Gambia's envoy to US backs 'will of the people, mediators meet Jammeh and Barrow

The Gambia’s ambassador to the United States, Sheikh Omar Faye, has called on his boss, Alhaji Dr Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh Babili Mansa, to respect the country’s constitution and hand over power to the president-elect Adama Barrow.

The ambassador’s plea was contained in a leaked letter dated Tuesday 13th December 2016. The date coincides with the international mediation team’s visit to the West African country as part of efforts to solve the brewing political impasse.

Omar Faye said the world was so proud of Jammeh’s political maturity after accepting defeat in the december 1 polls. It continued that, ‘‘Unfortunately, on december 9, 2016 His Excellency President Jammeh reversed his decision and called for fresh elections, which has created a serious post-elections crisis and put The Gambia on a dangerous path.’‘

He said he was supporting the will of the citizens by recognizing Adama Barrow as the president elect. Adding that his position was a personal one borne out of his desire to ‘‘safeguard the peace and social cohesion of our beloved country.’‘

#SaveNewGambia
Gambian Ambassador to United States, Sheikh Omar Faye urges Jammeh to step down LudovicaIaccino bbcBola secgen pic.twitter.com/gbmJpvUqFR

— Sainey M.K. Marenah (saineymkmarenah) December 13, 2016

International mediators land in The Gambia to talk Jammeh out

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is in Gambia as leader of a high level delegation of African heads of state aiming to solve the political situation in the Gambia.

Sirleaf, who is also Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is leading a tripartite delegation representing the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and West African regional bloc ECOWAS.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Barrow said he wanted to see an “expedited transitional period” leading to a handover of power from outgoing President Yahya Jammeh. He also said he had no official security and was ’‘exposed’‘.

Along with Sirleaf, there are other leaders including:

• President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria
• President Alpha Conde of Guinea
• President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone
• President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana

I am in The Gambia with other ECOWAS leaders to insist on the sanctity of the electoral process, and respect for the wishes of the people pic.twitter.com/5nbCVMb8Pf

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 13, 2016

We will be asking President Jammeh to respect his country's Constitution, and to maintain the inviolability of the electoral process.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 13, 2016

In Banjul, with other colleague Heads of State from the subregion, to help mediate post election issues in The Gambia. pic.twitter.com/5mYQ7Cvbdh

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) December 13, 2016