UK gay rights advocate Omar Kuddus: A reply to President of Gambia on LGBTQ rights denied

President Yahya Jammeh has warned British and US diplomats that his country cannot be “bribed” with or dictated to, by promise of aid to accept homosexuality in Gambia. “If you are to give us aid for men and men or for women and women to marry, leave it. We don’t need your aid because as far as I am the president of the Gambia, you will never see that happen in this country.”

President of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh statement “as far as I am the president of the Gambia, you will never see that happen in this country.” says it all. He is a dictator, who will not bow to his peoples or the worlds’ condemnation and requests.

The comments late Saturday come less than two weeks [ April 10,] after 19 [15 men were originally arrested in a popular bar and another four were later added to the charges]  people were arrested and charged with “indecent practices in a public place” after being “suspected of homosexuality”  and  face up to 14 years in prison.

President Yahya Jammeh has repeatedly condemned homosexuality of going as far as threatening beheading gay men and lesbian as far back 2008. He retracted the threat under pressure and international condemnation. Gambia’s treatment of gays has long drawn criticism from international observers, who accuse the small West African nation of homophobia.

The latest remarks were made after Britain and the US ambassadors said they will consider gay rights when considering foreign aid. Other African countries have reacted angrily too, stating homosexuality is “un-African” but not as dictatorially as President Yahya Jammeh, who claims to be able to cure Aids via a mixture of herbs and is a major stumbling obstacle in Aids prevention in Gambia.