ECOWAS Deadline And The Possibility Of Resolving Gambia’s Crisis

Chairperson of the of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government and the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in

her address at the 50th Ordinary Session of the Authority and Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Abuja issued a deadline for the resolution of the political logjam in Gambia.

Sirleaf also noted that the progress made by the ECOWAS Mission led by her to Gambia on December 13, to mediate in the logjam was successful, but stressed that the will of the people as expressed through their votes in the December 1, must be respected.

Gambia conducted a presidential election on the 1st of December 2016. The election saw the opposition candidate, Adama Barrow defeating the incumbent president, Yahya Jammeh. Shortly after the election the incumbent president conceded defeat. However, on December 10, Jammeh rescinded his concession and called for a fresh election. His reason was that the outcome of the election wasn’t truly the will of the citizens of Gambia.