Gambia's ex-President Yaya Jammeh , who had been holding the nation of Gambia and the world hostage by first conceding , then changing and refusing to concede defeat after losing the Presidential elections of December 1, 2016, at last stepped down yesterday.
And the sub-continent breathed a sigh of relief as Jammeh left the Gambia today for exile, accompanied by Guinea’s President Alpha Conde.
And the sub-continent breathed a sigh of relief as Jammeh left the Gambia today for exile, accompanied by Guinea’s President Alpha Conde.
A deal is right now being circulated on the Internet which claims to be the terms and conditions between ECOWAS and Jammeh that facilitated the final exit of Jammeh. The terms highly favoured Jammeh and has already sparked outrage amongst Gambians.
However, President Adama Barrow's spokesman, Mai Ahmad Fatty, has shut it down saying there
was no deal on Jammeh's exit.
You'll find the deal and Adama's response below:
Shortly after the above statement was released, a member of the new government, President Barrow’s Special Adviser released this post on the social media :
Culled From Hon Mai Fatty from the Republican of Gambia
However, President Adama Barrow's spokesman, Mai Ahmad Fatty, has shut it down saying there
was no deal on Jammeh's exit.
You'll find the deal and Adama's response below:
JOINT DECLARATION BY THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES, THE AFRICAN UNION AND THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA ON JANUARY 21, 2017
- 1. Following the Decision of the Summit of the ECOWAS Authority taken on 17th December 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria, Mediation efforts, including visits to Banjul, were undertaken by the Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Mediator, HE President Muhammadu Buhari and Co-Mediator on The Gambia, HE former President John Dramani Mahama, along with HE President Ernest Bai Koroma to mediate on the political impasse with Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh,
- 2. Following further mediation efforts by HE President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and HE President Alpha Conde of the Republic of Guinea Conakry with HE Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, the former President of the Republic of The Gambia, and in consultation with the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the Chairperson of the AU Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, this declaration is made with the purpose of reaching a peaceful resolution to the political situation in The Gambia.
- 3. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commend the goodwill and statesmanship of His Excellency former President Jammeh, who with the greater interest of the Gambian people in mind, and in order to preserve the peace, stability and security of The Gambia and maintain its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the dignity of the Gambian people, has decided to facilitate an immediate peaceful and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.
- 4. In furtherance of this, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it assures and ensures the dignity, respect, security and rights of HE former President Jammeh, as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
- 5. Further, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it fully guarantees, assures and ensures the dignity, security, safety and rights of former President Jammeh’s immediate family, cabinet members, government officials, Security Officials and party supporters and loyalists.
- 6. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that no legislative measures are taken by it that would be inconsistent with the previous two paragraphs.
- 7. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN urge the Government of The Gambia to take all necessary measures to assure and ensure that there is no intimidation, harassment and/or witch-hunting of former regime members and supporters, in conformity with the Constitution and other laws of The Gambia.
- 8. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to prevent the seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to former President Jammeh or his family and those of his Cabinet members, government officials and Party supporters, as guaranteed under the Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
- 9. In order to avoid any recriminations, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia on national reconciliation to cement social, cultural and national cohesion.
- 10. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN underscore strongly the important role of the Gambian Defence and Security Forces in the maintenance of peace and stability of The Gambia and commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it takes all appropriate measures to support the maintenance of the integrity of the [Defence and] Security Forces and guard against all measures that can create division and a breakdown of order.
- 11. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work to ensure that host countries that offer “African hospitality” to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.
- 12. In order to assist a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power and the establishment of a new government, HE former President Jammeh will temporarily leave The Gambia on 21 January 2017, without any prejudice to his rights as a citizen, a former President and a Political Party Leader.
- 13. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of the Gambia and a former head of state.
- 14. Pursuant to this declaration, ECOWAS will halt any military operations in The Gambia and will continue to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.
- Done this 21thday of January, 2017 in Banjul, The Gambia
Shortly after the above statement was released, a member of the new government, President Barrow’s Special Adviser released this post on the social media :
Culled From Hon Mai Fatty from the Republican of Gambia
THERE WAS NO DEAL ON JAMMEH ‘S EXIT
There was NO DEAL signed. What is being circulated was a DRAFT jointly prepared by Guinea Conakry and Mauritania. President Barrow received the said draft this afternoon and he rejected it outright. Both the President of the ECOWAS Commission Marcel Desouza and the Envoy of Qatar visited today for consultations on this matter. Our position remained the same.
The President subsequently requested the resumption of military action immediately to enforce the elections results of 1st December, and to arrest Jammeh, if he refused to depart.
I went in the media to assert that Jammeh won’t be permitted to sleep in The Gambia tonight. Within an hour, Jammeh agreed to depart.
Few minutes after the departure, the President authorized the temporary closure of our air space to prevent the landing of a purported commecial cargo craft intended to airlift vehicles and other luxury belongings of Jammeh.
There was NO deal.
In the New Gambia, it is better to verify before going with unsubstantiated information to the public domain. We intend to run an open government. Please just simply verify first from credible sources
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