Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council to be unambiguous & unequivocal in its message to resolve the current political crisis saying “If we fail the people of The Gambia, we will be failing Africa’.
Dr Zuma said the situation in The Gambia does not need long discussion because when the people have spoken, that should be respected.
Addressing the 647th meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on Friday, 13th January 2017, in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Dr Zuma insisted that the will of the Gambian people must be respected in this instance.
“We don’t need long discussions on this matter. The African Union Peace and Security Council must be unambiguous & unequivocal in its message to resolve this issue. The African Union is working with ECOWAS leaders and the stakeholders of The Gambia to ensure a smooth transition of authority on 19 Jan 2017. The Gambia voted, the president-elect was voted & he should be installed when the time comes” she insisted.
Dr Zuma said the will of the people must be respected saying “We’ve come a long way. Democracy in Africa is thriving… The ECOWAS region presents a good example of democracy in Africa… and when the people have spoken, that should be respected”.
Meanwhile, at the end of the meeting, the African Union has announced it will cease to recognise Yahya Jammeh as Gambia’s legitimate president as of January 19th, the date he is due to hand power to the winner of the December election, the AU’s Peace and Security Council said.
African Union Peace and Security Council also warned of “serious consequences in the event that his action causes any crisis that could lead to political disorder, humanitarian and human rights disaster, including loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties”.
It could be recalled that outgoing President Yahya Jammeh was defeated in December polls, conceded defeat and later reversed the decision prompting international condemnation. He has since been defiant and the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS, has for the second time visited the Gambia without any deal. Mr Jammeh is still defiant and leaders may resort to military intervention to get rid of him.
