Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANJUL589
2006-09-25 08:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:  

THE GAMBIA: JAMMEH FORMALLY DECLARED WINNER IN

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KMCA KDEM GA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8635
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHJL #0589 2680854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 250854Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6987
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
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
--------------
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