Mediators fail to reach deal on Gambia crisis

By Saikou Kalleh

BANJUL, Gambia (AA) - The mediation team of regional economic bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has failed to convince Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh to step down after he lost in the country's Dec. 1 president polls to President-elect Adama Barrow.

Halifa Sallah, the spokesperson of the opposition coalition, confirmed to journalists after their meeting with the ECOWAS delegates on Friday night that the talks have not been “conclusive”.

“The crisis has not been solved by today’s talks,” Sallah said.

“We believe that their (ECOWAS) efforts will continue since they have been able to meet both sides…We are still in the process of negotiation as we move towards Jan. 19.”

Gambia was plunged into a crisis on Dec. 9 when Yahya Jammeh, who has held power in the small west African state since 1994, rejected the election results a week after conceding defeat to Barrow, a little-known property developer.

Jammeh said the electoral process was tainted with “unacceptable irregularities” and ordered a new vote before filing a petition seeking to annul the results.

On Friday, President Muhammed Buhari of Nigeria, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and Allen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia were in Banjul to prevail on President Jammeh to step down.

Meanwhile, Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, has already filed an injunction to stop the inauguration of the incoming President-elect Adama Barrow which is scheduled for Jan. 19.

Jammeh earlier filed a petition at the country’s Supreme Court seeking to annul the election results but that failed because the court could not have enough judges to sit over the case.

Sallah said he believes the regional body, as mediator, “will continue to do whatever is necessary to resolve” the crisis.

“We anticipate… that as Gambians our destiny is in our own hands…,” he added.