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This process will take time, and patience and tolerance are essential given the difficult circumstances we started from. The forward path has also be… - Fatoumata Tambajang
" "This process will take time, and patience and tolerance are essential given the difficult circumstances we started from. The forward path has also begun to take shape. For instance, the Ministry of Finance has sustained partnerships with the international donor community for budget support and economic assessment. Currently, we are seeing some economic growth tied to a reform agenda. Critics often claim that the government blames our 'inherited bankrupt economy' and Jammeh for underperformance. However, Jammeh has only been out of office for nearly two years, and it’s important to understand the context. When we took office, we faced a severe brain drain, as many of our skilled professionals had left due to political persecution or economic hardship. This created a capacity deficit, which is a major factor in governance, especially democratic governance, where engaging all stakeholders is critical yet challenging. I don’t shy away from acknowledging the government’s difficulties and challenges—I am part of them and remain within the coalition government. However, it's crucial to consider these underlying issues when assessing the successes and challenges of our administration."
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About Fatoumata Tambajang
Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang (born 22 October 1949 in Brikama, Gambia) is a Gambian politician and activist. She holds a BA in French from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. She served as Vice President and Minister of Women's Affairs under President Adama Barrow from February 2017 to June 2018. She previously chaired the Gambia National Women's Council and advised President Dawda Jawara. After the 1994 coup, she served as Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare. Appointed Vice-President in January 2017, she was initially ineligible due to age restrictions but was later sworn in after a constitutional amendment in November 2017. She had also chaired Coalition 2016, the alliance that supported Barrow’s presidential bid.
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Additional quotes by Fatoumata Tambajang
Yes, I felt I needed time to reflect on it. Having worked with the UN, I reached a level beyond that of an ambassador. We have to be realistic—I don’t have a sense of entitlement. I was beyond the rank of ambassador, and returning to the UN mission in that capacity would have felt like a demotion for me.
This constitution, after all, was designed by former President Jammeh primarily for his own benefit. For 65 years, we’ve been signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various other human rights agreements. Article 16 of the Universal Declaration says there should never be discrimination based on age, gender, race, or religion. So, imposing an age limit is inherently discriminatory, and globally, no country has such a limit in their constitution. What truly matters is the competence and loyalty of an individual, and this is the way forward. Similar situations occurred in Southern Africa, such as in Zambia in 2008 when Rupiah Banda became president. A few years into his presidency, a law was passed banning people over 70 from running for office, specifically targeting the main opposition leader, Michael Sata, who was 71, just three years younger than President Banda. It wasn’t just The Gambia that faced such challenges. While you say the law was Jammeh’s, I agree that there are both good and bad laws in his system. Some of the laws are, in fact, beneficial, regardless of where I stand. I want to be straightforward and truthful. My priority is the Gambia’s agenda, not personal interests. On the global stage, The Gambia must align with the United Nations and the world at large. Our participation in the UN General Assembly is part of that, and we learn from global practices. However, we must ensure that we follow democratic principles. The reason for our transition is to establish democratic governance where everyone feels included and has a voice, and where laws protect the human rights of both individuals and communities.
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