetoric that we have seen before (e.g. his November 3
statement that the "opposition" would not "be around for the
next elections" -- see ref d). Such rhetoric calls into
question the extent of his commitment to democratic norms --
and to free and fair elections in 2006-7. END COMMENT.
STAFFORD