Jahumpa has said that the West African
country would sever all dialogue with the
European Union (EU) and rejected what he
said were attempts by the bloc to use its aid
budget in forcing Gambia to revoke a tough
new law against homosexuality. Reuters
report:
Foreign Minister Bala Garba
Jahumpa said that President
Yahya Jammeh – a former military
officer who seized power in a 1994
coup – would not allow foreign
nations to use aid to impose
policies on his government.
Jammeh signed legislation last
month that introduced the crime of
‘aggravated homosexuality’,
making it punishable in some cases
with life in prison. The definition
covers cases such as homosexual
relations with someone under the
age of 18, or a person with HIV
having homosexual s*x.
The crackdown comes as the
European Union is due to decide in
December whether to release 150
million euros ($186 million) worth
of development aid to Gambia, a
matter that has been up for debate
because of its poor human rights
record.”Gambia’s government will
not tolerate any negotiation on the
issue of homosexuality with the EU
or any international block or
nation,” Jahumpa told state
television.
“We are no longer going to
entertain any dialogue with the EU
either directly or through sub-
regional, regional and international
blocks to which we are
members.” Jahumpa said
homosexuality was ‘ungodly’ and
against African tradition, and said
Gambia would work with other
countries on the continent to
oppose it.
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