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Gambia election row: Yahya Jammeh 'should step down now' | Gambia election row: Yahya Jammeh 'should step down now' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Gambia's opposition coalition has asked President Yahya Jammeh to step down immediately, after he challenged his defeat in the recent election. | The Gambia's opposition coalition has asked President Yahya Jammeh to step down immediately, after he challenged his defeat in the recent election. |
Mr Jammeh initially accept the result but then reversed his decision and said he would annul the election. | Mr Jammeh initially accept the result but then reversed his decision and said he would annul the election. |
He questioned the validity of the count after the electoral commission changed some results, even though it insists the outcome was not affected. | He questioned the validity of the count after the electoral commission changed some results, even though it insists the outcome was not affected. |
The UN and the African Union have asked Mr Jammeh to accept defeat. | |
Liberia's President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari, Sierra Leone's Ernest Bai Koroma and Ghana's John Mahama are going to fly to The Gambia's capital, Banjul on Tuesday to try and resolve the political crisis. | |
"I think he should step down now," said Adama Barrow, who was declared the election winner. | "I think he should step down now," said Adama Barrow, who was declared the election winner. |
"He has lost the election, we don't want to waste time, we want this country to start moving," he told the AFP news agency. | "He has lost the election, we don't want to waste time, we want this country to start moving," he told the AFP news agency. |
President Jammeh went on national TV over the weekend to announce his "total rejection of the election result... thereby annulling the election". | President Jammeh went on national TV over the weekend to announce his "total rejection of the election result... thereby annulling the election". |
He said "we will go back to the polls because I want to make sure every Gambian has voted". | He said "we will go back to the polls because I want to make sure every Gambian has voted". |
He said he was preparing a petition "against the flawed decision of the Independent Elections Commission". | He said he was preparing a petition "against the flawed decision of the Independent Elections Commission". |
What next for The Gambia? Analysis by the BBC's Umaru Fofana | What next for The Gambia? Analysis by the BBC's Umaru Fofana |
Mr Jammeh's mandate ends on the 18 January but his party says it will file a petition to the Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court cannot make a decision as they do not have enough judges. | |
Two were sacked by the president in June and legal experts say he can't appoint new judges for a case about himself. | Two were sacked by the president in June and legal experts say he can't appoint new judges for a case about himself. |
With no Supreme Court to rule on the dispute, the next question is how the army could get involved. And that is not clear. | With no Supreme Court to rule on the dispute, the next question is how the army could get involved. And that is not clear. |
The head of the Gambian army, General Ousman Badjie, pledged his loyalty to President-elect Adama Barrow after the incumbent conceded. | The head of the Gambian army, General Ousman Badjie, pledged his loyalty to President-elect Adama Barrow after the incumbent conceded. |
But since Mr Jammeh went back on his words, the army appears to have gravitated back towards him. | But since Mr Jammeh went back on his words, the army appears to have gravitated back towards him. |
Amid the possibility for instability, Gambia's neighbours are getting involved. | Amid the possibility for instability, Gambia's neighbours are getting involved. |
Senegal, which surrounds The Gambia, called a UN Security Council meeting which condemned Mr Jammeh's U-turn. | Senegal, which surrounds The Gambia, called a UN Security Council meeting which condemned Mr Jammeh's U-turn. |
Senegalese fighter jets have been seen flying in the skies. It is not clear whether this is a coincidence or a warning to Mr Jammeh. | Senegalese fighter jets have been seen flying in the skies. It is not clear whether this is a coincidence or a warning to Mr Jammeh. |
According to the electoral commission's latest count, as a result of the vote on 1 December: | According to the electoral commission's latest count, as a result of the vote on 1 December: |
They were revised by the country's electoral commission on 5 December, when it emerged that the ballots for one area had been added incorrectly, swelling Mr Barrow's vote. | They were revised by the country's electoral commission on 5 December, when it emerged that the ballots for one area had been added incorrectly, swelling Mr Barrow's vote. |
The error, which also added votes to the other candidates, "has not changed the status quo" of the result, the commission said. | The error, which also added votes to the other candidates, "has not changed the status quo" of the result, the commission said. |
However, it narrowed Mr Barrow's margin of victory from 9% to 4%. | However, it narrowed Mr Barrow's margin of victory from 9% to 4%. |
Mr Jammeh, who has ruled the Gambia for 22 years, originally conceded victory to Mr Barrow, who used to be a security guard in chain store Argos in London. | Mr Jammeh, who has ruled the Gambia for 22 years, originally conceded victory to Mr Barrow, who used to be a security guard in chain store Argos in London. |
He was even shown telephoning Mr Barrow saying "you are the elected president of Gambia and I wish you all the best". | He was even shown telephoning Mr Barrow saying "you are the elected president of Gambia and I wish you all the best". |
Last week a leading member of Mr Barrow's coalition told the UK's The Guardian newspaper that President Jammeh would be prosecuted for alleged crimes committed during his rule. | Last week a leading member of Mr Barrow's coalition told the UK's The Guardian newspaper that President Jammeh would be prosecuted for alleged crimes committed during his rule. |
In his U-turn rejecting the results, Mr Jammeh cited "serious and unacceptable abnormalities" in the electoral process, pointing to the errors mentioned by the electoral commission. | In his U-turn rejecting the results, Mr Jammeh cited "serious and unacceptable abnormalities" in the electoral process, pointing to the errors mentioned by the electoral commission. |
Despite the errors, election commission head Alieu Momarr Njai told Reuters news agency that he stood by the "if it goes to court, we can prove every vote cast". | Despite the errors, election commission head Alieu Momarr Njai told Reuters news agency that he stood by the "if it goes to court, we can prove every vote cast". |
"The election results were correct, nothing will change that," he said. | "The election results were correct, nothing will change that," he said. |
President-elect Barrow said on Sunday that he feared for his safety. | President-elect Barrow said on Sunday that he feared for his safety. |
In his 22 years in power, Mr Jammeh acquired a reputation as a ruthless leader. | In his 22 years in power, Mr Jammeh acquired a reputation as a ruthless leader. |
Human rights group have accused his government of stifling the press and harassing opposition parties. | Human rights group have accused his government of stifling the press and harassing opposition parties. |