Gambia: Africa's New Islamic State
With numerous reports about the increasing number of Muslim people across the globe, a new announcement has been made in Gambia Africa.
President Yahya Jammeh, who has been in power since his 1994 coup, has recently raised controversy as he declared that Gambia is now a nation under the ISIS. According to The Christian Broadcasting Network, Jammeh said, "In line with the country's religious identity and values, I proclaim The Gambia as an Islamic State."
He went on to clarify that making Gambia an Islamic State nation doesn't mean he is removing the rights of other religious groups. "Let me make it very clear: that does not mean Christians cannot worship in their way of life," he explained.
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Despite his explanations, many doubt his comments and the country's opposition leader expressed distaste over the matter. National Reconciliation Party leader Hamat reportedly told Al Jezeera, "You cannot make such a declaration without going through a referendum."
Another reason why Jammeh is facing a lot of issues is his changing decisions over time. He said last year that women should be allowed to dress the way they want to and it shouldn't be anybody's business. However, he seemed to go against his own words after he issued an executive order stating that all female civil workers should work with their hair covered.
Jammeh shortly took his executive order back after opposition groups stated their dismay over the president's declarations.
Gambia is made up of mostly Muslims with about 5 percent of Christians residing in the area. With the new declaration, Jammeh not only got himself into a circle of controversies but he has also created more reason for opposition groups to dig into his administration's shortcomings.
Jeffrey Smith of Human Rights Watch said in a recent statement that Jammeh is a leader with "deplorable human rights record and rampant corruption," making more people start to question his eligibility in the nation's highest seat.
