Home FOREIGN Gambian President Goes Recalcitrance, Asks ECOWAS Chair To Keep Off

Gambian President Goes Recalcitrance, Asks ECOWAS Chair To Keep Off

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Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh has asked the chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf not to step into his country for any kind of political solution to the problem that may arise from his rejection of the result of the December 1st Presidential election which the opposition candidate, Adama Barrow won.

The announcement of this on state television yesterday, Saturday, threw Gambia’s future into doubt after the unexpected election result ended Jammeh’s 22-year rule and was widely seen as a moment of democratic hope. He had earlier last week, conceded defeat publicly.

But, on Friday, he called for another election in the tiny West African country.

ECOWAS had hoped to put back on track Gambia’s first democratic transition of power in over 50 years, but those plans appeared thwarted on Saturday when her plane was denied landing access at Banjul.

“Johnson Sirleaf was supposed to fly in today, but Jammeh said ‘not at the moment,’” Senegal foreign minister, Mankeur Ndiaye told Reuters. It was not clear if the plane had already taken off.

Sirleaf’s camp was not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for Jammeh’s government could not be reached.

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As Gambians brace for a tense standoff, international criticism of Jammeh’s claim came in fast. Following the United States and Senegal, the African Union on Saturday weighed in, calling Jammeh’s statement “null and void.”

“The Chairperson of the Commission strongly urges President Yahya Jammeh to facilitate a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power,” said Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who also called on Gambia’s security forces to remain neutral.

The UN Security Council on Saturday has also asked Jammeh to quit.

The Council told  Jammeh to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition of power to the President-elect, Mr Adama Barrow.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, the 15-member Council “strongly condemned the outgoing Gambian President’s rejection of the official election results proclaimed by the country’s Independent Electoral Commission.”

The Council asked Jammeh “to respect the choice of the sovereign people of Gambia, as he did on Dec. 2, and to transfer, without condition and undue delay, power to the President-elect, Mr. Adama Barrow.” [myad]

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