The president of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh has always been controversial. Since he came into power in 1994 he has instituted a number of questionable actions. For instance, in 2007 he claimed to have found a cure for HIV, asthma and hypertension. In 2008, he threatened to execute homosexuals in his country. True to form, Mr. Jammeh has marked 2009 with a truly audacious act: the kidnapping of close to 1000 villagers.
Witchcraft is West Africa
Animistic beliefs are still common in much of West Africa with many people synchronising these beliefs with the dominant faiths of Islam and Christianity. In the Gambia this form of religious syncrenism is not exceptional.
Johan van Slooten of the Radio Netherlands Worldwide,”Up to a 1,000 kidnapped in Gambian 'witch hunt'’, interviewed Dutch anthropologist Professor Dr Van Beek on African belief systems. Professor Van Beek explained that: "Witchcraft normally occurs when there are severe problems in society, and obviously in African society, problems are rampant. People put the blame for these problems on ‘witches', as it's so easy to have someone to blame. It's an easy way out".
As with nearly all countries with poor infrastructure and innumerable socioeconomic challenges it is not surprising that such belief in witchcraft would have such strength. However, what is surprising is this belief being acted upon by the State.
The 2009 Witch Hunts in the Gambia
On the 19 March 2009 Xan Rice of the Guardian, “Gambian state kidnaps 1,000 villagers in mass purge of 'witchcraft'”, reported that approximately 1000 people were kidnapped by so-called "witch hunters" and taken to government detention centres and forced to imbibe hallucinogens. This purge was apparently sanctioned by President Jammeh, following the death of his aunt. It is reported that he believed his aunt was killed by witches. The initial accusations of a purge were made by Amnesty International and have not yet received official comment from the Gambian government.
Professor Van Beek argues that in the Gambia, witchcraft is:" very much present in politics and other power systems ".
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs integrated news service reported on March 18 2009, “GAMBIA: ‘Witch hunt’ shows worsening human rights“, that Amnesty International regards the random kidnappings and beatings of citizens in the Gambia as a sign of deteriorating human rights. These kidnappings have been taking place since early February by witch hunters from Guinea, the President’s personal protection guards, the police and the army. These actions have caused a number of Gambians to flee to neighbouring Senegal with many fearing the spread of these hunts to more villages. Interestingly, kidnapping story was exposed by opposition leader Halifa Sallah in a local newspaper. Sallah was subsequently arrested on the 15th March and charged with spying and sedition.
The Future of the Gambia
It is clear that the situation in the Gambia is not as simple as one individual’s beliefs. The Jammeh regime has been shown to be harsh and repressive. Rather than be swept under the carpet, it is critical that other African governments, under the auspices of the African Union (AU) or Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), need to take Jammeh to task on his human rights abuses lest it lead to yet another war that the continent can ill afford.
