The UN Security Council on Thursday affirmed that Adama Barrow is now the legitimate President of The Gambia, declaring that “former President Yahya Jammeh is out”.

The President of the Security Council, Olof Skoog (Sweden), told the UN Correspondents after the adoption of the Resolution 2337 (2017) by consensus by the 15-Member Council.

The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Resolution was sponsored by Senegal on the situation in The Gambia.

NAN reports that the Resolution by Senegal, sought the Council’s approval and support for ECOWAS to take all necessary actions to remove Jammeh and install Barrow as President.

“I just made a call to The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow to tell him that the Security Council is behind him and support him as the president.

“The Security Council affirmed support to President Barrow. The Resolution adopted just now is political.

“There is a strong request to former president Yahya Jammeh to carry out peaceful transfer of power to President Barrow.

“The Council resolved that the will of the people of the Gambia as expressed on Dec. 1 must be fully respected. That is the message of the UN Security Council.

The Ambassadors of France, UK and Senegal on the Security Council also briefed UN Correspondents, saying that should Barrow request for military assistance to enable him function as President, he shall be legitimately granted.

The text obtained by the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reads as follows:

“The Security Council, reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of The Islamic Republic of The Gambia, and recalling the importance of the principles of good-neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation,

“Recalling the Statement of its President on Dec. 21, 2016 on Peace consolidation in West Africa and the Press Statement of its Members on Dec. 10, 2016 on the Gambia elections,

“Recalling the relevant provisions of Article 23 (4) of the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the provisions of the Supplementary Protocol of the Economic Community of West African States on Democracy and Good Governance,

“Congratulating The Gambian people for the holding of the peaceful and transparent Presidential election on Dec. 1, 2016,

“Noting the official results of the elections of Dec. 1, 2016 issued by the Gambian Independent Electoral Commission which proclaimed Mr. Adama Barrow President Elect, and which the outgoing President of The Islamic Republic of The Gambia, Mr. Yahya Jammeh, himself publicly recognised and accepted on Dec, 2,

“Strongly condemning the statement by President Jammeh, on Dec. 9 rejecting the Dec. 1 official election results and the takeover of the Independent Electoral Commission by the Gambian Armed Forces on Dec. 13, 2016, and the attempt by the Parliament Jan 18, 2017 to extend President Jammeh’s term for three months beyond his current mandate,

“Condemning in the strongest possible terms the attempts to usurp the will of the people and undermine the integrity of the electoral process in The Gambia,

“Condemning the attempt to prevent a peaceful and orderly transfer of power to President-elect Barrow by declaring a state of emergency,

“Expressing grave concern at the risk of deterioration of the situation in the Gambia,

Recalling that the Gambian government bears primary responsibility for protecting human rights,

And protecting the civilian population in The Gambia and demanding that all stakeholders and parties act with maximum restraint, refrain from violence and remain calm,

“Commending the declaration of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) at its 647th meeting held on Jan. 13, 2017 that as of Jan. 19, 2017, outgoing President Yahya Jammeh, will cease to be recognized by the AU as legitimate President of the Republic of the Gambia,

“Taking note of the communiqué of the Chairman of the African Union on Dec. 10, 2016 and the joint Communique of The ECOWAS Commission, the African Union Commission and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) on 10 December 2016,

“Commending the initiatives of ECOWAS, including the visit of a ECOWAS/UN high level delegation in Banjul on 13 December 2016, led by Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and Chairperson of the ECOWAS authority, aimed at ensuring a peaceful and orderly transition of process in The Gambia, as well as the ECOWAS high level delegation in Banjul on 13 January 2017,

“Further welcoming the efforts of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the ECOWAS Mediator in the Gambia and His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, former President of the Republic of Ghana as the Co-chair,

“Recognising the important mediation role of Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS),

The council further commended and strongly supported the continued efforts of the African Union and ECOWAS to promote peace, stability and good governance in the region and resolved as follows.

“Gambian parties and stakeholders to respect the will of the people and the outcome of the election which recognised Adama Barrow as President-elect of The Gambia and representative of the freely expressed voice of the Gambian people as proclaimed by the Independent Electoral Commission.

Endorse the decisions of ECOWAS and the African Union to recognise Mr. Adama Barrow as President-Elect of the Gambia.

Call upon the countries in the region and the relevant regional organisation to cooperate with President Barrow in his efforts to realise the transition of power.

Welcome the decisions on The Gambia of the Fiftieth Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja on 17 December 2016 and the decisions of The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 644th meeting held on Dec. 12, 2016 and its 647th meeting held on Jan. 13, 2017.

It welcome further the decisions of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, declaring the inviolable nature of the outcome of the presidential elections held on 1 December 2016 in The Gambia

It called on Yahya Jammeh to keep to the letter and spirit of the speech he delivered on Dec. 2, 2016, in which he welcomed the maturity of democracy in The Gambia and congratulated the president-elect, Adama Barrow.

“As from Jan.19, 2017, Jammeh will cease to be recognised as legitimate President of The Gambia.” (NAN)

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