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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Dec 2016 : 18:29:16
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Gambia security forces 'seize election commission HQ'
BBC Online
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38306325
 The Gambia's security forces have taken over the headquarters of the electoral commission, its chairman says, as the country's president refuses to accept his loss in recent elections.
Alieu Momar Njai told the BBC that staff were barred from entering.
President Yahya Jammeh initially conceded defeat to Adama Barrow in a recent poll, before changing his mind.
Visiting West African leaders have met Mr Jammeh to try to persuade him to step down after 22 years in power.
"We hope and pray that he [Jammeh] accepts their advice and leaves office," Mr Njai said.
The head of regional bloc Ecowas, Marcel de Souza, would not rule out sending in troops.
"We have done it in the past," he told Radio France Internationale.
"We currently have troops in Guinea-Bissau with the Ecomib mission. We have had troops in Mali. And therefore it is a possible solution."
Mr Jammeh has questioned the validity of the count after the electoral commission changed some results, even though it insists the outcome was not affected.
The commission said Mr Barrow obtained 222,708 votes (43.3%) compared with Mr Jammeh's 208,487 (39.6%). A third candidate, Mama Kandeh, won 89,768 votes (17.1%).
Mr Njai on Sunday defended the results and warned Mr Jammeh against a legal challenge.
"The election results were correct, nothing will change that," he said. "If it goes to court, we can prove every vote cast. The results are there for everyone to see."
The leaders of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone are all in The Gambia for talks with Mr Jammeh.
Gambia's army chief Ousman Badjie has seemingly reversed a pledge of support for Mr Barrow, the AFP agency reported, arriving at talks wearing a badge featuring Mr Jammeh's face on his uniform.
Related Topic: Jammeh rejects the election results
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2016 : 12:31:11
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TROOPS WITHDRAWN FROM IEC HEADQUARTERS
By Aja Musu Bah Daffeh
Foroyaa: December 22, 2016
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/13498
Soldiers that occupied the Headquarters of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) have been withdrawn. When this reporter visited the IEC Headquarters yesterday 20 December, 2016 she saw no sign of the armed soldiers and Police Intervention Unit (PIU) personnel who had been sending away IEC officials who tried to enter the premises.
Although a security guard could be seen at the entrance, there was no evidence that Election House (as the headquarters is known) has started operation.
It was earlier reported that IEC staff were not allowed inside their offices. An IEC official had then disclosed that all the staff who reported to work were asked to go back home including the IEC chairman, and senior IEC officials. No reason was disclosed as why the IEC building was barred and guarded.
A PIU personnel at the time also added that none of the I.E.C. staff who reported for work were allowed to go inside as the gates and doors were locked. Asked whether she knows the reason behind this action, she responded in the negative.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
Posted - 24 Dec 2016 : 13:32:39
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The IEC Headquarters still guarded by PIU
By Aja Musu Bah Daffeh
Foroyaa: December 23, 2016
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/13529#more-13529
 The Independent Election Commission (IEC) Headquarters is still occupied by PIU personnel who would not let IEC staff and iec-chairmannon-staff enter the premises.
The reporter who made an investigation about the issue found out that, on 20th December, armed soldiers and PIU personnel were out of sight but on December 22nd, 2016 some Police Intervention Unit (PIU) personnel were seen guarding the premises.
A PIU personnel who would not explain why they were there told this reporter that there is order from above that they should secure the premises and stop anyone from entering.
“I don’t know the reason why we are told to guard the place and deny the IEC official from entering their own premises; and for some days they haven’t reported”, the PIU personnel noted. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2016 : 12:01:11
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IEC Headquarters still under siege
Foroyaa: December 28, 2016
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/13574
The headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission is still occupied by personnel of the Police Intervention Unit. No one iec-chairmanhas been seen entering or leaving the premises.
The reason why the IEC headquarters is being close is still not known to both the staff and the public as a whole but the fact remains that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is still on the same storyline as the previous days, that is it is under tight security and the watchful eyes of the PIU personnel.
When this Foroyaa reporter got there on Tuesday 27th December, she observed that the premises was as quiet as a grave yard, with no one seen in the premises except some PIU personnel who seized the entire place, allowing no one to enter.
The police P.R.O, Foday Conta said he does not actually know why the IEC headquarters got closed but that one thing he knows for sure is that, the PIU personnel are guarding the place for security reasons and nothing more than that. He promised to find out and divulge more information.
Heavily armed security personnel from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) were first seen by Foroyaa, stationed at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) headquarters on 13 December 2016, sending back anyone who tried to enter the IEC premises at the Bertil Harding Highway in Kanifing.
On 20th December, the armed soldiers and PIU personnel were out of sight but on December 22nd, some PIU officers were again seen guarding the building.
A PIU personnel who would not explain why they were there told this reporter that there is order from above that they should secure the premises and stop anyone from entering.
“I don’t know the reason why we are told to guard the place and deny the IEC official from entering their own premises; and for some days they haven’t reported”, the PIU personnel noted.
The occupation of the IEC headquarters comes on the heels of outgoing President Jammeh’s rejection of the results of the December 1 election on 9 December 2016.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2016 : 14:20:34
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IEC re-opens, after ‘imminent security threat’
The Point: Thursday, December 29, 2016
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/iec-re-opens-after-imminent-security-threat
 The reason for the sudden closure and takeover of the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission by the military was because of an “imminent security threat”, the government has said.
In a press release issued yesterday, the outgoing government said now that the threat has abated, the commission would be re-opened with immediate effect.
Below is the statement from the government:
The Government of the Gambia hereby informs all staff of the Independent Electoral Commission that they can return to work with immediate effect.
The reason for the temporary closure of the commission head office was because of an imminent security threat namely, that the building was going to be burnt down. Now that the threat has abated, the IEC head office will reopen.
However, there will be visible security presence around the compound.
In a separate development, the Government of The Gambia is aware of all the fake news that have been published locally and internationally mainly on online news sites and blogs.
The Government of The Gambia assures all citizens, residents and friends of The Gambia here and abroad that The Gambia remains stable and peaceful and that there is no undue cause for worry and people should continue to go about their daily businesses in the normal way.
The Gambia under the leadership of His Excellency the President Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh Babili Mansa will continue to jealously guard the stability of the nation and ensure the maintenance of peace and security.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2016 : 19:34:49
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IEC STAFF TO RESUME WORK
Foroyaa: December 29, 2016
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/13606
The announcement made for the IEC staff to resume work tends to go against an earlier decision to occupy the Election House grounds by force thus sending the staff away.
The Constitution of the republic establishes the IEC and orders that it should not be subjected to any control or direction by any other authority other than the Constitution and laws of the Gambia.
This decision to occupy the headquarters of the IEC undermines the very security of the institution, its staff and the ballot.
It is important for the government which is in a process of transition to do things that would not undermine the transparency and accountability of the IEC.
Foroyaa will monitor the developments to see how things are faring after the press release calling on the staff to resume work. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Gambia security forces "seize IEC HQ"
