Leave power now, US issues stern warning to Jammeh
– The US says President Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to leave power is putting Gambia and his legacy in peril
– US also faulted Jammeh’s excuse of external interference in Gambia’s internal affairs by ECOWAS and African Union, saying it is not tenable
– The US delivered this message through the spokesperson of the State Department Mr John Kirby at a press conference on Tuesday, January 17
US says Jammeh should leave power for Adama Barrow that won the December 1 election.
The United States of America has advised Gambia President Yahya Jammeh not to prolong his tenure as leader of the West African country.
Sahara Reporters writes that the US delivered its message through the spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State Mr John Kirby at a press conference on Tuesday, January 17.
According to the US, Jammeh’s actions are putting Gambia and his legacy in peril.
“President Jammeh is losing opportunities to respect the will of the Gambian people and to peacefully hand over power to the president-elect, which is supposed to happen on Thursday.
“Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos.
“Failure to do so will put his legacy – and, more importantly, the Gambia – in peril, and we have been clear about this,” Kirby said.
Kirby noted that Jammeh’s excuse of external interference in Gambia’s internal affairs by ECOWAS and African Union is not tenable.
He said: “I don’t know what interference he’s referring to, but we obviously want to see the Gambia succeed.
And we want to see the president-elect properly installed and to have in place a government, which is responsible for and responsive to the needs of the Gambian people.”
“We call on President Jammeh to listen to his own people, to listen to the Gambian people who have clearly called on him to accept the results of the December 1st election.
“And to again agree to what he already agreed to, which is a peaceful handover of power to President-elect Barrow.”
Kirby added: “I just would say that we do, obviously, support ECOWAS as a force for peace and security in the region, and specifically in The Gambia.
“Well, again, I don’t want to speak to what possible actions they may take. I don’t want to get out in front of those decisions.”
But Jammeh appears to have shunned US’s advice as reports coming in from Gambia on Wednesday, January 18 say that the West African country’s National Assembly has passed a resolution giving the incumbent president Yahya Jammeh a three-month tenure extension.
