Gambia: UN adviser condemns President鈥檚 reported threats against ethnic group
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard
Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng briefs the press. UN Photo/Amanda Voisard
10 June 2016 鈥� The United Nations Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide has condemned the inflammatory speech by the President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia at a political rally this past week, in which he reportedly threatened to eliminate the Mandinka ethnic group.
In a听note to correspondents, Adama Dieng, the UN Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, said that on 3 June in Tallinding, President Jammeh allegedly referred to the Mandinka as 鈥渆nemies, foreigners鈥� and threatened to kill them one by one and place them 鈥渨here even a fly cannot see them.鈥�
鈥淚 am profoundly alarmed by President Jammeh鈥檚 public stigmatization, dehumanization and threats against the Mandinka,鈥� the Special Adviser said.
鈥淧ublic statements of this nature by a national leader are irresponsible and extremely dangerous. They can contribute to dividing populations, feed suspicion and serve to incite violence against communities, based solely on their identity,鈥� he added.
Mr. Dieng said he was particularly appalled by President Jammeh鈥檚 鈥渧itriolic rhetoric,鈥� as history has shown that hate speech that constitutes incitement to violence can be both a warning sign and a powerful trigger for atrocity crimes.
鈥淲e have seen, in Rwanda, Bosnia 鈥� and more recently in the Middle East 鈥� how incitement to violence has led to mass killings along identity lines,鈥� the Special Adviser said, reminding President Jammeh that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence is prohibited under international human rights law as well as under national legislation.
Mr. Dieng also noted that States have the primary responsibility to protect their populations. In 2005, all Heads of State and Government acknowledged the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as well as their incitement.
鈥淚 urge the President of the Gambia to fulfil this responsibility,鈥� said the Special Adviser, 鈥渁nd ensure that the rights of all populations of the Gambia are respected, irrespective of ethnicity or political affiliation.鈥�
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