GAMBIA’S PRESIDENT YAHYA Jammeh today branded homosexuals “vermin” in a speech on State television.

Jammeh’s was speaking to mark the 49th anniversary of Gambia’s independent from Britain.

“We will fight these vermins called homosexuals or gays the same way we are fighting malaria-causing mosquitoes, if not more aggressively,” he said, according to Euronews.

He was responding to threats by Britain and other countries to stop aid to any government that passes anti-gay laws, as other African countries like Nigeria and Uganda introduced harsher laws for homosexuals recently.

Jammeh said his government would not give into this pressure, Reuters reports.

“We will therefore not accept any friendship, aid or any other gesture that is conditional on accepting homosexuals or LGBT as they are now baptised by the powers that promote them,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned, LGBT can only stand for leprosy, gonorrhoea, bacteria and tuberculosis; all of which are detrimental to human existence.”

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has expressed concern about the recent changes in law in African countries, saying the move in Uganda will “affect our valued relationship” with its government.