Utterly Civilized. A Short Fat Man with a Rolex, Derbies, A Stick.  A string of beads and A white Yarmulka.

Gambia’s erratic and delusional dictator Yahya Jammeh said that if the British—Gambia’s former colony, want to learn about true democracy, they should come to the Gambia and take lessons from him arguing that “Western democracy is satanic” and stupid. 

In what could be described as Jammeh’s most critical speech against Britain, and its Western allies since coming to power, the former military ruler charged that the five hundred years of British exploitation and misrule against the impoverished West African country, has brought nothing for the Gambia and her people besides “the stupid English language and their stupid satanic democracy.” Mr. Jammeh was addressing his party supporters at Buffer zone Talinding, marking the end of his dialogue with the people tour, where he tried to lecture democracy to the British.

“For ninety nine years, you have never voted for the illegal (British) government that was here. Five hundred years of British exploitation and misrule in The Gambia has not left us with nothing, but with the stupid English language. Do you know that even the airport was built by Lufthansa of Germany, and we were never a German colony? And during the Second World War despite the fact that the British were fighting with the Germans, they were paying to the German government royalty for using The Gambia airport. Do you know that?” Jammeh asked the excited APRC chanting crowd.

For Yahya Jammeh, the Kanilai man, who claimed to have found the cure for HIV, the virus which scientists say causes aids; it is foolhardy for anyone to buy Western theory of democracy. Mr. Jammeh contends that Western democracy is alien to Africa and cannot bring national development. He argues that one must be very stupid and naïve to buy Western concept of democracy.

“But I will come back to the question of democracy: Does democracy bring development? That is a bloody lie. Why? Why did the Europeans occupy Africa for 400 years, looting our resources, in addition, they took Africa into slavery, when the Greeks were practicing democracy? Why didn't they practice democracy and starve in their little country? This is even an insult to lecture to Africans about democracy because we have never colonized anybody,” Jammeh said.

“Is like this: You go to the mosque one day and you see a notorious thief standing in the Imam's place and telling the Imam not to be a thief. Is that not an insult? If the West wants democracy, we will teach them what democracy is... Let them come to The Gambia. Our democracy is: Freedom to worship the almighty Allah in your own way; putting the country's interest first and ensuring that your rights doesn't encroach into the rights of others. You are free as long as your freedom doesn't threaten the freedoms of others.”

In a rather blunt and charged speech characterized by anti Western bashing, Jammeh credited the Greeks as the pioneers of democracy. Jammeh argues that the Greeks never exported democracy to third world countries unlike the British, whom he accused of invasion and looting Africa’s natural resources.

“In fact democracy means don't interfere in somebody's internal matters. At least, the inventors of democracy, the Greeks never exported it to any country. So why would be the former locusts that have invaded and shocked the blood of Africa for 400 years? We had to take up arms to kick them out. Now they want to come back in the name of professors of democracy... Let them go to hell with their democracy!,” Jammeh posited.

“The so called democracy that they are talking about is nothing but a smoked screen: To blindfold you; hoodwinked you; so that their companies can have licenses to exploit your minerals because it is all about blackmail. I don't give a damn. You can blackmail me, but I am not afraid of anything. This country will be run the way I like it. If you don't like it, go leak the sky. I am saying it.... Whoever the cap fits let him wear it and go to hell!.”

Mr. Jammeh also took a swipe at the European Union, who recently tabled an Article 8, 17 Points good governance improvement program for the Gambia government. Jammeh told his supporters that he is not going to accept any foreign aid with conditions attached. He said the EU and their partners can go to hell with their chicken change and aid money.

“In terms of democracy and human rights, I am nobody's student. I will rule this country according to the wishes and aspirations of Gambians, according to our religion and nothing else. If you want to assist me without conditions, there is no problem. But if we have assistance with conditions, and you looted this country, you better go to hell with your assistance. We are not going to accept it,” Jammeh brags.

Mr. Jammeh also complained about Western domination and the injustices suffered by Africans especially pre- and post slavery and colonialism. He said the West can compensate the Jews for the holocaust and yet millions of Africans, who died as a result of slavery and colonialism, have not been compensated.

“Why did they compensate the Jews for the holocaust and millions of Africans would die because of slavery and colonialism? Up to today, we are not compensated. Gambians are no fools. We are going defend our country to the last one,” Jammeh said.

On Gambia’s legal system, Jammeh said let the West minds its business. He warns that people who have problem with Gambia’s legal system should stay in their “stinking” countries. Jammeh maintains that the Gambia is a sovereign nation and its laws would be applied to the letter.

“For anybody who has a problem with our legal system: The best solution is this.... Stay in your stinking country, and then you have nothing to do with the laws of The Gambia. But if you come to The Gambia, wherever you come from, you will abide by the laws of The Gambia, or you will be dealt with according to the laws of The Gambia. I am not afraid of nobody,” Jammeh said.

“Any penalty that is imposed by the laws of this country would be carried out to the letter, whether the sky explodes, or the ocean freezes, I don't give a damn. The laws of this country must be respected because peace and stability is occasioned because the laws are respected. And we are not going to compromise our peace and stability for chicken change, or Western aid. Let them go to hell!”


The Gambian leader went on to accuse the British of stealing money from Gambian visa applicants. He said visa application fees are exorbitant and each time an applicant is rejected, he or she is never refunded with his money. He said the British Home Office has moved the Visa section to Ghana, which is complicating the problem of UK visa applications for Gambians.

“400 years... Are you Gambians stupid or what? From visa free visits to the UK, now you pay almost D6, 000 dalasi for a visa application and when the application is rejected; you are never refunded. What type of democracy is that? That is stealing. It is a daylight robbery. What did they do? In order to minimize Gambians go to UK, they took the visa office to Ghana and then they talk to you about democracy. Listen to them.... You will find me here on the ground,” Jammeh said.

“I am very happy that The Gambia of today is different from The Gambia of yesterday. Today, Gambians are more pious Muslims than they were under Jawara,” Jammeh added.

Jammeh shifted his discourse to the Iraqi war. He accuses the West of imposing “satanic democracy” in Iraq. He said the Iraqis were doing well under Saddam Hussein’s leadership, until the West brought in their satanic democracy in Iraqi thereby destroying the Golf nation.

“Iraq was a stable country, under the so called dictator Saddam Hussein. At least, Iraqi children were going to school safely; women going to the market. There was no sectarian strife until they brought their satanic democracy and today Iraqis are killing each other,” Jammeh alleged.

“Syria was the breadbasket of the entire Middle East. When I want organic vegetable seeds, I buy them from Syria because Syria supplies Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and other countries... Look at what they did to Syria in the name of democracy.... They have destroyed Syria, and even the refugees… they cannot even feed them. Look at.... Is that what we want for The Gambia? Hell no! It will not happen in a million years. They can come and find me here,” he added.

Jammeh told his supporters that with, or without Western aid he is going to develop the Gambia. He said development goes with national security and he is not going to compromise on security.

“And let me conclude by telling you this: I am not going to compromise on security and the enforcement of the laws of this country. To close it: KMC, Banjul, and West Coast region, I want to thank you for the welcome that you gave me yesterday,” He said.

“But let me make it very clear: By next year, every..... I told you every six months, but by next year, I will tell you every two months there will be changes in this country; whether the West likes it or not. This country will develop. It will develop because we will be independent as dignified Muslims and Christians. Thanks you.”

Editors note: An audio version of Yahya Jammeh’s speech will be broadcast on Freedom Radio shortly. Thanks for your attention.