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Gambia’s Jammeh accuses ECOWAS of declaring war

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has accused the West African regional bloc ECOWAS of declaring war after demanding that he stand down following his defeat at the ballot box.
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has accused the West African regional bloc ECOWAS of declaring war after demanding that he stand down following his defeat at the ballot box.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has accused the West African regional bloc ECOWAS of declaring war after demanding that he stand down following his defeat at the ballot box.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has accused the West African regional bloc ECOWAS of declaring war after demanding that he stand down following his defeat at the ballot box.

Regional leaders warned last month that the 15-member ECOWAS would “take all necessary action to enforce the results” of the December 1 poll.

Jammeh retorted in a New Year’s speech on Saturday night that the ECOWAS summit decision was “totally illegal” as it violated the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.

“It is in effect a declaration of war and an insult to our constitution. It is therefore absolutely unacceptable,” said Jammeh.

“Let me make very clear that we are ready to defend the country against any aggression and there will be no compromise on this.”

Opposition leader Adama Barrow was declared the winner of the ballot in the former British colony and Jammeh — in power for 22 years — initially conceded defeat.

But he reversed his decision a week later, condemning “unacceptable errors” by election authorities and calling for a new election.

The Gambia’s top court said last month it was adjourning until January 10 a case filed by Jammeh to annul the vote results.

Jammeh’s stance has stoked international concerns about the future of the small west African country, with the UN joining African leaders in calling for him to allow Barrow to take the oath of office as scheduled on January 19.

But the 51-year-old strongman has remained defiant.

“Given the unjustifiable and unprecedented anomalies… what we are simply and rightfully asking for is to return to the polls and allow the Gambians to elect who they want to be their president in free and fair elections,” he said Saturday.

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5 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

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  • Author’s gravatar

    The fool is already crying wolf where there was none. I wonder what he would cry of when he sees real war.

  • Author’s gravatar

    You had better handover to the winner of the presidential election or risked being captured like a rat and prosecuted as a common criminal. ECOWS member nations are coming to kick you out. You have till the 19th of January 2017 to vacate office! You have ruled for 22 years, what else do you want?

  • Author’s gravatar

    He does not know, ECOWAS is going to use him as an example, to other nations, who believed leadership is inheritance in African countries.

  • Author’s gravatar

    If you don’t learn from history Jammeh, then you will become history to learn from too. Remember Lauren Gbagbo, he called the bluff of ECOWAS, he is in prison today.