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(1) What signs of conflict can you identify in the Gambia’s current political landscape?

The signs of conflict in the Gambia’s political landscape and need urgent and full concentration to prevent from actualization are as follows:

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION – The discrimination or antagonism directed against some races in the Gambia making them feel inferior and less privileged has led to quarrels and domestic conflicts in the nation. The best example is when the former President discriminated the Mandinkas’ in his speeches and this lead to rumors that it led to his lost in the last presidential elections. The Gambia today has experienced conflicts due to racial discrimination and this has lead to disunity among some tribes or individuals.

In the Gambia today, many people or tribes are embarrassed for intermarried their relatives and children and these has increased racial discrimination and intolerances. Equality in the country is imbalanced since different ethnic groups have histories of conflict to rule and dominate in terms of control and resource ownership.

RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE – The intolerance between religious groups in the Gambia has greatly widened and can lead to violent conflicts. Many Muslims don’t tolerate practices and believes of Christians in the country and this has led to developing conflicts. Example is the case of the Catholic Church in Brikama and some Muslim youths. What happen was that the Muslims were praying in and around the vicinity of the Brikama police station which is closer to the church and at the same time the Church was playing gospel songs and this made the Muslim youths angry and it developed to throwing stones at the church breaking glasses and hurting some Christians in the church at that time during the fight. Another case is that of the Amadiya religion in the country requesting to establish a TV station and this was denied by specific groups of Muslims that the Amadiya are not Muslims so they should not be given chance or opportunities like this one to confuse the public.

Intolerance between religious leaders in their preaches has led to conflict in our ways of life’s. Individually a lot of people are denied certain rights and are faced with unfavorable treatments because of their religious status and unequal treatment in certain instances arises because of religious belief. Some are insulted and discriminated because of a practice accepted by their religion which other religions prohibited.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY – In the Gambia, some political parties follow certain ideologies which are completely against the principles other parties and this has influenced the developing conflicts. Typically each ideology contain ideas on what is considered best form of government (E.g democracy and autocracy) and the best form of economic system (E.g. capitalism and socialism).Example is the case of the former government of the Gambia and the oppositions, the former government was accused of ruling autocratically not allowing ideas of other standing political movements and this has led to criticisms both within and outside the country especially on social media like Facebook. It is said that a lot of opposition leaders and individuals have been arrested and jailed and some have disappeared without nobody knowing there were about because of their political ideology and these has led to strikes especially by citizens outside the country.

Political ideology of different individuals has led to political unrest and inequality in the nation. The case of the former government and supporters of the United Democratic Party (UDP) supporters where some supporters were jailed because of striking for a change of government and amendment of some laws and policies and this has escalated internationally that some supporters of UDP who are living in America to attack the former president Yahya Jammeh and his convoy in their visit to America for a conference in 2015 where the NIA’s has beaten some protesters who were throwing stones and creating a situation of instability and public disturbance. The ethical ideals, principle, doctrines and myths of specific groups explains how a society should work and differences between these groups base on political ideology has created conflicting situations that threatens national security.

CULTURAL OPPRESSION – The Gambia has realized cultural oppression which means the socio transmission of false believes values and u ideals about how to live, and the attitudes, motivation, behavior patterns and institutions that depend on them. Cultural oppression by groups and individuals towards others had led to social unrest and quarrels among Gambians. The inappreciative cultural practice has led to cultural oppression of such cultural groups and these influence developing conflicts to grow violent. The country has experienced cultural oppression between different cultural groups, e.g. the culture of some ethnic groups is seen unacceptable and they become confronted with false cultural ideals which they also seize to adopt and this threatens their way of lifestyle to perish or disappear leading to a resistance in the side of victims.

DEGRADING TREATMENT- Treatment or punishment will be degrading if it humiliates and debases a person beyond that which is usual from punishment and treatment will be considered inhuman when it causes intense physical and mental suffering. The basic human right is that nobody should be put through degrading treatment but this is not always applicable in every instance. The Gambia is a country where a lot of people go through degrading treatment and these have led to problems between one individual and groups.

As you would expect, public authorities must not inflict this sort of treatment on you. They must also protect you if someone else is treating you this way. If they know this right is being breached, they must intervene to stop it. The state must also investigate credible allegations of such treatments. Degrading treatment means treatment that is extremely humiliating and undignified. In the Gambia people tend to humiliate others that they see inferior and these has created threatening situations for peace, increased in quarrels and break of homes.

 

(2) How can these potential conflicts be diffused? Discuss

Highly effective leaders identify, understand and develop swift and smart resolutions to conflicts in their country. But running from conflict will not serve anyone well. Ultimately the elephant in the room only grows or become much more unwieldy. Conflicts can be used as motivators for healthy change.

PROMOTION OF RACIAL EQUALITY AND HARMONY: The promotion of equality and racial harmony for a more united people. Promoting knowledge, mutual understanding and equality between different racial groups will help in avoiding racial discriminations, the orientation and unification of various races through education and sensitization to work together and respect each other’s identity regardless of which tribe you belonged. The amendment of laws that indirectly cause racial disunity should be prioritized and the state must investigate and provide satisfactory terms of reference in allegations of racial discriminations to make sound and excellent decisions in uniting races.

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE: The Gambia has a population of about 1.2 million of which 90 percent is Muslim, 8 percent is Christian and 2 percent is composed of those who believe in traditional African religion and others. Despite the fact that Muslims are in the majority, all religions enjoy a peaceful and harmonious coexistence. The constitution guarantees freedom to all to practice the religion of their choice. Intolerance when it cs to religion creates conflicting situations between the parties so there is a need to avoid using religion to destabilize the country. Religious tolerance binds our relationships as a nation of one people and reminds us of the scripture that we are created by one God. The country should not allow religious extremist to come and sow seeds of divisions among the population through their propagations. Hate speech and religious proper gander is an instrument to violate rights of others and inflammatory remarks that individuals and religious groups might utter in context of religion should be banned and with laws and policies put in place to safeguard the long standing peace of the nation.

HARMONIOUS AND NONE CONFLICTINGLY POLITICAL IDEOLOGY:  The organization of political parties under one umbrella without conflicting political ideologies should be of initiation and implementation since political ideology ideology affects the way we view and react to different people. Effective and notorious economic performance depends highly on political ideology. The country must decide what level of state intervention it finds politically, financially and socially acceptable. Political systems with bad ideologies do not survive long and tend to create conflicting atmosphere and in such cases they must be eliminated.

 

 

 

 

The intervention of government to address situations of confliction of political ideologies among individuals and groups to avoid conflict from getting violent, there should be regulatory measures and guideline directions with policies towards the control of such individuals or groups in maintaining peace and unity that Forster development and tolerance. Political ideology affects social policy, political behavior and reasoning of parties.

MULTICULTURALISM: As a political philosophy involves ideologies and policies which vary widely, ranging from advocacy of equal respect to the various cultures in a society, to policies of promoting the maintenance of cultural diversity, to policies in which people of various ethnic and religious groups are addressed, To reduce and avoid cultural oppressions, there should be respect and tolerance among various cultures, acceptance of practices and enhancing dignity. Different cultures can have conflict of accepting each other which can tamper with the peace and security of a nation, there should be standing bodies to promote multiculturalism and provision of policies that will increase peace and unity among different cultural groups.

Bad cultural practices should be avoided or wipe out in maintain equality and good ethical movements. Promoting the maintenance of cultural diversity with the involvement of all stakeholders and ethnic groups should be prioritized and enforced for a more united and a peaceful country with growth and development. Cultural convergence promote security and set up or brings in necessary endeavors which will benefit all cultures and set enlightenment to living a life of peace with pride and glory.

IMPROVED HUMAN RIGHTS: The rights of citizens of the country can be protected so as to avoid degrading treatment and failure to abide and respect of these rights facilitated with standing punishments. Causing mental and physical suffering to fellow humans is very bad and it causes conflicting situations to the peace and security of the nation.

He who stole a cow, when caught eats the whole cow

 

WRITTEN BY

Yankuba Camara

Secretary General and Editor

The Peace Gong Gambia

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Vedabhyas Kundu

Lalo Bajo

Lamin B Barra

Dr Shazaj Masood

 

TABLE OF CONTENT

 

INTRODUCTION

BENEFITS OF NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION IN THE GAMBIA

IMPLEMENTATION OF NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR GAMBIANS

CONCLUSION

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Gambia is a small country in west Africa with a population characterized by different ethnic groups who depend on each other for survival. The country needs to improve in the area of sociology to sustain a wonderful relationship between its citizens by increasing participation in promoting nonviolent communication. Violent communication leads to conflicts which can be prevented if people are sensitized of the benefits of compassionate communication in settlement of our differences. The path to violence is incomplete and unsafe while the path to peace is complete and safe therefore making nonviolent communication as way of life for Gambians will help in peace sustenance and the culture of empathy will increase in strength leading to a more united people with tolerance. Nonviolent communication serves as a rule in negotiation between parties and ensures a healthy relationship without misunderstanding in communications.

 

 

The Gambia have experienced conflicts due to violent communication and though this is mainly domestic disputes which normally escalates to become national issues, therefore prevention is very much needed to avoid the effect. The person encoding a message should make sure it is decoded clearly by avoiding coercive or manipulative language that aims to indue fear, guilt, shame, etc. The pain of violence is very difficult to heal so as its effect can pop up in the near future if it is not properly managed. Grapevine communication is not positive since the truth is either  subtracted or added. In maintaining a nonviolent future for the people of Gambia, any threatening form of communication should be banned and there should be more promotion of a sensational attitude towards avoiding conflict. Empowering the women and children of the country to involve more in national development and peace sustenance which will give them the voice to save themselves from exploitations and violent abuses. Women and children are are most affected with violent communications in the Gambia and this made the domestic life of the country disunited and frequent popping of conflicts leading to separations.

 

 

BENEFITS NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION FOR GAMBIANS

 

 

The main facilitators for enforcing nonviolent communication in the Gambia are religious groups who can use their influence through preaching and other forms of activities to sensitize people into positive awareness and attitude reform towards violence.

 

 

EMPATHY: This is the intellectual identification of the thoughts, feelings, or state of another person or the capacity to understand another person’s point of view. Nonviolent communication will increase empathy in the country and people will learn to settle their differences properly and support each other in terms of difficulties. The Gambia is a nation that is developing and though peace is reigning, conflict too has its own rebellious regime which needs to step down to ensure the upgrade and sustenance of peace and tranquility and equal opportunities for all. Fair treatment in our relationships will not only bring in peace but will catalyze the development of the country by strengthening our faiths to be patient and work as a team in confronting Provocative moments that waste our time and resources. A fragmented family is vulnerable to ghoul’s terror and the mosquito will succeed in sucking your blood to hatch its eggs for more blood sucking offsprings. This proves that separations within the Gambian people will lead to the penetration of the devil and the consequences will be detrimental to all. Violence is a creation just like in the movies where conflict arise because our interest are at war and this leads to crises that journey towards our quarrel, we become separated and fragmented. Empathy is a universal requirement needed to strengthen our relationships and love one another not to threaten or impose guilt in the life of others we live with. The Gambian people need to make change their friend and stop saying “this is the way it has always been done here”.

 

 

UNITY: Nonviolent communication will attract the connection of faiths and bring us together by increasing understanding within the Gambian people. A single undivided entity due to the implementation of nonviolent communication will put an end to conflict and our differences will be respected. The quality of being together is marvelous and unique. Nonviolent communication should be practised by the Gambian politicians to avoid public chaos and its calamities. When a mind is contaminated with violence, the heart accepts to project Freud and the actions become incalculable terrifying the life of the innocent which is a very bad role modeling. In reality, before you give a fish to a person to eat for one day why not you teach the person how to fish to feed from it till the end. Nonviolent communication should be a way of life for the Gambian people to secure a more brighter future and reduce the exploitation of the youths, women and children. Unity is strength and it serves as an umbrella to separation where the devil is shamed and exposed. Though the Gambian people are are enjoying a quantity of unity there still remain gaps that weakens our oneness and these gaps include racism, corruption, exploitation and degrading treatment of the weak and domestic abuses.

 

Racism: This is the prejudice or discrimination based upon race. This has been an issue in the Gambia and it has created unneeded suspicion and hatred between different races. Example is the case of the former President Yahya Jammeh who deliberately insulted and discriminate the tribes in the country threatening them of tribal clenching. There is a joking relationship between these tribes and now the fragmentation has created a tension especially on the mandinkas as the largest ethnic group criticized and accused of belittling other tribes in the country. This move was seen to be political and It is suggested that Yahya Jammeh should undergo an anger management therapy. The unity shared by different races is a quality that should not be undermined because united we rise and divided we fall. Racism has only negative consequences and to overcome it, unity, love and empathy are needed in high quantity to motivate people into accepting each other as one kind made by one God. Racism is an act of violence and a disorder.

 

Corruption: The act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral principle; the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity; wickedness; impurity; bribery. This is a gap that weakens the unity of the Gambian people and it is an act of violence that is done by wicked individuals who seek to get more than what they are entitled for, to the extend of others being affected. A corrupt individual has no space in paradise for honesty and trust are the roofs of every house made by God. Nonviolent communication can end corruption by creating a room for people to judge themselves in what they say since what we say can be traced in our actions. Corruption is a negative issue and a global problem that has left painful marks in the way forward for the world.

 

Degrading treatments: These are treatments that are undignified and extremely humiliating. This is adopted by many people in the Gambia as a way to make others loose self-esteem or stay in authority over them. As a gap that affects our unity and injects rivalry between people leading to disunity and quarrels among families, should be banned which can be facilitated with the involvement of every person in completely ending it.

 

Domestic abuses: This abuses can be by words or an action which are done to forcefully get something done by someone. The local life of the country is threaten by this gap which allows one to be abused by an immediate superior in the name of assisting the individual or group but this always leads to counter actions which creates conflict that becomes difficult to settle and such disputes always finds ways of popping again and again after negotiations to manage it.

 

 

TOLERANCE: The ability or practice of tolerating; an acceptance or patience with the beliefs, opinions or practices of others. Compassionate communication will help maintain tolerance in the country especially between religious group and individuals. This is one of the best ways to avoid conflict and end racism and disunity. It is the responsibility of every Gambian to maintain peace and tranquility and keep strong relationship with other people and failure to practice this may be due to personality disorder since people with such a disorder cannot keep good relationship with other people. Tolerance smoothen our socializing with each other and help enforce and promotes nonviolent communication. This ensures a nonviolent future for Gambians as through our communications, we will be careful of the creation of chaos and misunderstanding in our messages. Miscommunication has caused a lot of conflicts in the country and to stop this from happening, compassionate communication cannot be excluded in our activities and socializations.

 

 

PEACE: A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance or free of oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions. The main goal of nonviolent communication or compassionate communication is to secure a peaceful future and help sustain strong relationships. Peace is more precious than a diamond and it is an expensive gift from God which no man has the right to degrade. The Gambia can be more peaceful which can attract extra efforts for development and bring in more opportunities and investments for its people off saddling the throne of poverty and frustrations. The greatest crime against humanity is absence of peace in a society and it becomes a global catastrophe even if just one nation is affected. Violence have been welcomed by men who seeks destruction and this cantankerous decision is a choice  preferred by many. In the settlement of our difference, we need to earn trust and respect from each other and generate facts that will guide us in effectively ruling over cases. Peace is a necessity.

 

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION STRATEGY IN THE GAMBIA

 

 

The implementation of the nonviolent communication strategy in the Gambia ensures a peaceful future and end of violence. This can be achieved through the following ways:

 

 

RELIGIOUS PREACHING AND TEACHING: Religion influence every aspect of our lives and it supports nonviolent communication using it as a way to purify our hearts to be moral. Morality teaches us to be nonviolent communicators and this should be adopted by religious groups in their teachings and preachings as a moral lesson. Violent communication with the religious sector is due to intolerance and miscommunication which has made the survival of religious diversity to be more of a phantom regardless of the the nature of its reality. Empathy has powers to cure us from personality disorder and through our communications we can control our actions. There are many grooming religious organizations popping from the four corners of the country which have influence that can be used to promote nonviolent communication and help in maintaining a nonviolent future. We need to be patient in our preaches and develop skills of public speaking not to create chaos and public disturbance. Religious education can contribute a lot in promoting nonviolent communication through public lectures and religious institutions. we can develop critical thinking skills and problem solving skills by practicing nonviolent communication.

 

 

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION: The government of the Gambia should pass in a special resolution specifically on nonviolent communication as a catalyst for the reconstruction of the nation. There will be improved human rights since we will not only be judged by our actions but also by our words to avoid regrets. Indeed the chameleon is a wise animal for winning a race against a dog who was so close to the finish line and look back at his opponent the chameleon who has not take a step, this made the the dog so comfortable and proud that he decide to drink two bottles of alcohol at the nearby bar and restaurant before he will cross the finish line. In five minutes he had drank seven(7) bottles when he decided to peep at his opponent the chameleon who is far behind him. Instead of crossing the finish line, he decided to consume a bottle more when he fall asleep. The chameleon never give up, he stumble and grumble until he cross the finish line and the cheers and chantings of other animals was too loud that the dog suddenly gasp in shock and head towards the finish line surprisingly knowing the chameleon had already win the race, he boost into tears and start to say “had I known”.

 

The Gambia government has absolute power to enforce nonviolent communication and can do this with the help of its institutions, organizations and stakeholders. Violence is ensured to drastically reduce if nonviolent communication is enforced and promoted.

 

 

PEACE EDUCATION: This is the process of acquiring the values, the knowledge and developing the attitudes, skills, and behaviors to live in harmony with oneself, with others, and with the natural environment. Nonviolent communication in peace education will make students to learn that war and social injustice have consequences and violence cannot live together with humanity. Peace enforcement, sustenance and making needs involvement and empowerment through peace education. Nonviolent alternatives to manage conflicts like the nonviolent communication must be prioritized in our policies and constitution. The various learning institutions in the Gambia can use nonviolent communication as part of their academic syllabus which will encourage students to have a positive mind and communicate compassionately with other people. A bee does not make its honey for human beings but humans take their honey forcefully from them to consume because they rare the bees. We can also rare nonviolent communication to make peace overcome violence and forcefully secure a nonviolent future.

 

 

EMPOWERING PEACE ORGANISATIONS: The organizations in the Gambia that aims to promote peace should adopt the nonviolent communication strategy as part of their agenda to implement. The peace making process cannot be effective without empowerment and the involvement of the youths, women and children in peace process since they are affected most with violent communication. Peace organizations should be given all opportunities and freedom to expose violence and create awareness on nonviolent alternatives. Promotion of nonviolent communication will increase unity, empathy and tolerance with peace sustained.

 

 

NEGOTIATIONS AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENTS: Nonviolent communication should be used by negotiators in dispute settlement. It is the best criteria in reconciling people in conflict and it is not confronting or Provocative. Positive emotion can be gain by practicing nonviolent communication because it allows you to swap peace for violence leading to a free mind and harvest a positive emotion. Anger in a dispute is just like adding fuel to a burning fire but through the practice of nonviolent communication, anger will perish in the dustbin of history and there will be less hatred and maltreatment of the weak individuals.

 

 

THE MEDIA: Media is very important in information sharing and its a very important means of promoting and implementing nonviolent communication in the Gambia. The press has a job of making people accountable for their words and actions and nonviolent communication calls for accountability because he who believes God exist will surely kneel for him for he will be hold accountable one day to explain. The Gambia was lacking media freedom giving us a chance to have just one tv station in the whole country leading to a monopoly and this is seen to be the biggest attack on Gambia’s journalism sector.

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

 

Nonviolent communication in the Gambia has only advantages standing independent without any disadvantage. It will increase empathy in our societies by serving as an anti-dope to cure personality disorder and social injustice with a satisfactory rate in discipline and attitude. It will control our emotions and give us therapy to overcome anger and miscommunication. Violent communication in the Gambia is not only practice by the young but also by the elders. We should avoid creating threatening situations and chaos through our words which influence our actions. Inflicting guilt on a person to abuse and deprive the individual is an injustice that calls for a penalty. Violence is a devil but some named it ghoul that can cause bad dreams in our life and it can be adopted by people as a way to achieve their interest but such individual are greedy and naked. Nonviolent communication should be a way of life for Gambians to be more united and the government, peace organizations, the media and religious groups and stakeholders are key players in the implementation of nonviolent communication in the Gambia and should increase in their efforts of the promotion and enforcement of compassionate communication. A resolution from the government of the Gambia specially on NVC will facilitate a smooth enforcement.

 

 

Human right abuse in the Gambia should be thrown in the dustbin of history and the fact is that nobody can actually forgive until justice is served. A nation of sheep can never develop and the one who stole a cow, when caught eats the whole cow. Nonviolent communication in the Gambia will lead to a fraternity that ensures a nonviolent future.

 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton