Members of AU Security Council call on Jammeh to respect the people’s choice

Members of the African Union Security Council have called on the president of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia Mr. Yahya Jammeh to respect the choice of the sovereign People of The Gambia, as he did on December 2, 2016.

The members strongly condemned the statement by Mr. Yahya Jammeh on December 9, rejecting the December 1 official election results proclaimed by the Independent Electoral Commission and calling for new elections, a press release copied to ghanabusinessnews.com has said.

They also called on him to transfer, without condition and undue delay, power to the President-elect, Mr. Adama Barrow.

The members additionally urged the outgoing President to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process demanding that the security of the president – elect Adama Barrow, and that of all Gambian citizens be fully ensured.

It also asked President Jammeh to respect the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on democracy and good governance and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, notably the rejection of unconstitutional changes of government.

The members of the Security Council urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from violence and remain calm.

They called on the support of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWAS) and international partners, especially ECOWAS, to preserve stability in The Gambia and work towards the installation of a democratically elected government in the country, it noted.

They further expressed their commitment to continue to follow closely the evolution of the situation in The Gambia.

By Pamela Ofori-Boateng

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