(JollofNews) – West African leaders are still pursuing mediation to ensure a peaceful transfer of power in Gambia where President Yahya Jammeh refused to accept defeat in an election last month, Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said on Saturday.
Sirleaf told reporters after a meeting among regional leaders in Ghana’s capital Accra that regional bloc ECOWAS did not yet intend to deploy its standby military force in Gambia.
“We are committed to a peaceful mediation and a peaceful transfer of power in the Gambia.. we will continue to pursue that for now,” said Sirleaf who chairs the 15-member body said.
Asked if the regional group would deploy a standby force soon, she said “no”, adding that ECOWAS was closely monitoring proceedings in Gambia’s Supreme Court where Jammeh is challenging the poll result.
Jammeh, a former coup leader who has ruled Gambia for 22 years, initially accepted his defeat by opposition figure Adama Barrow in the Dec. 1 election. But a week later reversed his position, vowing to hang onto power despite a wave of regional and international condemnation.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the United Nations’ top official in West Africa, also attended the special closed-door meeting, which was the first official engagement by Ghana’s new President Nana Akufo-Addo who was sworn in on Saturday.
(Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Joe Bavier and Dale Hudson)
Can African leaders listen to Mammah Kandeh? With war = you will get bloodshed and you will be in power without citizens in street as you can see them in Iraq Libya and Syria so you guys still talking about the war??? Remember Liberia & Others no reason for war if we have to back to polls for more than three times much better than stupid leaders who talking about the war when they are packing their families to UK as OJ is already gone???? Who can trust you politicians????
Soninke, dont worry too much everything will be ok.
I remember Soninke and marabouts war in 17 century was a interesting stories.
Please African leaders handle this the best way u can. Don’t allow outsiders. They are not peace makers but trouble makers. They can’t even make peace in their countries. Finding ways to sell weapons to u to kill one another and damage ur countries forever.
☝️ Inshaa llah Tafel , Allah will be with us this Gambia will remain in the same position inshaa llah none will hurt Gambia is just a place where you can do everything and best place to live where no difference between citizens and non citizens we all one family,, thanks Tafel.#nowarbetweenbrothers,,
Cooler heads and reason is prevailing over the War mongering cowards who hide behind European and American “Kitchen and Living room” Revolutionaries with their cheap Labtops and Smart phones children of ten years old can use. Hands off Gambia. Hands off Africa. Gambia First. Africa First. Let peace and tranquility be the guiding principles of Negotiations and Resolution on the impasse in the Gambia, our home land. Real Revolutionaries do not hide behind European and American “Kitchen and Living rooms”, while urging others to make Ultimate Sacrifice. ECOWAS LEADERSHIP and Africa is the better for it, when Disagreements are Settled through Peaceful Negotiations and not by Brute force. Anyone can destroy by pulling a trigger. The Stakes are high and the responsibility for not engaging in a Collective Burial huge. The majority of the Silent Gambians Who want a Peaceful solution to the current Political impasse, but are afraid to express their opinion, demand those of us who have the audacity to go on a limb and say, No to the “Lynching Mob” and Cat Calls of death through intervention by Senegal under the camouflage of an ECOWAS LEADERSHIP. Peace now, Peace forever in the Gambia. No Office, Not even the Presidency is worth a Collective Burial of a Nation. Thank you ECOWAS, AND ALL WHO OUT ON THEIR COMMON SENSE HATS AND HEARTS, AND NOT THEIR ALLOWED THEMSELVES TO BE USED BY IRRATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL SENTIMENTS OF SELFISH EGOS AND BLIND HATE. THE GAMBIA IS MORE THAN THE SUM TOTAL OF ONE TRIBE, INDIVIDUALS, OR SPECIAL INTEREST BOTH WITHIN AND WITHOUT. LET THE AGENTS AND MERCHANTS OF DEATH PEDDLE THEIR DEADLY WEAPONS AWAY FROM THE GAMBIA AND AFRICA. ONE GAMBIA. ONE AFRICA. PEACE AND TRANQUILITY TO ALL.
hello fellow Gambians,
Remember that God is watching over us in this crucial time of our lives. What is politics to destroy the lives of innocent people and their properties? If the contending parties cannot solve their problems peacefully then we the voters are ready to go back to the polls and vote transparently who we wish to work for us. message to Senegal and the ECOWAS, we do not wish to see anyone come in and destroy lives and properties in the name of intervention. We Gambian Voters are ready to sacrifice our hard earned incomes to go back to the polls rather to see the lives of our innocent people lost in the name of dirty politics. long live The Gambia long live the peaceful and tolerant and exceptional people of The Gambia. Gambians loves each other would not standby to see the politicians destroy lives and properties of our dear and peaceful motherland The Gambia.
A peaceful mediation or decision of the Supreme Court will not settle this. Another election will be a giveaway. If they don’t act, it will soon be a miss opportunity. Diplomacy is preferable to settle all conflicts, but in todays world unfortunately some freedom can only be achieved by the use of force
… Let’s presume that you are right tbat, there are Conflicts that must be resolved by force including war. Between you and your god/Allah, are you in the Gambia or on your way to enlist in a Malitia ready to fight for what you believe in? I don’t know about you, but I am not ready to die for any Politician no matter how much I hate the Opposition. I am of the feeling that those who should the loudest and exhibit the most virulent hyperbole, are the least likely to be in the Front line. They would melt away like butter when “Push comes to Shuff”. They will be MIA, Missing In Action. Beware mother’s and father’s of young Gambians, do not be fooled by The Gambian self appointed “Kitchen and Living rooms” Labtop and Cell phone Revolutionaries Wannabee. Advise them to choose life and liberty. Let’s endeavor to Negotiate and find a Peaceful solution to the current Political impasse without blood shed.
PEACE,
That’s wishful and irresponsible thinking. Cite one place in the world of today where force has superseded peaceful talks to achieve freedom. Just cite one country. Irresponsible people like you whose adamant desire is to use force in the Gambia should neither be blessed nor forgiven.
Our ECOWAS presidents are responsible leaders who have read reason to come to terms with the on-going events in the Gambia, thus their wise decision to heed to President Jammeh’s petition and the subsequent ruling of our Supreme court. This is what many squared-headed, peace-loving citizens have called for.
The arrogant nature of some villanous Gambian citizens will never be considered by the ECOWAS leaders. We can still dialogue in the common interest of our emerging country and her peace-loving citizenry.
Babu Soli, you are one of those irresponsible arrogant villainous Gambians, and you should neither be blessed nor forgiven. Where were you on July 22nd 1994? Was the change of government conducted peacefully or by force? most people want peace, but our freedom cannot be compromised. You are very irrational and arrogant Babu Soli
Yes mr babu, every body is for peace but if you have someone like jammeh who dont want to listen to no one even UN, AU, EU and ECOWAS has peacefully ask the only one man jammeh to consider his previouse stand. This court is not going to solve the problem, is jammeh himself who should solve it in peacefully, why the whole has to beg him?
YOU ASK FOR JUST ONE WELL HERE ARE A FEW
ENGLAND MAGNA CARTA
FRENCH REVOLUTION
MEXICO AGAINST SPAIN
AMERICAN WAR Of INDEPENDENCE
HAITI
ALGERIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
KENYA MOA MOA WARS
ANGOLA
MOZAMBIQUE
RHODESIA
SOUTH AFRICA
THE MALAY UPRISING
ITS NOT COMPLETE BUT I THINK I MADE MY POINT GO AND LEARN BEFORE YOU TRY TO TEACH OTHERS OR TRY TO FOOL SMARTER PEOPLE.
Jammeh has stolen the ballot boxes – hell0000000 people!!!!! Do you seriously think a re-election would be fair???? The nutter thought he had it in the bag and is shell-shocked he was beaten. He is now a child throwing his teddy out of the pram!!! Stick to your guns – GambiaHasDecided – don’t let anyone break your confidence because if you stand shoulder to shoulder – you will see that fat nasty evil b@@@@@d on his way – good luck my friends xxxx
I for one find it rather insulting for some nitwit from any where Europe or America to insidiously and ignorantly think she or whatever the hell they think they are to tell us, Gambians we are “we are lacking in confidence” sic what we should be doing is start killing each other to prove a point. Your nocturnal nasty emissions passing for an insult is not appreciated. So you are married to a Gambian. So what? That makes you an expert on the Gambia? Ask your husband, how many Highways, University, Elementary and High Schools, Airport worth calling an Airport, were built during the First Republic under President David) Dauda K. Jawara. Now, look him in the eyes and tell him to swear by the Bible and the Quran, and tell him to tell you how many Are there now. The Truth is, now there is a University that did not exist. There is a modern Airport of International standards, that did not exist. There are Highways and Good drivable roads, that did not exist. Many new High Schools and Elementary Schools for both Urban and Rural Communities that did not exist. Girl children are enrolled at no Cost for the entire Elementary School Years and after that many are awarded scholarships to high school. Clean water and electricity more wide spread and available to the average Gambian than ever was in the Gambia before President Yaya Jammeh and his Partners took over the State of Affairs in 1994. Lesson iver. Class dismissed. Respect yourself darling. Next.
I for one find it rather insulting for some nitwit from any where Europe or America to insidiously and ignorantly think she or whatever the hell they think they are to tell us, Gambians we are “we are lacking in confidence” sic what we should be doing is start killing each other to prove a point. Your nocturnal “utterances” passing for an insult are not appreciated. What Gambians and the Gambia needs at this time is simply, Cooler and Level headed rational and logical citizen leadership.
So you are married to the Gambian. So what? That makes you an expert on the Gambia? Ask yourself, how many Highways, University, Elementary and High Schools, Airport worth calling an Airport, were built during the First Republic under President (David) Dauda K. Jawara. Now, look at yourself in the mirror and swear by the Bible and the Quran, and ask yourself, how many of the above Are there now? The Truth is, now there is a University that did not exist. There is a modern Airport of International standards, that did not exist. There are Highways and Good drivable roads, that did not exist. Many new High Schools and Elementary Schools for both Urban and Rural Communities that did not exist. Girl children are enrolled at no Cost for the entire Elementary School Years and after that, many are awarded scholarships to high school. Clean water and electricity is more wide spread and available to the average Gambian than there ever was in the Gambia before President Yaya Jammeh and his Partners took over the State of Affairs in 1994. Lesson over. Class dismissed. Respect yourself darling. Next.
I think A peaceful mediation or decision of the Supreme Court is the best way to follow,and a better deal with the crisis to destruction in the country RememberOurLivesMatter# never fixe things with blood # every Gambian bloody is mine, how a really Gambian can face to another just because you don’t understand each ????No please we are one family country pray for Gambia and Gambian ********
Soninke you are not thinking properly, assume that those corrupt judges say now jammeh is the winner, what do you think should happen?
Babu Soli, you are in Holland or somewhere in Europe with your Anti Western views and rhetoric. A real Pan Africanism is an African who stands for real African development, but not the African who oppressed, subjugate, jailed and even kill your own brothers and sisters just because they opposed you with a different view points. A real Pan Africanism is to love each other and agree to disagree while we all cherish the development of our beloved continent. If you are so Anti Western values, what are you doing in the West?
Soninke, we all want and prefer a peaceful resolution to the problem, this is why we have an election. But we cannot tolerate abuse and our freedom being jeopardized simply because we disagreed.
Its important to note that Ecowas is giving priority to Peaceful Mediation and Peaceful Handover of power. Most important Ecowas has respected President Yahya Jammeh’s Constitutional Right to Petition the Elections. The Supreme Court of Gambia will meet on Tuesday, 10th January 2017 to Hear the Petition and make a Ruling. The judgment of the Supreme Court of Gambia will guide the future of Constitutional Democracy in Gambia. That Ruling will determine whether or not Gambia settles for Peace rather than War. This week is crucial for Gambia.
The fact that Jammeh has every right to petition the election cannot be underestimated. I however doubt the constitutionality of the supreme court and thus the credibility of the verdict. The hurriedly composed jury is in the first place is not legally binding and will end up creating a deeper crisis instead of demystifying this stalemate. The hearing is deliberately set to go beyond the Barrow’s swearing date, a possible constitutional debacle by itself.
All Gambians need to do is ask themselves some honest to Allah/God questions. Here are some honest ones even the naysayers can’t afford to spin. could you have multiple news source as one have access to now, to a university degree as one have now, better and modern Airport as one have now, Highways and Good drivable roads as one has now, more and wide spread public education school built as one have now, better housing and clean water supply as one have now, wide spread electricity supply as one have now? I must admit that not all is well in the Gambia. But to fail to acknowledge the lackluster and failed First Republic in terms of economic, infrastructure and Social Welfare development, is not only a demonstration of dishonesty, but also demonstrates the genesis of some of the reasons and undercurrents of our current Political impasse. The Second Republic under President Yaya Jammeh and the Gambians have achieved a lot that even the “Die hard Jammeh haters” acknowledge in their inner decent moments” of reflection . The Second Republic under President Yaya Jammeh and the Gambians have not been “perfect” and cannot be. No one or government is perfect. Show me any, and I will show you a candidate for mental health therapy. Jawara and the First Republic had Slogans and Plans, but for the most part, that is where it stopped. The Slogans and Plans were left out in the Cold while a Syndicate of Corrupt, and Self-serving Cleptomanaics helped themselves to the National Pie, the Treasury. The Peace Dividend and Goodwill shown to the Gambia at Independence in terms of hundreds of millions and millions of dollars and pounds given to the First Republic under President David/ Dauda Jawara was for the most part Squandered and Misappropriated and put into the Bank Accounts of the few Corrupt and Self-serving few who helped themselves at the expense of the many. Not all First Republic Politicians were Corrupt or Corrupted (I am happy to say I personally know at least two of them, but they are the exception). Naked and rapacious Corruption and Corruptive practices were at least in Check in the first decade of the First Republic. However, this was Short lived. It was a case of the Country being young and the leadership mostly old and weak and distrusted youth, though there were a few young Gambian Politicians by the Fifteenth year of Independence. Government by “Musical Chairs” due to indeptitude, Corruption and Corruptive Practices within and among a Syndicate of Politicians of the First Republic and their Financial Backers was the Order of the Day. Many Gambians, Thank Allah/God, for the 1994 Revolutionaries who in a bloodless move forward, Removed the First Republic from Power. Gambians have something they can show off to the World to see in terms of Infrastructure, Socioeconomic Development and a Higher Level of Political Engagement and Ownership of the GAMBIA as well as a generally Self-actualized Citizenry. POSTSCRIPT: MY RESPECFUL AND SINCERE APOLOGIES TO ALL WHO SUFFERED OR HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO SUFFERED UNDER THE AGENTS OF THE FIRST REPUBLIC AND THE AGENTS OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC. ONE GAMBIA. ONE PEOPLE.
Sidi N Bojang, with all you mention those not mean that if you are defeated in an democratical electoin you should refused to step down. One thing about some african people, they dont know their limits, wether you do it right or wrong just have a limit and allow others try their differencies, in this way we all can learn our differencies. Term limit is the biggest problem thats why we get to a point where dictatorship will applies. Once dictator is available thats where democratic system will fade away, human right will be at risk and justice system will be hadicap.
“Blood is thicker than water” Mr. Bojang just like you acknowledged the good things about Jammeh regime and fail to buttress on his failure to protect human rights value, and within a heartbeat you start talking about the failure of Jawara regime is so hypocritical. Remember it was during Jawara’s regime that Jammeh acquired scholarship. For those PPP die hearts, they too have a long list of achievements which I believe you haven’t read. My take on this issue is that both regime fails us. These two regime are mirror images, from corruption, tribal favoritism to being hold power too long. Jammeh in his own word said ” who ever is fighting so hard to be president for so long is not a good person”. Because being president is the hardest thing any one could imagine…. these were his first word when he was interviewed after the demise of Jawara’s regime. You can watch that interview from YouTube. The fact of the matter is people like you and those proponents of PPP are alike. It’s time for us as Gambian to bury the hatchet and resolve our problems in truth and patience ” that’s the only way forward” May God bless us all and the entire world…Ameen
Thank you Samba, you are right brother. Development and Democracy goes hand in hand. Development won’t matter much in the absent Democracy: Respect for the rule of law, human rights, freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful demonstration etc.
Development won’t matter much in the absent of Democracy, they compliment each other
Amongst the African generations are the most repulsive to democratic ideas and values. It means to many mindsets of its present generation, someone in power can jump up one day and say, ‘shut up 3million people and just look at me! I am the president…owner of this country and its people. I will torture, maim, jail, send to exile or kill anyone who doesn’t feel happy.’
Even to some highly educated African folks, peace cannot be considered disturbed in African nations unless a ruthless dictator’s clock starts to run out of power.
Bourne:
Thank you for your response to Babu Soli. Please follow him wherever he post a comment. Chase him out of here. He is just a phony.
Thank you
The end is near, so peaceful solution is the winning key ,,,Military intervention is a crime you can’t kill innocent people because of the chair. Allah will make the right change without blood ***Gambia is the best place to enjoy the life
PEACE,
Will you exonerate Ex-President Jawara for leading the invading Senegalese forces into the Gambia at the aftermath of the 1981 Kukoi Samba Sanyang uprising killing over 800 innocent Gambian citizens in cold blood?
Will you exonerate Ex-President Jawara and his Ex-PPP cabinet for squandering the millions and millions of funds from our public coffers that were destined for national development?
I am here in Holland to retrieve the stolen booty from the West that was illegally stolen during the horrendous slavery and colonization periods.
If the West is still not wary of interfering in our national issues and stay put to commandeer our destiny from our own corridors, I have the patriotic and Pan Africanist obligations to stay in the West(in Holland) to play my Pan Africanist zeal to return their unwariness.
You may remain a reactionary and a white bootlegger, but I am a convinced Black Pan Africanist!
My real Pan Africanist heroes are Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr., not the empty talk in Holland.
HERE IS ONE ELLECTION WON BY APRC THAT OUT OF A REGISTERED ELECTORATE OF 796,929 ONLY 154,950 THUS 641,969 DID NOT VOTE WHICH IS 80.56% THEY DID NOT ASK WHERE DID 80.56% OR 641.969 PEOPLE GO
Summary of the 29 March 2012 Gambian parliamentary election results
Parties Votes
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction 80,289
National Reconciliation Party 14,606
Independents 60,055
Invalid/blank votes 0 – – –
Total 154,950
Registered voters 796,929 – –
Source: Independent Electoral Commission, IFES
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_of_the_Gambia
Babu, it was the illegal uprising of Kuloi and his supporters who kill those innocent Gambians. Africa is more corrupt than before and is only going to be worse. I’m not going to waste my time and energy with you. All you do is empty talk with your anti-Western rhetoric and use your false Pan Africanist ideologies to further Subjugate your own African brothers and sisters, just because you disagree with their political views.
If you are so anti-Western values, go back to Africa and fight for your vulnerable brothers and sisters. A true Pan Africanist is the African who empower the Africans and lead them to real development without subjugating them just because they disagree with your political views. GOOD BYE Babou!
True Pan Africanists are those who retrieve and bring back the booty from elsewhere that had been stolen from the African soil. Not those who stole and continue to steal from within as your corrupt defunct PPP did in their days of gross mismanagement! Just fancy the face of your Omar Jallow(OJ)!
Goodbye and Rest In your Peace(R.I.P)
Babu soli, do you like what jammeh did in the soil of the gambia for the past 22 years ? He make gambia like he own the country and her peoples in that land e.g take land from peoples, takes lives of the peoples make his own rules. Do you like that ?
tafel,
Let me pose another question to you. Do you want me to hate President Jammeh?
You dont hate people if they done notting, you only hate or dislike a person if their behavoir does is unacceptable so the choice is up to you, but remember we all like jammeh at first but time tell us his behavoir is completely outrageouse, when began to go beyond unexpected behavoirs.
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