Gambia’s Jammeh rejects election results a week after conceding defeat
Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh said Friday he would not recognise the results of December 1 elections and called for fresh polls, a week after he conceded defeat.
“In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent and honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality,” he said in a statement broadcast on state television.
“Let me repeat: I will not accept the results based on what has happened,” he said, condemning “unacceptable errors” on the part of electoral authorities and calling for a new vote.
Jammeh pointed to an accounting error, identified by the IEC, which awarded victory to his opponent Adama Barrow but with a slimmer margin than initially announced.
Latest official figures gave Barrow 43.29 percent of the votes in the presidential election, while Jammeh took 39.64 percent. The turnout was at 59 percent.
Jammeh claimed “investigations” had revealed that numerous voters had not been able to cast their ballots.
“This is the most dubious election we ever had in the history of this country,” he said.
“We will go back to the polls because I want to make sure every Gambian votes under an electoral commission that is impartial, independent, neutral and free from foreign influence,” he said, adding that he would not tolerate any street protests over his decision.
The announcement upends the situation in the west African nation, where the population had been hoping for a peaceful democratic transition after Barrow’s shock victory this month looked set to end Jammeh’s 22 years in power.
On December 2, Jammeh made a magnanimous concession speech on television and promised — to general shock and surprise — a peaceful and swift handover of power to President-elect Barrow.
On Thursday, Barrow vowed to set up a South Africa-style truth commission and said that the country’s chief of defence staff had called to pledge the military’s backing.
But pressure to prosecute Jammeh and top figures in his administration, who have been accused of widespread human rights violations, is one of the key challenges facing the new government.
In an interview with French media December 3, Barrow ruled out a “witch hunt” and said that his predecessor would be able to “live in Gambia like any ordinary citizen”.
Dozens of opposition activists who had been detained since April for holding protests were granted bail this week, with the lawyer noting they were members of the United Democratic Party (UDP), of which Barrow was the presidential candidate.
UDP founder and leader Ousainou Darboe, who was jailed in July for taking part in a protest, was freed on bail with 18 others on Monday, as part of their ongoing appeal against three-year sentences.
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1 Comments
Let Jammeh know that the world is watching. He must swallow his pride and stand by his earlier decision to concede defeat to Barrow. Jammeh should have the problem that ruined Gbagbo in Ivory Coast at the back of his mind. Whatever social unrests that engulf the Gambia by his new macho man stance will definitely affect his freedom at the end of the day. International Criminal Court at the Hague may be assembling the facts to nail him, if he does not allow reason to prevail against sentiments and pride. Barrow, as the President elect of the Gambia, must watch his pre-inauguration utterances. He must assure Jammeh of his post power security and freedom instead of threatening to deal with his past. When you threaten the man with power he may be afraid to let go. For the electoral commission in the Gambia, I believe is unworthy of their calling. It is the most costly mistake to have started off the controversy of a recount. The problem should have been left to the courts if President Jammeh had an issue with the results. The Head of the body should not be spared prosecution if the Gambia is thrown into conflicts. I see partisanship in all his actions. Finally, as I reiterate my call on President Jammeh to tow the path of honour, like our reverred President Goodluck Jonathan did in Nigeria, I also appeal to electoral commissions all over African to remain neutral in the assignments to enthrone the people’s choice as leaders, as the underdevelopment and strife in Africa have their root in partisan electoral bodies. When they fan the embers of hatred in the people which result in social unrest, they, their friends and families will not be insulated in any way. The effects of war are not discriminatory. As they affect one they also affect the other. We can collectively make our world safer by being alive to our responsibilities.
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