Gambia: ECOWAS Leaders Laments Deterioration of Security

Leaders of West African Countries who converged in Abuja to discuss he political impasse in The Gambia, rose from their meeting on Monday, expressing worries over the deteriorating security situation in that country.

At the end of the Abuja meeting, the leaders agreed for a certain number of Presidents to meet the incumbent President of The Gambia, Yahaya Jammeh, tomorrow, Wednesday.

Leaders of the ECOWAS region who will be at the meeting will comprise the current Chief mediator President Buhari of Nigeria while others including the President of Liberia and hopefully, the President of Sierra-Leon and the co-mediator the former President of Ghana (John Mahamma) as well as the President of the ECOWAS commission, the Special Representatives of United Nations and also a Representative of the African Union.

“So, this meeting will take place in two days’ time on Wednesday to discourse with President Jammeh the need the imperative the constitution.”

President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as the mediator of the crisis in The Gambia had hosted a meeting with ECOWAS Presidents yesterday, as the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Those who present at the Abuja meeting included the Presidents of Liberia who is also the chair of the ECOWAS authority, the President of Senegal and the former President of Ghana who is also the co-chair
mediator with President Buhari.
Also present were the Presidents of the ECOWAS commission and also the Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary General who is the head of the UN office for West Africa and the Sahel.

Minister of Foreign Affairs who briefed State House reporters after the meeting said the leaders “deliberated on the current state of affairs in The Gambia and shared views on the way forward.”

The leaders according to him” agreed on the determination to resolve The Gambian political crisis in a manner that every step of the way conforms with the constitution of The Gambia and respect the will of the people of The Gambia.”

They expressed particular concern at the deteriorating situation that has been reported in respect of security in The Gambia in particular, the closure of some of the radio stations and media and house, arrest that have been taking place and also the refugee situation that is being created with the mass exodus of a large number of people to the interior and to neighbouring countries.