By Alf Soninke
Gambia’s President Adama Barrow was shockingly disappointing in his lame: “…As Chairman of the OIC, I express grave concern over the recent escalation of Israeli attacks on Iran, resulting in the killing of military and non-military officials.
“I call for restraint and a return to peace in the region. Dialogue is the ultimate solution to our global concerns, and we must endeavor to pursue it.”
This was Barrow’s first official statement following Israel’s ongoing aggression against Iran, which began a week ago.
As the current chairman of the OIC, Barrow missed the opportunity to seize the moment and act as a world leader.
He said it himself: “The Gambia’s international presence has been magnified by the successful hosting of the 15th OIC Summit in 2024 and my assuming the Chairmanship of the Organisation.
“Internationally, The Gambia has steadfastly championed human rights and justice on the global stage.
“This includes our active involvement in the International Court of Justice on the plight of the Rohingya, the legal struggles of Palestine…”
This timid reaction suggests that the government in Banjul is afraid of incurring the wrath of Israel and its allies in the West!
Barrow could speak this way on the Rohingyas issue, but dares not condemn Israeli crimes against the Palestinians and Iranians.
As many world leaders voiced condemnation of Israel’s unprovoked attack against the OIC member state, all we hear from incumbent OIC chairman Adama Barrow is the above statement.
Moreover, as far as we know, it was Barrow’s first public declaration and was delayed and delivered a week after Israel attacked Iran.
Indeed, Barrow waited until Thursday, 19 June, to deliver the above-quoted statement on the occasion of his annual State of the Nation Address (SoNA), where it was buried in the section where he commented on the country’s foreign relations.
This is clearly unacceptable, considering his capacity as the current holder of the rotating OIC chair.
However, it is another reminder that the Gambian leader is a “ceremonial chairperson,” as one recent Facebook comment pointed out.
In any case, what is evident is that the OIC secretariat in Saudi Arabia has been acting on the international stage, seemingly unaware of the existence of the OIC chair’s office in Banjul.
Now, this is not surprising, as it’s obvious that Gambia’s partners are well aware of the opportunistic mindset of the Barrow Administration; the fact that it harps on the “national interest” signals that it’s amenable to checkbook diplomacy.
Indeed, if the Gambian government genuinely believed in championing human rights, it would be heard daily speaking up on the situation in occupied Palestine, especially Gaza.
But it’s more keen on the Rohingya issue at the ICJ because, according to reports, Gambian officials championing the case were allegedly rewarded handsomely for handling the file.
It was expected that Gambia, as chairman of the OIC, would make the most of its mandate to lead from the frontline in the struggle for justice in Palestine.
Being a small nation is no excuse, as we have seen small states such as Cuba take principled positions in international affairs.
That we are not doing so and that our voice is not being heard highlights weakness, in terms of the low caliber of our leaders and their aides, in the government in Banjul.
