Last ditch attempt by regional leaders to persuade
Gambia’s President Jammeh to give up power peacefully at the end of his term
have ended in Banjul without any breakthrough.
According reports, which have not been officially
confirmed, Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Johnson Sirleaf of
Liberia and ex-President Mahama of Ghana were unable to convince Mr Jammeh to
respect last month’s election results and facilitate a smooth transfer of
power.
Mr Jammeh, 51, who has ruled the Gambia for 22 years was
defeated in the December election by opposition candidate Adama Barrow.
He had initially conceded defeat and praised the
country’s electoral system as rigged proof, but changed his mind a week later
and declared the results null and void citing huge and unacceptable mistakes by
the electoral commission.
Mr Jammeh later filed a suit at the supreme court asking
judges to determine that Adama Barrow was not duly elected or returned as
president, and that the said election was void.
But the court is unable to hold a hearing until May – as
most of the judges come from neighbouring countries – and Mr Jammeh has said he
is going nowhere until then even though his mandate ends on January 18th.
Adama Barrow boarding a flight to Bamako, Mali
At Friday’s meeting with President Jammeh, reports said
the Ecowas delegation who have also met with President-elect Barrow, the Chief
Justice of the Gambia, Emmanuel Fagbenle and two electoral commissioners,
made it clear how serious their assignment was and emphasised their
determination to find a peaceful solution that accords with the constitution of
the Gambia and also reflects the will of the Gambian people as expressed in the
December polls.
The team also reiterated the decision made last month by
Ecowas head of states in Abuja, Nigeria, to send a Senegal-led military force
to intervene militarily in the Gambia and enforce the outcome of the election
if he refuses to give up power when his mandate expires on January 18th.
Reports added that Mr Jammeh in response insisted on
staying in power until the Supreme Court decides on his election petition in
May. He reportedly told the delegation that he was cheated in the election and
is seeking redress it the court in line with provisions of the constitution of
the Gambia.
Mr Jammeh is also reported to have asked the
mediators to drop the threat of military intervention, which he described as
unhelpful.
He also called for them to respect the sovereignty of
the Gambia and warned that his regime will defend the country against any
outside military invasion.
He said while he is strongly in favour of a peaceful
solution to the crisis, he wants justice and fairness to prevail.
Meanwhile, President-elect Barrow has left Banjul for
Bamako, Mali, where he will give a first hand report on the political standoff
at the Africa-France summit.
During the summit, President Buhari will also brief his
colleagues about the outcome of his mediation efforts before a final decision
is taken by the head of states.
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