Troops from several West African countries are ready to enter the Gambia following Jammeh’s refusal to step-down from power.
President Yahaya Jammeh has held power in the Gambia since a military coup in 1994. His opponent, Adama Barrow beat him in last year’s election by securing 45% of the vote.
The outgoing president’s refusal to step down to his rival has brought instability to the country forcing ECOWAS to prepare for a combat action.
205 troops have been deployed from Ghana and entered The Gambia at dawn, following failed talks between Mauritania President Mohamed Abdel Aziz and Mr. Jammeh.
Ghana’s decision to join the ECOWAS team as contained in a release sent to Peacefmonline.com from the Flagstaff House, is to “create an enabling environment for the effective enforcement of the rule of law, and, in accordance with the Constitution of The Gambia, facilitate the inauguration of the President-Elect, Adama Barrow, on Thursday, January 19, 2017.”
Full statement below…
Ghana Deploys Troops To Support ECOWAS Mission In The Gambia
The President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has approved and authorised the deployment of a combat team of two hundred and five (205) troops, backed with the appropriate logistical equipment, to the Islamic Republic of The Gambia as part of the ECOWAS Mission in that country.
ECOWAS has decided, as a result of the refusal of President Yahaya Jammeh to accept the verdict of the Gambian people in the elections of December 1, 2016, to deploy troops from its member States to The Gambia with immediate effect.
The objective is to create an enabling environment for the effective enforcement of the rule of law, and, in accordance with the Constitution of The Gambia, facilitate the inauguration of the President-Elect, Adama Barrow, on Thursday, January 19, 2017.
……signed……
Eugene Arhin
Ag. Communications Director
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
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i think so because of the repercussions. As it is now, the option of negotiations as was started by ECOWAS is still open in my opinion. of course, i would have gladly wished that, foreign combatants would come to Ghana to help resolve an issue that, we couldn't resolve by ourselves. When an electoral dispute surfaced in Ghana four years ago, it was resolved in the court. Why has that option been closed to The Gambians? currently, foreign nationals are leavING THE COUNTRY, WHAT ABOUT THE NATIVES?
I know for sure that, our troops will by all means return in their full numbers in Jesus Name. You people should mark it, Jammeh will step out peacefully without a single gun shot.
GEORGE why is it needless, would u have asked other countries to help push Mahama of the seat if he had refused to hand over power?
Eeeiiii Akuffo Addo just one week in office you are sending our innocent soldiers to go and die. No wonder you are a war lord. Use your ALL DIE BE DIE npp foot soldiers for that war.
Though i am in favour of the troops going to restore sanity and pump some sense into the cracked head of that maniac.......Am a bit apprehensive with the after effects. The GAMBIA is a "self professed" islamic state which BOKO HARAM is fighting for in Nigeria. Since the mind sets of these guys is "anti-clockwise", won't they set eyes on these countries? My worry oooo!!!
I pray for our soldiers they will all come back home safely. None of them will be lost in Jesus' name Amen.
God bless all combatants prepared to bring sanity into the political arena of West Africa. The fetish cum spiritualist president must be shown his smoothness level, Yahya must go!
May God Bless the Democratic Republic of Ghana! and May He guide our Freedom Fighters as they embark on this Assignment to stand with the People of Gambia! God Bless Mr. President! NADAA We stand with you in prayers, GAF!
Contribution towards a good course indeed. God bless you Nana as you contribute towards ensuring that participatory democracy thrives in Africa. May the Lord be with the troops to execute the assignment speedily, shut Jameh up and come back to Ghana alive. All the best
Good decision for Ghana to make sure there is peaceful transition of power in Gambia.. I really support the current Govenment for his decision to send tropes on the ground to Gambia. We need peace in the regional bloc. Africans should respect the voice of the people and pave way for democracy on the continent.