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Tag: Gambia

  • “I am not a coward, I won’t step down”, says Gambian president, Jammeh

    “I am not a coward, I won’t step down”, says Gambian president, Jammeh

    Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has reiterated he won’t step down despite losing the December 1 election, despite the several pleas from West African leaders and Western powers to hand over power peacefully.

    Jammeh initially conceded defeat on state television after 22 years in power, but a week later reversed his position, denouncing the election results and demanding a new vote.

    According to a report on Aljazeera said Jammeh insisted he won’t handover power in a broadcast on state television on Tuesday.

    “I am not a coward. My right cannot be intimidated and violated. This is my position. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah,” Jammeh said.

    “Already the Ecowas [economic community of west African states] meeting was a formality. Before they came, they had already said Jammeh must step down. I will not step down,” he said.

    It came a day after president-elect Adama Barrow said he was ready to take office on January 18 – the day Jammeh’s mandate ends.

    “I am not a coward. My right cannot be intimidated and violated. This is my position. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah,” Jammeh said.

    He also condemned West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS for what he termed “meddling” in The Gambia’s affairs.

    The political crisis in The Gambia will be settled internally and peacefully, Jammeh said, adding he would maintain his position of challenging the election result.

  • In-photos: Buhari, other African leaders hold talks with Jammeh to step down

    President Muhammadu Buhari and other West African leaders, which includes presidents from Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma; Ghana, John Mahama on Tuesday had a meeting with Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh at Gambia’s State House on the need to transfer power to President-elect Adama Barrow

  • Buhari, other African leaders storm Gambia, pressure Jammeh to step down

    Buhari, other African leaders storm Gambia, pressure Jammeh to step down

    President Muhammadu Buhari, his Liberian and Ghanaian counterparts, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and John Mahama, will on Tuesday, leave for Banjul to put diplomatic pressure on President Yahya Jammeh to transfer power to President-elect Adama Barrow.

    The UN Security Council made the plan known while briefing newsmen after a closed-door meeting by the 15 members on the political situation in The Gambia.

    Mr Juan Manuel De Linares, Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain, said the members of the council stood by their unanimous statement on Dec. 10 that Jammeh should commence the peaceful transfer of power to Barrow without further delay.

    “A delegation by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to ECOWAS (Mohammed Ibn Chambas) and other ECOWAS and AU leaders will lead high-level delegation to Banjul tomorrow.

    “The delegation will include the President of Nigeria (Buhari), Liberia (Johnson-Sirleaf), Ghana (Mahama). These are respected presidents in West Africa and Africa,” Linares said.

    He, however, said that the council did not discuss any measure that would be taken should Jammeh refuse the entreaties.

    “Our priority is to support the high-level visit tomorrow and ensure the mission succeeds,” he said.

    He urged all parties in The Gambia to reject any form of violence and ensure peaceful transition of power in the West African country.

    Amb. Ismael Martins, Permanent Representative of Angola to the UN, also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the high-level visit was an effort of the ECOWAS leaders.

    “The purpose of the visit of the ECOWAS leaders is to keep everybody in agreement to arrive at transfer of power in accordance to the rules of AU and ECOWAS.

    “There is a high-level delegation of Heads of State going to visit Gambia, comprising the President of Liberia as the Head of ECOWAS and other respected heads of state in the ECOWAS sub-region,” Martins said.

    In a statement on Saturday, the Security 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”.

    It also urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from violence and remain calm, and requested that the security of Barrow and that of all Gambians be fully ensured.

    The council also urged support by the UN Office for West Africa and international partners, especially ECOWAS, to preserve stability in The Gambia and work toward the installation of a democratically elected government in the country.

    The council commended The Gambian people for the peaceful and transparent conduct of elections on Dec. 2 and expressed commitment to continue to closely follow the evolution of the situation in the country.

    The council recalled the relevant provisions of Article 23 (4) of the AU Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

    It further called on Jammeh to respect the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, notably the rejection of unconstitutional change of government.

  • Ensure peaceful transition in Gambia, US warns Jammeh

    Ensure peaceful transition in Gambia, US warns Jammeh

    The U.S. has asked outgoing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to ensure a peaceful transition to President-elect Adama Barrow, saying “the people of The Gambia have spoken”.

    Deputy Spokesperson of U.S. Department of State Mark Toner, in a press statement, said the U.S. strongly condemned Jammeh’s recent statement rejecting the Dec. 1 Presidential election result.

    “We strongly condemn President Jammeh’s December 9 statement rejecting the December 1 election results and calling for new elections.

    “This action is a reprehensible and unacceptable breach of faith with the people of The Gambia and an egregious attempt to undermine a credible election process and remain in power illegitimately.

    “We call upon President Jammeh, who accepted the election results on December 2, to carry out an orderly transition of power to President-Elect Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.

    The U.S. called upon all institutions in The Gambia, including the elected leadership, the armed forces, religious leaders, political parties and civil society organisations to reject violence and peacefully uphold the will of the people that was expressed clearly through the ballot box.

    “The people have spoken and it is time for Gambians to come together to ensure a peaceful transition to President-elect Barrow,” the statement read.

  • Gambia shuts down borders to ECOWAS delegations over election dispute

    Gambia shuts down borders to ECOWAS delegations over election dispute

    Gambian authorities have refused entry to the chair of regional body ECOWAS, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, Senegal’s foreign minister said on Saturday.

    Such move is dampening hopes for a political solution after President Yahya Jammeh rejected the results of elections that he lost on Dec. 1.

    Jammeh on Friday called for another election in the tiny West African country after narrowly losing to opposition leader Adama Barrow. He had already conceded defeat publicly last week.

    The announcement on state television 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.

    The streets of Banjul were calm on Saturday, although some residents said they were staying at home for fear of violence.

    Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) chair Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had hoped to put back on track Gambia’s first democratic transition of power in over 50 years.

    However, 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 media.

    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.

    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”.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Soyinka apologises over gaffe on Gambia’s presidential election

    Soyinka apologises over gaffe on Gambia’s presidential election

    Nobel laureate and play wright, Professor Wole Soyinka has apologized for his recent outburst against the Nigerian government for congratulating the new Gambia President-Elect, Adama Barrow in his landslide victory against the outgoing president, Yahya Jammeh who has been in power for 22 years.

    Soyinka alleged in a press statement he signed that he misheard the comment on the election. He said he thought Jammeh had once again succeeded in manipulating the votes in his favour, hence his angry outburst against the Nigerian government for congratulating such fraudulent electoral process which obviously does not reflect the choice of the Gambian electorates.

    His statement reads in full: “Just before setting off for my Media Chat at Freedom Park this morning, I was handed a Sunday newspaper with a comment on the recently concluded Gambian Presidential elections.

    I totally misheard the comment and thought that ex-President Yahmeh had again succeeded in manipulating the votes to remain on the continent’s “sit-tight” roll of dishonour. It turned out that I had obtained the wrong picture. The torturer and notorious administrator of hallucinogenic broths to citizens had been dethroned. I therefore take back my criticism of Nigeria’s message of congratulations.

    Let the entire West African sub-region and indeed the entire continent rejoice in the overthrow of the monatrocity who had sworn to rule for a billion years, a throw-back autocrat with delusions of eternal power who casually tossed opposition in dungeons and threw the keys away. It is now time to make Yahweh answer for his twenty-two year of boastful misrule and crimes against humanity.

    Once again, my apologies for the miscommunication. I rejoice with the long-suffering citizens of Gambia, encourage the rehabilitation of that land strip, and recovery of its existence in full liberty, freed of fear, and restored to dignity as part of the sentient species”.

  • AU welcomes Gambian election results

    AU welcomes Gambian election results

    The African Union (AU) on Monday welcomed the Gambian election results.

    According to an AU statement sent to newsmen, AU is congratulating the President-elect, while hailing the maturity of the people and the outgoing president.

    “Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, has congratulated President-elect of Republic of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, following his victory in the presidential elections held on Dec. 1, 2016,’’ the statement said.

    The AU noted that the Independent Electoral Commission declared opposition leader Adama Barrow winner, following elections described by a group of AU Observers as peaceful, credible and transparent.

    The AU also hailed the statesmanship of outgoing President Yahya Jammeh for gracefully accepting the outcome of the elections.

    Dlamini-Zuma commended the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.

    The chairperson also hailed the people for peacefully and orderly participating in the polls, in spite of challenges.

    She noted that the stakeholders’ participation was an evidence of the level of maturity of the political system and a demonstration of patriotism of the Gambians.

    The chairperson invited all parties involved in the political process to continue to display maturity and embrace dialogue in line with mechanisms adopted with regards to consolidate democracy, inclusiveness, the rule of law, peace and security.

    She reaffirmed the determination of AU to support Gambia.

    Dlamini-Zuma urged neighbours and the international community to provide the necessary support that the country required to guarantee democratic stability and unity.

  • Breaking: Adama Barrow declared winner of Gambia’s presidential election

    Breaking: Adama Barrow declared winner of Gambia’s presidential election

    Gambia’s opposition leader Adama Barrow has been declared winner of the 2016 presidential election after incumbent President Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat.

    Barrow led with 263,515 votes, while Jammeh got 212,099 and Mamma Kandeh got 102,969 votes. Gambians flood the streets in celebration.

    See election declaration sheet below:

    gambia-election-result

  • Gambia Presidential poll: Opposition candidate Adama Barrow in early lead

    Gambia Presidential poll: Opposition candidate Adama Barrow in early lead

    Opposition candidate Adama Barrow was in the lead after almost 75 per cent of votes had been counted in Gambian presidential voting, threatening President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year-rule, the electoral commission said on Friday.

    Barrow, who has the support of seven political parties, had won 22 out of 53 constituencies or 138,148 votes in Thursday’s presidential polls.

    According to the commission, incumbent Jammeh won 14 out of 53 constituencies or 126,587 votes.

    Report says the election is won by a simple majority in the poverty-stricken West African nation, which largely relies on peanut exports for trade income.

    Gambians on Thursday voted amid a shutdown of all internet and telephone lines, which raised fears of Jammeh planning to hijack the election.

    Meanwhile, the lines were expected to remain disconnected until Sunday.

    Jammeh, a former army colonel who came to power during a 1994 military coup, has been ruling the Islamic Republic with an iron fist.

    He is running for a fifth five-year term against two other candidates.

    The two candidates are Barrow, a businessman popular with the country’s largely unemployed youth and Mama Kandeh, the leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress, the only opposition party that did not join forces with Barrow.

    Ironically, all three candidates were born in the same year, 1965.

    However, the capital, Banjul, remained calm on Friday, in spite of a heavy security force presence.

    NAN