11 Gambian ambassadors ask Jammeh to quit

Gambian President Jammeh sits in his office during a news conference in Banjul...Gambian President Yahya Jammeh sits in his office during a news conference in Banjul, after election results announced him the winner of presidential polls, September 23, 2006. Tens of thousands of people crammed onto Gambia's tiny island capital Banjul on Saturday as Jammeh threw a massive beach party to celebrate his re-election for a third term. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly (GAMBIA)

No fewer than 11 serving Ambassadors of The Gambia have called on President Yahya Jammeh to quit and handover power peacefully to President-elect Adama Barrow.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said this during a press briefing on Thursday.

Mr. Haq said the permanent representative of The Gambia to the UN, Mamadou Tangara, was among the Gambian envoys who appealed to Mr. Jammeh to peacefully transit power.

“The Secretary-General met today with the outgoing Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia to the United Nations, Mamadou Tangara, to discuss the deteriorating political situation in the country.

“The Secretary-General commended Ambassador Tangara for his appeal to President Yahya Jammeh.

“This is along with 10 other Gambian diplomats serving overseas, to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power to the President-elect, Adama Barrow,” Haq said.

He said Mr. Ban expressed deep concern about Mr. Jammeh’s refusal to hand over power, in accordance with the Gambian constitution, despite consistent calls from regional bodies and the international community.

The spokesman said the Secretary-General reiterated the commitment of the UN to support efforts for a peaceful, timely and orderly transfer of power from Jammeh to Barrow.

According to him, the commitment of the UN is in full respect of the will of the Gambian people, working closely with all regional and international partners.

Haq said he could not explain the reasons for Tangara’s status as outgoing and could not say if he had been recalled by Jammeh.

According to him, however, the Gambian permanent representative represented himself at the meeting as “outgoing”. (NAN)