African leaders push Jammeh to step down
African leaders in Gambia to resolve election crisis
Banjul — Nobel peace laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other African leaders on Tuesday urged Gambia’s long-ruling President Yahya Jammeh to respect the will of the people and step down following his defeat in an election. Jammeh, who seized power in a coup in 1994 and has earned a reputation as a repressive leader, has declined to relinquish power despite initially conceding he had lost to opponent Adama Barrow in the election on December 1. He cited irregularities in the official results and on Tuesday morning security forces took over the building of the Independent Electoral Commission, which holds the original poll records, its chairman said. Jammeh’s change of mind drew international criticism, and a delegation of West African leaders under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) was in the capital, Banjul, on Tuesday on a mission to resolve the crisis. "We hope that the will of the people prevails," Johnson Sirleaf, who has been Liberia’s presi...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.