(JollofNews) – President Yahya of the Gambia Saturday vowed to defend his country against any aggression.
Mr Jammeh said his regime will not compromise any foreign invasion and will defend the territorial sovereignty of the Gambia.
Leaders of the West African regional grouping have officially authorised a so-called Ecowas Standby Force (ESF) to intervene militarily in the Gambia and enforce the outcome of a presidential election earlier this month if defeated President Yahya Jammeh refuses to give up power when his mandate expires on January 18.
A December 17 resolution leaked to the {African Press Agency} on Wednesday mandates the ESF to deploy a Senegal-led military force to oust Jammeh who is challenging the election result after initially conceding defeat to Barrow and promising a smooth handover of power.
But in his New Year’s televised address to Gambians, Mr Jammeh said the decision of Ecowas to implement the election results by whatever means possible is totally illegal as it violates the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states, which is an entrenched clause in the Ecowas treaty.
“It is in effect a declaration of war and an insult to our constitution and it is therefore absolutely unacceptable. This blatant and one-sided dimensional approach that the role of Ecowas is not predicated on the pursuit of justice in the resolution of this stalemate,” he said.
“This partisanship of Ecowas has also disqualified it from providing mediation services as the genuine mediator has to be neutral and impartial to win the confidence and trust of the parties to the conflict. Thus, we will not enter into negations brokered by Ecowas if it does not recognised that provisions of the Gambian constitution provides the basic legal principles to guide the sorting out of the details of this stalemate in order to arrive at a peaceful resolution legally binding on both parties.”
Mr Jammeh, 51, who has ruled the Gambia since 1994 added: “Without this quest for justice within the context of the constitution of the Gambia and the elimination of the threat of use of force in the position of Ecowas, the impasse will continue with the risk of escalation into a military confrontation.
“We have been principled, vehemently condemned violence but we shall never condone injustice and we will also not be threatened. Our sovereignty will not be compromised. Let me make very clear, we are ready to defend this country against any aggression and there will be no compromise for that. My government will Inshallah [Allah willing] never opt for such confrontation unless when we are compelled to defend our sovereignty, independence and dignity.
“Defending our independence and sovereignty is a sacred duty for all patriotic Gambians more so the Gambia Armed Forces. On the basis of liberate policy, my government developed an atmosphere of peace and stability in our country and we remain strongly committed to guard the sustenance of this culture of peace that is the envy of my nation and we will defend it to the last person.”
Mr Jammeh added that the basis of his protest and rejection of the election results after he initially conceded defeat and offered to guide and counsel the declared winner, Adama Barrow, in the execution of his duties is in the pursue of justice as provided for in the constitution of the Gambia.
He added: “What we are simply and rightfully asking for is to return to the polls and allow the Gambians to elect who they want to be their president in a free and fair elections to be organised by a fresh, patriotic, Allah-fearing and honest independent electoral commission just like it was under the leadership of [the previous chairman of the electoral commission] Mr [Mustapha] Carayol.
“The moral behind my nullification of the results is that in as much as I will not cheat or allow anyone to cheat on my behalf, so will I not tolerate any one to cheat me.”
Mr Jammeh said in spite of the fact that cheating is prohibited by both Islam and Christianity and that cheating in election is prohibited by law, and petition against election fraud is provided for in the Gambian constitution, some interest groups and individuals have championed the campaign for him to step down thereby dismissing the legitimacy of his protest.
“In filing a petition at the supreme court, I am merely acting in accordance with the oath I took to defend the Constitution of the Gambia as your president and to exercise my rights of appeal as a candidate in the December 2016 elections,” he said.
“I have noticed that there are appeals in some quarters for me to step down. This tantamount to disregarding this constitutional provision that should govern the resolution of the current impasse.
“Most if not all the reasons advanced in their appeal for me to re-embrace my initial position are based on fears of a military confrontation that leads to violence and concerns for an outbreak of war in this peaceful country of ours.”
EVIL yaya KILLER DEVIL never ever abided by the Gambian constitutionality at anytime before for the past 22 years Except ONLY whenever the issue favours the kanilai Idol Worshipping DEVIL itself…
There isn’t much long to go for now; January 19 is less than three weeks away; keep squatting at the state house & see if you & the Criminal Militia bandits will still hold in there when the time is up…
Long live the Gambia…
I agree with the Guinean President for being against military intervention. But the only language military leaders understand is military force. Therefore, I would suggest that military intervention should be the last option if all else fails. As such, the ECOWAS standby force should remain on standby to move in at short notice if Jammeh continues to defy the whole world.
Mr. Dennis, diplomacy is always the preferred method to resolve a conflict. Unfortunately, when the application of soft power fails, hard power becomes the only tool.
Go away Mr Jammeh, please go to avail peace in the country for Gambians and non-Gambians alike want peace.We don’t want to die a premature dead!!!We have worked so hard to build small and medium size businesses, are you going to watch it all get destroyed….
How we can make africa better. If any leaders they turns over and dont want to stepdown
Please Gambia is a peaceful country dont crakdown. We all love you and all need you to leave power peacefully. Enough for you 27 years. And we all know you build Gambia, but the nation of Gambia need new driver to drive the ship. Thank you.
Useless you are, when did you became that God fearing person you considered yourself now? Isn’t you who killed the gambians, isn’t you who squandered and embezzled the gambians wealth, isn’t you who raped our sisters….devil jammeh. Evil jammeh for 22years you are cheating on we the gambians what makes you think is not right to cheat on you even once if it does happens…you spits in the sky now it falls into your eyes, no wonders why you never accepted democracy because it will hunt for you now that it’s fast coming the 19 January either hook or crook you will leave Gambia has decided
This is Gambia’s internal issue and should be ironed out by its citizens. Ecowas or not any third party who things can help (if warranted) should be but only peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy. Gambia is known for its peacefulness and that is what she is known to be championing for decades. It is true that there is disagreement between two parties of which Gambians are divided nonetheless no one group is seeking for anything different from peace. Ecowas and all its supporting bodies will be wrong if they think Gambians will be ready to die just to see the seating president remove for the one elected. Ecowas and the world at large should know one think about the December 1st election and it’s result. It was conducted in The Gambia by the Gambians and for The Gambia. The winner is a Gambian and like wise the loser therefore it is The Gambia that wins and only a win but not a lose. If Gambians were able to decide for themselves without any foreign interference why not let Gambians to peacefully end what they already started? Everybody in The Gambia knows it’s Arm forces will not be firing on its citizens. Everybody knows the Arm forces are not anticipating for any violence. Everybody knows the military and the security forces will put down their arms if not remain but to kill their brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, friends or neighbors. if that is clear to everyone then why any military intervention? Has Ecowas quickly forgot what has happened in Libya? Has AU or Ecowas forgot what happened in Monrovia, Freetown or what is currently going on in Syria? is that what they want for Banjul? If military intervention is the only solution to Gambia’s problem then, on behalf of all peace-loving Gambians I said to the ESF you are not welcome to Banjul.
Ecowas would be making a grave mistake thinking that it will be any easy task to take the present president down. Despite small, despite IEC declaring the Coalition victorious that does not mean the Gambia Arm Force or the Gambian citizens will hide to see intruders invading and looting the peace of most peaceful nation in West Africa and among the most in Africa. Do Ecowas know despite The Gambia and Senegal sharing the same people are of good terms when its nothing but political? Did they forgot what happen between two few years ago during African/World cup qualifiers? Do they know that it is just these recent years that the two nationals are of better terms? Do they that Gambians see Senegalese as people who look down upon them and Senegalese sees Gambians as people of low awareness, less developed, less educated less or low of everything and all these are things Gambians find hard to swallow. That being the case, Gambia harboring tens of thousands of Senegalese and Ecowas allowing Senegal leading the ESF will lead to nothing but dirty game. I spoke to many people recently, despite differences in political affiliation and ideology, age and gender, one thing they all have in common is NOT ENTERTAINING ANY ESF especially SENEGALESE MILITARY.
Is this putting Senegalese citizen and business community in danger?
Jack shaw, you were a complete bull shit. The more you write the less sense you make. Senegalese and Gambians are the same people and never looked down on each other and our standards of education are completely different. They are francophone and Gambians are anglophone. Learn some facts or shut da hell up.
You are nothing but a complete liar. All Ecowas and the world over jnows is that Jammeh must go. There is only one of two ways he must go when dialogue with him fails.That is through military intervetion. Your promotion of dictatorianism will not hold. He will go. Gambia armed forces do not have the capacity to fight even Senegal talk less of the whole Ecowas. Now that they will be regarded as rebel and Jammeh their rebel leader on the 19th January, they ll be treated as such. So pocket that fear mongering advice of your’s
I think you are hundred percent right. African leaders are always drunk with power
Jack makes some sense. Buhari for example have not obeyed the ecowas court order asking him to release Dasuki, a former security chief from prison, so what moral justification does buhari have to lead a ESF to see off Jammeh.
I would warn that foreigners including Senegalese should stay-off Gambia, as this is a Gambian internal affair.
Gambian should not be too excited out of hatred for Jammeh that foreign troops is about to invade their country to enthrone a poppet in the name of Barrow, as the aftermath of the invasion would change Gambia for even as in Libya and Iraq.
So you prefer jammeh to remain in power?
Mr Nyalin Sutuh you are either extremely stupid or the biggest hypocrite in the world. This silly situation was created by Jammeh because he has the guns. Elections are meant to be the peaceful way of solving political debate s. Jammeh has totally and illegally ignored the choice of Gambian s. Can you imagine if he were the declared winner of the elections and Barrow refuses to accept it and threatens to disrupt jammeh’s inauguration. Remember Solo Sandeng only called for electoral reforms PEACEFULLY and jammeh tortured him to death. Yaya is d one who wants this issue to be solved with violence. Since the 2nd of December, Barrow and his team have been asking jammeh to dialogue and consultations and he jammeh does not only ignore that but has started closing down radio stations and arresting people for wearing T-shirts. Jammeh understands only force. Inshallah he will go down by force and in shame. Hypocrite s like u should just shut up or volunteer to join him (jammeh) and his evil bandits at state house. You will all go to hell.
This is Gambia’s internal issue and should be ironed out by its citizens. Ecowas or not any third party who thinks can help (if warranted) should be but only peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy. Gambia is known for its peacefulness and that is what she is known to be championing for decades. It is true that there is disagreement between two parties of which Gambians are divided nonetheless no one group is seeking for anything different from peace. Ecowas and all its supporting bodies will be wrong if they think Gambians will be ready to die just to see the seating president remove for the one elected. Ecowas and the world at large should know one thing about the December 1st election and it’s result. It was conducted in The Gambia by the Gambians and for The Gambia. The winner is a Gambian and like wise the loser therefore it is The Gambia who wins and only a win but not a lose. If Gambians were able to decide for themselves without any foreign interference why not let Gambians to peacefully end what they already started? Everybody in The Gambia knows it’s Arm forces will not be firing on its citizens. Everybody knows the Arm forces are not anticipating for any violence. Everybody knows the military and the security forces will put down their arms if nothing remains but to kill their brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, friends or neighbors. If that is clear to everyone then why any military intervention? Has Ecowas quickly forgot what has happened in Libya? Has AU or Ecowas forgot what happened in Monrovia, Freetown or what is currently going on in Syria? Is that what they want for Banjul? If military intervention is the only solution to Gambia’s problem then, on behalf of all peace-loving Gambians I said to the ESF you are not welcome to Banjul.
Ecowas would be making a grave mistake thinking that it will be any easy task to take the present president down. Despite small, despite IEC declaring the Coalition victorious that does not mean The Gambia Arm Force or the Gambian citizens will hide to see intruders invading and looting the peace of the most peaceful nation in West Africa and among the most peaceful in Africa. Do Ecowas know despite The Gambia and Senegal sharing the same people are not in good terms when nothing is left but politics? Should I remind you of what happen between two nations few years ago during African/World cup qualifiers? Do you know that it is just these recent years that the two nationals are of better terms? Are you aware that Gambians see Senegalese as people who look down upon them as Senegalese sees Gambians as people of, less developed, less educated,low awareness, less or low of everything and all these are things Gambians find hard to swallow (Since the days of Sir D.K. Jawara and Abou Diouf). That being the case, Gambia harboring tens of thousands of Senegalese and Ecowas allowing Senegal leading the ESF will lead to nothing but something dirty. I spoke to many people recently, despite differences in political affiliation and ideology, age and gender, one thing they all have in common is NOT ENTERTAINING ANY ESF especially SENEGALESE MILITARY.
Is this putting Senegalese citizen and business community in danger?
Jack, are you scared? Hang on tight and evry thing will be ok.
In reply to your coment Mr Shaw. I am not sure you were a Gambian to what you were saying. You said Gambian’s are peaceful, do you also agreed gambians has voted in a free and fair election. They have spoken and the results says his excellency adama Barrow is the chosen leader. Do you also agree yaya has admitted defeat on state TV. Do you also agreed adama tried to offer yaya an olive branch to handover power peacefully. Do you also agree the ecowas tried to reach jammeh, the religious leaders of Gambia Christians and Muslims. I think you are endorsing a bully here. I am a gambians and knows what am talking here. You have to stand up to bullies, for your information gambians don’t want any outside forces if all means tried and no answer to the stalemate, then you have to use a reasonable force. You talked about only gambians should solve their internal problems that is if you have the looser accepting the will of his nation. I rest my case sir.
I’m not sure Jack saw knows anything about the two countries. Obviously this is not an internal problem anymore because the despot is the law, the judge and the executive. In any situation like that, the outcome is his way or the high way. We need to change our thinkings and attitude as Africans in order to even get some respects we may deserve around the world. People like jack saw needs to know that gambia’s peace is a subregional problem and can even be an international problem if you asked Italian government. Open your minds for the interest of those Gambians who voted to change a 22 yrs of horror and for them to be told to shut up and settle it with a maniac with all the weapons and the army. Gambians have nothing but a powerful subregional power.
Jack shaw, your arguement is not properly balanced, in any scanario dealing with fall of a dictator is not like normal bussiness. I would like you to go and make research about how dictator live and survive around power. Currently there is dialogue and peaceful diplomatic solution taking place all options are use before military engagement take place. Again gambia doesnt exprience violence thats why a dictator like jammeh took an advantage over it, also remember this guy is capable of using violence at any time, if the international community did not come to stop him, the story today would be differnt. He completely think he is the only one who has power and can 5use it when ever he like it without follow the rule of law (1) listen to how he handle his own issues (2) Body language (3) aillian behavoir e.g he claim that he can cure HIV aids (4) did he has any respect for human right ? This are some the question hanging around him.
everything they take in you by force only force can return to you. this is means yahya jammeh comes power by force
only force can be used that’s all
my brother violence can not make the differeence only peaceful domonstration, God’s willing jammeh will step down easily
Yahya should just steps down and let peace and stability rains in the gambia
all said and don, but yayyah should give way after 22yrs for the sake of peace, he lost and the world knew it, why embarking on a war you can never win, given it will mentan your dignity and respect and live a free life , african leaders should learn to give peace a chance .
It is over now, but yayyah should give way after 22yrs plus for the sake of peace, he lost the100% and the world knew it, why embarking on a war you can never win, given it will mentan your dignity and respect and live a free life , african leaders should learn to give peace a chance .
Wherever men and women are persecuted because of political views, that place must — at that moment — become the center of the universe.
Yaya Jammeh your time is up..ECOWAS will not fold it hands and watch anymore…Gambians are ready for a show down…