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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Dec 2016 : 14:26:28
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Ecowas mediation continues as transition progresses in Gambia
By: Lamin Jahateh and Kaddijatou Jawo
The Point: Wednesday, December 14, 2016
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/ecowas-mediation-continues-as-transition-progresses-in-gambia
 The transition from the outgoing to the incoming president-elect continues as a high-powered delegation of four heads of state and a UN representative met with the incumbent president to discuss the impasse that stalled the initial process.
The fact-finding delegation comprised Ecowas chairperson President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and the special representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and Sahel, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas.
The delegation met with outgoing president Yahya Jammeh at State House in Banjul before meeting president-elect Adama Barrow and his coalition team at the Coco Ocean Hotel in Bijilo.
They also met with the chairman and other commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission, and security chiefs.
The leader of the delegation, President Johnson Sirleaf, briefly told journalists that both the outgoing and incoming presidents and their teams promised to maintain the peace and stability in the country as the transition process continues.
She said one of the key concerns of the delegation and Ecowas as a whole is to make sure that peace continues to reign in The Gambia.
As a fact-finding mission, she said they will submit their report to the Ecowas Commission to be discussed at the forthcoming Summit of Ecowas Heads of State on Saturday in Abuja, Nigeria.
The coming of the delegation was prompted by outgoing president Jammeh’s rejection of the result of the 1st December 2016 presidential election, which he initially described as “most transparent and rig-proof”. He also called for a fresh election.
This has raised some fears in the country and stalled the transition process.
In view of the heightened tension in the country, regional leaders are calling on Jammeh to step down in the interest of peace.
In her statement, the Ecowas chairperson inferred that they are yet to convince Jammeh to step down when the transition period ends in January.
“It is not something that can happen in one day. It is something that we have to work on,” she said.
Earlier on Halifa Sallah, spokesperson of the coalition, said they had told the delegation that when the transition ends and Jammeh said he would not go, there “will be a constitutional crisis and a likely conflict in the country”.
“We had indicated to them that there is relative peace in The Gambia today, because of our adherence to the constitutional provision that even though president-elect Barrow is the elected incoming president, there is a transition period in our constitution that makes President Jammeh to stay in office until the expiration of his term,” he said.
Mr Sallah said they told the visiting heads of state to talk to Jammeh to open the line of communication so that the transition can progress, and also to revoke the declaration he made to annul the result.
“They [the heads of state] agreed with us that this is the way forward,” he said.
“They told us incoming president Barrow should counsel our supporters to prepare for the transition phase, and to prepare to assume office after the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing president.”
He further stated that the issue of military intervention does not arise for now.
“But if the transition phase is completed and Jammeh says he would not leave office, then there would be a constitutional crisis where his [Jammeh’s] own government will be an outlawed government, and that may provoke military crisis and other crises.”
Picture: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President Buhari
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
11738 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2016 : 22:14:31
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Building the New Gambia
ECOWAS Summit Final Communiqué
ON THE SITUATION IN THE GAMBIA
37. The Authority calls on President Yahya Jammeh to accept the result of the polls and refrain from any action likely to compromise the transition and peaceful transfer of power to the President-elect.
38. The Head of States and Government further agreed on the following:
a) To uphold the result of 1st December 2016 election in the Republic of The Gambia.
b) Guarantee the Safety and protection of the President-elect Mr. Adama Barrow.
c) That all Head of States will attend the inauguration of the President-elect Adama Barrow who must be sworn in on 19th January 2017 in conformity with the Gambian constitution.
d) Call on the Government and the Coalition Parties to show restraint in order to preserve national unity.
e) To respect the will of the Gambian people as expressed by the Presidential election results of 1st December 2016;
f) That His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will serve as the Mediator in the Gambia and His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana as the Co-chair. The mediation process shall be conducted on the basis of terms agreed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government;
g) Requests the endorsement of the AU and the UN on all decisions taken on the matter of The Gambia and also requests their support for the mediation efforts of ECOWAS including the provision of technical assistance where required;
h) The Authority shall take all necessary actions to enforce the results of 1st December 2016 elections;
39. The Authority encourages all stakeholders, within and outside The Gambia, to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law and ensure the peaceful transfer of power. It calls on the Gambian defence and security forces to perform their role in a nationalistic manner and protect lives and property.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2016 : 14:23:12
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PRESIDENT JAMMEH ON THE ECOWAS COMMUNIQUE
Foreoyaa: December 22, 2016
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/13507
A proper reading of the ECOWAS Communique reveals two complimentary intentions that should be noted by President Jammeh, in particular, and the Gambian population, in general.
The first intention is to promote a respect for the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia which empowers the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to declare election results and for an incumbent to leave office when the term of five years expires.
ECOWAS also recognises that the President – Elect should assume office on the day the term of the incumbent expires.
No Gambian is empowered to set aside the verdict of the Constitution. Only the courts could inquire into and determine the merits of an election petition.
The second aspect is for ECOWAS to send a mediation team comprising President Buhari of Nigeria and President Mahama of Ghana to continue the mediation between the President – Elect and the Outgoing President.
In that regard, one should not view their promise to attend the inauguration of the President – Elect as a declaration of war. Instead it is simply a declaration of intent to recognise the legitimacy of the presidential election which was won by Adama Barrow.
Hence, the incumbent should continue to open his doors for negotiation, knowing full well that he was the one who moved the whole world to conclude on the election held in the Gambia. The reversal of his decision puts him in a difficult situation in trying to convince people to change their minds when they had already decided on the outcome. He is the one who should recognise that the source of the problem is his change of heart.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2016 : 14:45:43
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AU Supports ECOWAS Decision on Gambia
By Yankuba Jallow
Foroyaa: December 22, 2016
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/13502
 On Monday, 19 December, 2016, the President of the Republic of Chad and the chairperson of the African Union (A.U) Heads of au-supports-ecowasState and Government issued a release to affirm their strong support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on its principled stand with regards to the situation in The Gambia.
“The chairperson of the Union, once again calls upon the outgoing President Yahya Jammeh to facilitate a smooth transfer of power to the newly elected President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, as decided by the people of the country,” AU chairperson added.
Furthermore, the chairperson of the Union recalled the pronouncement made by the Peace and Security Council, on 6th and 12th December, 2016 and reaffirms the imperative need for an orderly and peaceful transfer of power to the President elect of The Gambia which is in line with the relevant provisions of the A.U Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
“I am calling on all defense and security forces in The Gambia to strictly abide by the Constitution and rule of law” cautioned President Idriss Deby Itno.
The release further affirms his office’s readiness to pursue and intensify coordination efforts with ECOWAS and the United Nations, in order to facilitate the speedy and orderly transfer of power to the President-elect, including its full support to President Muhammadu Buhari, in its capacity as ECOWAS Mediator in The Gambia.
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Ecowas mediation continues as transition progres
