Bostwana says it no longer recognises Jammeh as UN votes on crisis ~ Zeniths Blog

Bostwana says it no longer recognises Jammeh as UN votes on crisis

– The government of Bostwana has announced that it no longer recognizes Jammeh as the president of Gambia

– This follows the refusal of the president to step down from power despite several entreaties from other leaders

– Yahya Jammeh was defeated in the Gambia’s presidential election of December 1, 2016 by Adama Barrow who is expected to be sworn in on Thursday, January 19 at the Gambian embassy in neighbouring Senegal

Bostwana announces it no longer recognises Jammeh as UN votes on crisis

Bostwana has become first African country to announce that it will no longer recognise President Jammeh as the president of Gambia

Following President Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to hand power to Adama Barrow who defeated him in December 1 presidential polls, Bostwana has become the first African country to announce that it no longer recognizes Yahya Jammeh as president of Gambia.

In a statement released on Thursday, January 19 Bostwana government said:

READ ALSO: Gambians flee home in thousands as ECOWAS troops standby for invasion (Video)

“Mr Jammeh’s decision not to respect the will of the Gambian people undermines the ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. This is also in direct

contravention of the spirit and aspirations of the African Union Constitutive Act.

The Government of Botswana therefore continues to appeal to the international community to do all within its power to exert pressure on Mr Jammeh to hand over power in order to ensure a smooth transition.”

This comes as the United Nations Security Council says it will vote today, January 19 on a draft resolution which will endorse ECOWAS’s efforts to ensure transfer of power in The Gambia using military intervention.

READ ALSO: Barrow installed as Gambia’s president on State House website (Photos)

Meanwhile, in anticipation of military action from ECOWAS troops stationed in Senegal, thousands of Gambians are fleeing the country as Jammeh remains resolute in his refusal to step down from power.

ECOWAS and African leaders have vowed to use military force in dislodging him from power if he refuses to vacate power at the expiration of his tenure today, January 19.

360naze