10 June 2016 \u2013 The United Nations Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide has condemned the inflammatory speech by the President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia at a political rally this past week, in which he reportedly threatened to eliminate the Mandinka ethnic group.<\/p>\n
In a note to correspondents, Adama Dieng, the UN Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, said that on 3 June in Tallinding, President Jammeh allegedly referred to the Mandinka as \u201cenemies, foreigners\u201d and threatened to kill them one by one and place them \u201cwhere even a fly cannot see them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am profoundly alarmed by President Jammeh\u2019s public stigmatization, dehumanization and threats against the Mandinka,\u201d the Special Adviser said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic statements of this nature by a national leader are irresponsible and extremely dangerous. They can contribute to dividing populations, feed suspicion and serve to incite violence against communities, based solely on their identity,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Mr. Dieng said he was particularly appalled by President Jammeh\u2019s \u201cvitriolic rhetoric,\u201d as history has shown that hate speech that constitutes incitement to violence can be both a warning sign and a powerful trigger for atrocity crimes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen, in Rwanda, Bosnia \u2013 and more recently in the Middle East \u2013 how incitement to violence has led to mass killings along identity lines,\u201d the Special Adviser said, reminding President Jammeh that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence is prohibited under international human rights law as well as under national legislation.<\/p>\n
Mr. Dieng also noted that States have the primary responsibility to protect their populations. In 2005, all Heads of State and Government acknowledged the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as well as their incitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI urge the President of the Gambia to fulfil this responsibility,\u201d said the Special Adviser, \u201cand ensure that the rights of all populations of the Gambia are respected, irrespective of ethnicity or political affiliation.\u201d<\/p>\n