Jammeh condemns mediation, says he will not step down

Defiant Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has condemned mediation efforts by the African regional bloc ECOWAS aimed at making him see reason to step down from office.

Speaking on state television late Tuesday, Jammeh hardened his position saying; “I am not a coward. My right cannot be intimidated and violated. This is my position. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah,” he said.

Read also: Arrest warrant issued for daughter of President Park’s friend

“Already the ECOWAS meeting was a formality. Before they came, they had already said Jammeh must step down. I will not step down,” he added.

In a related development, eleven Gambian ambassadors in Beijing, Ankara, London, New York, Moscow, Brussels, Dakar, Madrid, Havana, Bissau and Addis Ababa have signed an open letter calling on Jammeh to accept the outcome of the December 1 election and facilitate a peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Adama Barrow next month.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now