THE GAMBIA: JAMMEH FORMALLY DECLARED WINNER IN

UNCLAS BANJUL 000589 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KMCA KDEM GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: JAMMEH FORMALLY DECLARED WINNER IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REF: BANJUL 588 FINAL RESULTS -------------- 1.(U) Subsequent to reftel report on September 22 presidential election, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) formally proclaimed incumbent President Yahya Jammeh the winner. According to the IEC's final results, of 392,685 votes, Jammeh received 264,404 votes, 67 percent of the total, followed by his principal opposition rival, Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party, with 104,808 votes (27 percent),with the third candidate, Halifa Sallah of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD), finishing third with 23,473 votes (6 percent). The IEC reported a nationwide turnout rate of 59 percent. Neither Darboe nor Sallah has as yet publicly conceded defeat. REACTIONS OF AFRICAN DIGNATARIES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Following a September 24 call on President Jammeh, the head of the Commonwealth observer delegation, former Tanzanian Prime Minister and OAU Secretary General Salim Ahmed Salim announced that the election outcome "certainly represented the will of the people," while adding that he was aware of "events" leading up to election day that could have had an impact on the results. Former Nigerian President Babangida also met with Jammeh and, in press remarks, similarly portrayed his victory as legitimate, while highlighting the "peaceful and orderly conditions" in which the polling occurred. At a September 24 meeting hosted by the IEC for observers, a Commonwealth representative noted that "there were shortcomings" in the electoral process leading up to voting day -- in particular, the slanted playing field in favor of Jammeh and his APRC party -- but that nonetheless his victory was "valid." COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) As previously reported (ref a),The Gambia's 2006 presidential election was by no means perfect; at this point, though, we are not in a position to challenge Commonwealth assertions about the election outcome representing "the will of the people." For one thing, the opposition's fragmentation, in our view, asssured Jammeh of victory -- although the margin of victory was doubtless inflated by such irregularities as the APRC-orchestrated participation of some unqualified persons in the voting. We hope to obtain early reactions from the opposition as well as further views from other observers. END COMMENT CONTINGENCY PRESS GUIDANCE -------------- ¶4. (U) Following are points for contingency press guidance: -- Gambian President Yahya Jammeh was re-elected in the country's September 22 election; -- There were no reports of violence during the polling, which, based on reports from U.S. Embassy officials and other observers, was orderly and peaceful; -- There were reports of some irregularities in the run-up to and during the election -- for example, there appeared to be cases of under-age persons voting -- but the extent of such irregularities and their impact on the final election result is unknown at this point. END CONTINGENCY PRESS GUIDANCE. STAFFORD