Supporters of Gambia’s ruling party, Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), are busy preparing to celebrate the 14th anniversary of President Yahya Jammeh’s rule on Tuesday.
Jammeh, a former soldier in The Gambia Armed Forces, deposed President Dawda Jawara of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on 22 July, 1994, in a bloodless military take over.
In 1996 Jammeh resigned from the army, after leading a transitional military government, and contested a multi-party election as a civilian, which he won.
He has since won all elections conducted in the West African nation.
Jammeh’s supporters and loyalists see him as one of the greatest pan-African leaders who launched a “revolution” in the Gambia.
But his critics and opponents see him as another African dictator whose regime is marked by human rights abuses and a poor government record.
