West African Bloc Threatens Gambian Defeated President To Step Down By Jan 19

Gambia is undergoing electoral crisis and leaders of West African countries will meet on Saturday to resolve it to the earliest.

According to Nigerian presidential spokesman, intervention of army led by Senegal could be in the offing.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said a decision will definitely be taken in Saturday’s meeting.

Buhari is currently leading the Economic Committee of West African States.

It is learned if Gambia President Yahya Jammeh rejects to step down after a decision the regional bloc may send military that will be led by Senegal after January 19.

Jammeh’s mandate ends on January 19.

Saturday’s meeting is the sideline talk on the occassion of Ghana’s new president inauguration.

Ghana has suffered military dictatorship for over a decade and this is the fourth time a president has peacefully stepped aside.

The Gambian President conceded defeat in December 1 election and later demanded for re-election, only to face criticism from European Union, United States, United Nations and other bodies.

Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow is currently under the protection of West African bloc as he fears for his life under a Jammeh administration.

Jammeh is in power for about 22 years and in his televised speech earlier he said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) violated electoral law and returning officers intimidated legitimate voters to turn away on election day.