Jammeh sacks Gambia's ambassador to Senegal

Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, has recalled his ambassador to neighbouring Dakar, the Jeune Afrique news portal reports.

The note terminating his appointment as diplomat was sent on 27 December last year and he should by now have handed over to the embassy’s general secretary.

Momodou Pa Njie becomes the second Gambian ambassador recalled from service for impressing on Jammeh to accept his loss in the December 1 presidential elections. On 19 December 2016, Jammeh recalled the ambassador to the United States for the same reason.

Njie was among some 11 ambassadors who issued a joint statement calling for President Jammeh to respect the outcome of the December 1 presidential polls and to duly handover power peacefully to Adama Barrow, the president-elect.

Among them were the ambassadors to Beijing, Ankara, London, New York and Moscow. The remaining were ambassadors to Madrid, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Bissau, Havana and Brussels.

‘‘In conclusion Your Excellency, we once again implore you to consider our plea which is ailed at achieving the greater good for our beloved country, the Gambia’‘ the ambassadors said in the letter to Jammeh.

Jammeh annulled the election results after concededing defeat earlier. He cited irregularities unknown to his team at the time of the concession. He has rubbished a regional mediation effort by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) describing it as ‘biased.’

The army has pledged support to him and the Supreme Court is due to hear an election petition filed by Jammeh’s party. The Head of the last elections has fled to Senegal following death threats on his life. ECOWAS has hinted that it could send troops if need be, a position Jammeh has described as a declaration of war – which he says he is ready for.