A REBUTTAL TO LAMIN JUWARA’S SELECTIVE HISTORY, LEGAL CONFUSION, AND POLITICAL HYPOCRISY

By Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator – Sweden

Lamin Juwara styles himself as a “political analyst,” yet his recent public commentary exposes a troubling deficit in political education, historical honesty, and constitutional literacy. Whether this is born of ignorance or deliberate distortion is immaterial; either way, it renders his analysis unreliable and misleading.

Distorting the Jawara Record

It is intellectually dishonest to invoke as a pristine democratic model without acknowledging the full record. Jawara ruled The Gambia for nearly three decades—27 to 30 years, depending on how one counts transitional periods. That era was not a democratic idyll. It was marked by entrenched corruption, nepotism, weak institutions dependent on personalities rather than law, and chronic underdevelopment. Yes, Jawara tolerated multiparty politics—but tolerance alone does not absolve decades of governance failures.

Silence During Tyranny

Mr. Juwara’s newfound democratic fervor raises a basic question: where was his voice during the 22 years of authoritarian rule under ? There were no interviews, no public interventions, no principled resistance. Many who are loud today were silent then—beneficiaries of a system they now conveniently denounce. Courage discovered after danger has passed is not principle; it is opportunism.

The Hollow “Third Term” Claim

Juwara’s central argument—that President Barrow seeking re-election undermines democracy—collapses under legal scrutiny. The 1997 Constitution contains no clause barring President Barrow from contesting again. Term limits are not retroactive, and political opinion is not constitutional law. When Mr. Juwara says, “Many Gambians, myself included, believe…,” one must ask: since when did personal belief override constitutional legality? Is Mr. Juwara now the law of The Gambia?

Selective Morality, Real Tolerance

President has governed with a level of tolerance unmatched in our political history—a fact acknowledged even by critics. If there is one lesson to draw from Jawara, it is tolerance, and by any objective measure President Barrow has exceeded that standard. Mr. Juwara ignores this reality because it does not fit his narrative.

Opinion Is Not Analysis

Serious political analysis requires historical accuracy, constitutional understanding, and consistency of principle. What we get instead are soundbites and selective memory amplified on platforms such as —visibility mistaken for expertise.

A Question of Motive

One is left to wonder whether this is political immaturity or a defense of past privilege—an attempt to sanitize an era when some families prospered at the expense of the taxpayer. Either way, the arguments fail on the merits.

Conclusion
What Mr. Juwara offers is not analysis but hypocrisy dressed as concern, ignorance masquerading as principle, and opinion pretending to be law. Until he can cite constitutional provisions, confront history honestly, and explain his silence during real dictatorship, he should refrain from lecturing Gambians about democracy.

Democracy rests on law, truth, and consistency—not noise, nostalgia, or selective outrage.