The Disappointment by Embalo and Bissau's military is Still a Hard Learning Opportunity

Whereas Ex-president Embalo is primarily to blame for what evidently seems as a 'false coup', the Bissau's military bears secondary blame and even Ecowas to AU for not having certain 'training'+ for new presidents and opposition leaders about special circumstances. Well, since I am more about suggestions or learning, not blame or criticisms, then the unavoidable descriptions that may seem like blame will come last or in the middle. As ex-president Jonathan Goodluck rightly explained : This was not a coup as we know about coups. Mr. Goodluck rightly demanded the release of the election results and freeing of the opposition leader; he even called for new Ecowas protocols but did not explain the details or suggestions. A scared powerful animal is dangerous, but a scared powerful human being can be a lot more dangerous. Embalo was rightly or unnecessarily scared, but which Ecowas or AU protocol (measures) can help avoid such repetitions?

Although it seems like Embalo lost the elections and feared jail or death to the level of staging a false coup to escape, we must also admit the possibility of early wrong assumptions as vice president Al-Gore did in Florida. My leaning is that he lost the elections, and I think this is where the potential learning discussions should occur. An ex-president can be rightly or wrongly jailed, so we cannot dismiss his fears, except when a coward goes to the level of lying, I will not defend the lies, even where I may claim understandable fear... Was the opposition threatening him during the campaigns? Means Ecowas protocols should include how to train opposition candidates or risk worse than what Emballo did.

The key needed new protocols or measures should include: all ex-presidents to have the privilege of leaving the country under Ecowas or AU escort, but they can still be prosecuted at an Ecowas or AU level court. This guarantees temporal personal safety, protection from persecution, and protection from dubious prosecution, but not total protection from rightful prosecution. I was not against the Supreme Court ruling in the U.S in special protection of the president, because every work should come with tolerable mistakes that won't be prosecuted. Bring the evidence to Ecowas or AU level, a set of judges from different countries are less corruptible than a Judge in Bissau against Embalo, or a Gambian judge against Yahyah Jammeh. Some of you may get lost as to why I am mentioning Yahyah Jammeh of the Gambia. Those who know the true history of the 2016 Gambia's election denial and the military intervention cannot blame Jammeh 100%. President Adama Barrow was partly guilty of implicit threatening of Jammeh and Ecowas+ did not learn enough from that dilemma and how many other problems? After winning, before swearing in, then President elect Barrow said: 'The Gambia is rejoining the ICC...' Every sane person will consider that as an implicit threat because which Gambians deserve to stand before the ICC more than Jammeh? Then the tolerable election irregularity gave Jammeh the excuse to dangerously try to hang on to power. I do not need to narrate what that cost the Gambians and beyond in this article. However, I do believe the need to choose me and other honest thinkers to deeply study all the past problems in recent Africa for a book to be titled something like: The Dangerous words and actions by leaders, including opposition leaders. Mistakes we should not repeat and the like as a title. I think working with folks like ex-president Jonathan Goodluck and others who were involved, studying the most truthful writers in every country, engaging the views of all parties, we should be able to produce an educational book for aspiring politicians or even for university students.

Some of these things may seem embarrassing, but the purpose is never to embarrass anyone. Although president Barrow prematurely uttered those dangerous words, the fact that all or many Gambian top politicians failed to call him, admonish him enough, redress the fear, etc, reveal many were guilty at the top , not just Barrow. Naive Gambians were also celebrating those comments and saying worse than that to add fear to then powerful Jammeh. Some will argue how Mr. Halifa Sallah was later trying to calm the tension by citing some positive words that cannot undo the dangerous words and how late was Halifa?

Another protocol to protect winning and potentially winning opposition leaders from the kind of arrest we see in Bissau must also be addressed. Again, to broaden the examples : Mr. Ousainou Darboe once sought refuge at the u.s embassy on election night, even though he was to be a loser, but hopeful politicians can still be cowardly . If AU or Ecowas forces were guarding Darboe or xyz and other assurances including certain charges can only be done at Ecowas or AU Court during election time or if you are an opposition leader with over five percent of the votes... The reason for such protection is not to give impunity to opposition leaders but to avoid agitating their supporters and causing avoidable unrest through a stronger compromise. Evidence is evidence, so an Ecowas or AU court convicting an opposition leader is much more damning than a country level court. Many courts could have convicted Bolsonaro of Brazil, who went far beyond what Trump did. A plot to assassinate an opponent is very different from reckless words of Trump that the guiltier heard or misinterpreted more than the deaf or questionable Democrats. If you truly heard or fear Trump was calling for 'insurrection', then every smart person will demand enough protection, including going with a personal weapon to work. Retrospect learning exists, but do not dishonestly overreact where you were partially guilty.

The media sometimes failed to think, including the Bissau issue. Writers like me never knew it was Emballo who announced the coup, because that should raise suspicion. All of us can be misled, but for how long? I still called it weird and stand by my suggestions, including the treaty for elections integrity and special international forces to avoid different types of chaos.

The same book I am suggesting we write can include mistakes by military leaders. Suppose Embalo is in fear and Ecowas is yet to have these protections, a smart military can still avoid such dangerous lies. The military could have still flown him out to safety, explain the fears, release the results, and swear-in the new president. Although it is relatively calm in Bissau, such blunders can cause civil unrest somewhere else and our duty includes how to educate others to avoid repeating mistakes and seeing worse things. Also some damage is already done, because the arrested opposition leader may never trust them again unless they quickly amend. The sins of lying and cruelty are not minor to God and the Godly, so do not let fear and others drive you to lie, especially at leadership levels.

As for Embalo he is another testimony that even ex-military folks can be cowards and do dis-service beyond their country. I can imagine headlines like: The 'third term is a coup' president falsely staged a coup before a second term or historic peaceful transfer of power? The man lost an opportunity to fear. He was bragging as the 'first president of Bissau to seek a second term', but he could have been the first to hand-over power to potentially regain power as Trump, Buhari, Silva of Brazil, etc. Bissau has many real coups, but he seems to be the first to stage a false coup in likely an unnecessary fear. In this age, unless there is mounting evidence, the international community would not have allowed his jailing over tolerable wrongs. Anyway, some facts must be discussed, but I am not interested in shaming Embalo, Barrow, or anyone. As a writer, I tend to put learning as the most important thing and public discussion can far outweigh what Barrow or xyz may privately admit or advice in the Gambia, but how about Ghana to Venezuela? The shame Embalo may face should be avoided for others through learning and honest learning for that matter. May God bless Showlove Trinity: let's learn, let's work, let's have fun.

By Jarga Kebba Gigo
An Activist and Transformer
Author of Juts Quhr-aahn

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