Thursday, June 9, 2016

U.S. Embassy in Banjul closed following unexpected withdrawal of police protection by Jammeh

U.S. Embassy , Banjul, The Gambia 
The American Embassy in Banjul is closed today, Thursday, June 9th to non-essential services as a result of the unexpected withdrawal of police protection by the regime of Yaya Jammeh.

As usual practice of the regime of Jammeh in anything it does, the withdrawal of police protection of the embassy came without notice or explanation thus contravening a basic diplomatic protocol by a host country that's obligated to provide the police protection service.  It is the Government of The Gambia's obligation under the Geneva Convention.

The dictatorship has come under heavy criticism in recent weeks following the violent use of force to crack down on the opposition parties protesting for electoral reforms and subsequently against the death in custody of a youth leader of the United Democratic Party who was arrested for leading the initial demonstrations.

The Jammeh regime's has become increasingly isolated internationally because of its poor human rights record and high level of corruption which led to the suspension of development aid by the European Union, the single biggest donor of such aid to The Gambia.

The latest behavior of the idiosyncratic leader of one of Africa's most brutal, corrupt and incompetent regime is one more proof that the Obama Administration of playing softy with Jammeh is not bearing the desired effect of getting the regime to respect international conventions and protocols expected of all respectable members of the Community of Nations.

Jammeh has proven, once again, the erratic nature of his personality that makes him the unreliable development and security partner he has proven to be over the years.