Gambia fears tensions ahead of 5 December presidential election
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Gambiana
Ahead of Gambia's 5 December presidential election, Gambiana accuses Adama Barrow's government of using a local government commission's report against his opponents. It says publishing a white paper before nominations open could worsen political tensions and undermine the election.
A month before Gambia's 5 December presidential election, the newspaper Gambiana says that the government's publication of a white paper on a local inquiry commission risks increasing political tensions. The document was made public shortly after the Independent Electoral Commission published the timetable for the nomination of candidates and three days before the opening of nominations, according to the newspaper.
Gambiana says the commission's report could be used against opponents of President Adama Barrow, notably Talib Ahmed Bensouda, mayor of the Kanifing municipality. The newspaper recalls that the inquiry commission examined the management of local councils and believes the white paper's contents could seek to prevent Bensouda from standing in the presidential election.
The analysis comes after Bensouda's coalition promised to resist his exclusion from the presidential election and as twenty-five hopefuls were preparing for the presidential election, according to reports published on 2 November. The campaign is also taking place as the UDP called for Barrow to be denied a third term on the same day.
