Yahya Jammeh
392406
213783532
2008-05-20T20:31:16Z
201.6.64.98
added notes on homosexual genocide law
{{Infobox_President
|name = Yahya Jammeh
|image = Gambia President Yahya Jammeh.jpg
|order = [[Heads of State of The Gambia|President of the Gambia]]
|vicepresident = [[Isatou Njie Saidy]]
|term_start = [[22 July]] [[1994]]
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Dawda Jawara]]
|successor =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|05|25|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Kanilai]], [[Gambia]]
|death_date =
|death_place =
|spouse = Zineb Jammeh
|children = Mariama and Muhammed
|party = [[Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction|APRC]]
|religion =
}}
'''Yahya (Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung) Jammeh''' (born [[May 25]], [[1965]]) is the [[Heads of State of The Gambia|President]] of [[The Gambia]]. As chairman of the [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council]], he took control of the country in a bloodless<ref>[http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1019672596778 Country Profiles Foreign & Commonwealth Office<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[military coup]] in July 1994, and was elected as President two years later, in September 1996.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5459.htm Background Note: The Gambia], U.S. Department of State, [[March 2006]].</ref>
==Re-elections==
He founded the [[Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction]] as his political party. Jammeh was re-elected on [[October 18]], [[2001]] with about 53% of the vote; this election was generally deemed free and fair by observers, despite some shortcomings.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/af/8377.htm Country Report on Human Rights Practices for The Gambia], U.S. Department of State, [[March 4]] [[2002]].</ref>
Jammeh ran for a third term in the [[Gambian presidential election, 2006|presidential election]] held on [[September 22]], [[2006]]; the election was initially planned for October but was moved forward because of the Muslim holy month of [[Ramadan]]. He was re-elected with 67.3% of the vote and was declared the winner of the election; opposition candidate [[Ousainou Darboe]] finished second, as in 2001.<ref name ="winner">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5369040.stm "Gambian president is re-elected"], BBC News, [[September 23]] [[2006]].</ref> Darboe rejected the results, saying that the election was not free and fair and that there was widespread intimidation.<ref name="Fraud"/> Jammeh was sworn in for his third term on [[December 15]].<ref>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=iol1166190357538G512 "Gambia's Jammeh takes oath for new term"], AFP (''IOL''), December 15, 2006.</ref>
==Attempted coup==
A coup attempt against Jammeh was reported to have been thwarted on [[March 21]], [[2006]]; Jammeh, who was in [[Mauritania]] at the time, quickly returned home. Army chief of staff Ndure Cham, the alleged leader of the plot,<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=52380&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GAMBIA "Attempted coup averted, government says"], IRIN, [[March 22]] [[2006]].</ref> reportedly fled to neighboring [[Senegal]], while other alleged conspirators were arrested<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4852190.stm "Arrests over Gambia 'coup plot'"], BBC News, [[March 28]] [[2006]].</ref> and were put on trial for treason.<ref>[http://www.afrol.com/articles/21796 "Suspected Gambian coupists before court martial"], Afrol News, October 6, 2006.</ref> In [[April 2007]], ten former officers accused of involvement were convicted and given prison sentences; four of them were sentenced to life in prison.<ref>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070419213835762C477763 "Gambia jails army coup plotters"], Reuters (''IOL''), April 20, 2007.</ref>
==Foreign relations==
{{main|Foreign relations of the Gambia}}
Jammeh traveled to the United States to meet with [[Prince George's County, Maryland]] County Executive Jack Johnson in May 2004. While in the [[Washington, DC]] metro area, he delivered the commencement address to the [[St. Mary's College of Maryland]] graduating class of 2004. The address highlighted his commitment to education since taking power in The Gambia.
In early December 2006, Jammeh made a three-day visit to [[Iran]], where he met with Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] and Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]]; Ahmadinejad said that Iran would provide aid to assist in the development of The Gambia, and he and Jammeh spoke of deepening ties between the two countries.<ref>[http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0612049028134442.htm "Pressure has no impact on Iran-Gambia ties: Ahmadinejad"], Islamic Republic News Agency, December 4, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8509130371 "Gambia Calls for Expansion of Ties with Iran"], Fars News Agency, December 4, 2006.</ref>
In December 2007 he travelled to Taiwan with the objective of developing trade relations between the two countries.
==Press freedom==
{{Expand-section|date=March 2008}}
Jammeh has been accused of restricting freedom of the press. Harsh new press laws were followed by the unsolved killing of a reporter who had been critical of them, [[Deyda Hydara]], in December 2004.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=52505 "Thousands protest peacefully at murder of journalist"], IRIN, [[December 22]] [[2004]].</ref> Jammeh has denied that security agents were involved in the killing.<ref name="Fraud">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5377448.stm "Gambian opposition claims fraud"], BBC News, [[September 25]] [[2006]].</ref>
In April 2004 he called on journalists to obey his government "or go to hell". In June 2005 he stated on radio and television that he has allowed "too much expression" in the country.<ref>[http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/Page_16_6.pdf "Reporters Without Borders"]</ref>
==Alleged human rights abuses==
{{Expand-section|date=March 2008}}
Jammeh has been linked with the 2004 massacre of 44 Ghanaian migrants and 10 other [[ECOWAS]] nationals. [http://www.myzongo.com/Yahaya-Jammeh-ordered-massacre-of.html] [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=126449]
[http://www.afrol.com/articles/26377]
==Genocide for homosexuals==
On May 15, 2008, Jammeh announced that his government would introduce legislation that would set rules against homosexuals that would be “stricter than those in Iran”, and that he would "cut off the head" of any gay or lesbian person discovered in the country. News reports indicated his government intended to have all homosexuals in the country killed. In the speech given in Tallinding, Jammeh gave a "final ultimatum" to any gays or lesbians in the Gambia to leave the country.<ref>[http://www.gambianow.com/news/News/Gambia-News-President-Jammeh-Gives-Ultimatum-for-Homosexuals-to-.html "President Jammeh Gives Ultimatum for Homosexuals to Leave", Gambia News, May 19, 2008.]</ref><ref>[http://en.afrik.com/article13630.html "President plans to kill off every single homosexual" Panapress/Afrik.com, May 19, 2008.]</ref>
==HIV/AIDS cure and other health claims==
In January 2007, Jammeh claimed he could cure [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]] and [[asthma]] with natural herbs. Some patients are said to have improved through his treatment, but he has also been criticized for promoting unscientific treatment that could have dangerous results.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6323449.stm "President's 'HIV cure' condemned"], BBC News, February 2, 2007.</ref>. The full text of his speech seems to suggest that the 'cure' may in fact be addressing [[intestinal parasite]]s ("With regards to HIV/Aids, they should be kept at a place that has adequate toilets facilities because they can be going to toilet every five minutes.").<ref>"Jammeh starts curing HIV/AIDS patients today", Daily Observer (Gambia), 18 January 2007.</ref>.
Fadzai Gwaradzimba, the country representative of the [[United Nations Development Programme]] in The Gambia, was told to leave the country after she expressed doubts about the claims and said the remedy might encourage risky behaviour.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1032156.stm#leaders "Country profile: The Gambia"], BBC News, March 4, 2008.</ref>
In August 2007, Jammeh claimed to have developed a single dose herbal infusion that could treat [[high blood pressure]].<ref>Gambia television, August 20, 2007.</ref>
==Family==
Jammeh and his wife Zeinab Jammeh have two children as of 2007: a daughter, Miriam Jammeh, and a son, Muhammed Yahya Jammeh. The latter was born in late 2007, at which point the former was eight years old.<ref>[http://www.statehouse.gm/babymuhamed-christening_311207.htm "Christening of Baby Muhammed Yahya Jammeh"], Office of The Gambian President website, December 31, 2007.</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{start box}}
{{s-off}}
{{Incumbent succession box
| title = [[Heads of State of The Gambia|President of the Gambia]]
| before = [[Dawda Jawara]]
| start = [[1994]]
}}
{{end box}}
{{GambianPresidents}}
==External links==
*[http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/1367.htm Jammeh to Hizbullah TV: We Support Iran's Nuclear Program; All Countries Are Entitled to Obtain Nuclear Weapons Until These Are Abolished]
*[http://www.statehouse.gm/ Official website]
*[http://www.gambianow.com/news Gambia News]
{{Persondata
|NAME=Jammeh, Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Jammeh, Yahya Alphonse Jemus Jebulai (former name)
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Gambian president
|DATE OF BIRTH=[[May 25]], [[1965]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=
|DATE OF DEATH=living
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
[[Category:Current national leaders|Jammeh]]
[[Category:Leaders who took power by coup|Jammeh, Yahya]]
[[Category:1965 births|Jammeh, Yahya]]
[[Category:Living people|Jammeh, Yahya]]
[[Category:Presidents of The Gambia|Jammeh]]
[[ca:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[cs:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[de:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[et:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[el:Γιαγιά Τζαμέ]]
[[es:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[fr:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[gl:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[hr:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[io:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[id:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[it:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[ms:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[ja:ヤヒヤ・ジャメ]]
[[oc:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[pl:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[ru:Джамме, Яйя]]
[[sr:Јаија Џаме]]
[[fi:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[sv:Yahya Jammeh]]
[[zh:叶海亚·贾梅]]