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ECOWAS pushes Gambia mediation upon Jammeh's request

ECOWAS pushes Gambia mediation upon Jammeh's request

Gambia

The Economic of West Africa States (ECOWAS) mediation team has postponed its meeting with the outgoing Gambian president Yahya Jammeh.

The regional bloc announced on Monday that lead mediator and Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari will be accompanied by his co-mediator, John Dramani Mahama and ECOWAS president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to meet Jammeh in Banjul on Wednesday, December 11.

But a statement from Buhari’s special advisor on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the said meeting had been postponed to Friday January 13 on the request of President Jammeh.

‘‘In accepting to postpone his visit earlier planned to take place on Wednesday, President Buhari, who is mediating alongside Mr. John Mahama, the immediate past president of Ghana said the delay notwithstanding the mandate of ECOWAS will be accomplished,’‘ the statement read.

Buhari added that ECOWAS was committed to the resolution of the crisis through inclusive dialogue and with respect to the constitution and will of the people of the Gambia.

SUGGESTED READING Jammeh fires 10 ambassadors, no judges to sit on election petition

State House Press Release: ECOWAS Mission to The Gambia pushed to Friday—https://t.co/9vqaBUwLX5 #GambiaMediation pic.twitter.com/gFKHoEMs1L

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) January 10, 2017

On Tuesday, January 10, the Supreme Court in the country failed to constitute a panel to sit on an election petition filed by Jammeh’s party in December 13. The Chief Justice said judges contacted to sit on the case failed to arrive for the sitting.

The case was pushed to May this year. Meanwhile Jammeh’s tenure expires on January 19 and president-elect Adama Barrow of the opposition coalition is expected to be sworn in the following day.

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