West Africa’s regional bloc, ECOWAS, has put standby military forces on alert in case Gambian President Yahya Jammeh does not step down when his mandate ends on January 19.
The ECOWAS commission president, Marcel de Souza, said this on Malian TV Thursday night.
Mr. Jammeh has vowed to stay in power despite losing a December 1 election to rival Adama Barrow, raising the possibility that regional powers may intervene to oust him if diplomacy does not succeed in persuading him to leave.
“We have put standby forces on alert if he does not (step down) on January 19 when his mandate ends,” De Souza said.
“No one has the right to oppose the will of the people.”
Barrow’s surprise victory and Jammeh’s initial decision to concede after 22 years in power was seen across Africa as a moment of hope.
But the president changed his mind a week later and said again on Tuesday that he would not step down, rebuffing efforts by West African leaders to persuade him.
Mr. Jammeh said the electoral count was flawed and that ECOWAS has no right to meddle in Gambia’s internal affairs.
The regional bloc has mandated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari as mediator to offer Jammeh an “honourable exit”, but if he does not take it then forces might be deployed, Mr. De Souza said.
The BBC quoted De Souza as saying in an interview that Senegalese troops would lead any military intervention. Senegal is Gambia’s only territorial neighbour and has a frequently stormy relationship with the country, having sent troops there during a 1981 coup.
Senegal has indicated that military action would be an absolute last resort.
Diplomats say ECOWAS would probably seek approval from the U.N. Security Council for the use of force. ECOWAS deployed troops, led by Nigeria, to Liberia and Sierra Leone during civil wars in the 1990s, setting a precedent for possible intervention.
A first step for raising pressure once the handover date passes is likely to be targeted sanctions by the U.N. and others, diplomats say, also raising the possibility that Mr. Jammeh could be offered asylum abroad.
Mr. Barrow’s supporters suggested on Thursday that the president might not immediately be prosecuted for alleged human rights abuses during his rule.
“Justice is absolutely essential … but we are going to take the route to truth and reconciliation,” said coalition spokesman Halifa Sallah at a meeting with the African Bar Association.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/nigeria-senegal-other-ecowas-members.html?m=1

Na so

Wetin USA flag dey find among ECOWAS flag?

encriagona:
Wetin USA flag dey find among ECOWAS flag?

Hmmm....shaking my head for you.

Didn't know Liberia now resembles USA

God safe Oga Jona, na Wetin for happen to am be dis.

Make that guy comot oo, make him go ask Gbagbo.

Yeye dey smell

checkolatunji:
God safe Oga Jona, na Wetin for happen to am be dis.

Make that guy comot oo, make him go ask Gbagbo.

Yeye dey smell

Same thing go befall your Ancient Grandfather Buhari by 2019

They said Senegal not Nigeria force.

Humm! This seat tight president wan waste livies

Africans like power die.

the zoo has nothing to offer

[size=28pt]Nigeria military should not join in overthrowing mr Yahya Jammeh because the election was rigged . [/size]

Mtcheeew instead of ECOWAS to send their military men to SAMBISA FOREST.

encriagona:
Wetin USA flag dey find among ECOWAS flag?

Olodo rabata! That is liberias flag! They are a u.s colony!

cjrane:
Just imagine Buhari acting as champion of democracy to force Jammeh to respect the people's vote?

Since Buhari came to power, the people's vote has never been respected in all elections conducted under him and the people's vote will definitely not be respected in 2019.


So who will send troops against him to force him to respect the people's vote?

Your speculations exist only in your own imagination. 2019 is still more than two years away. Sit tight and enjoy the ride.

most of this president do not respect rule of law in their various countries example Buhari and he want to force another person to obey law.

Since the foolast called jammeh refused to peaceful exit, he will be forcefully ousted.

If he has any sense, he should know that Donald Trump will become the US president despotential claims that Election was hacked.
Civilization means you can hand over, gather evidence from the sideline, go to court and win.
Everything else means you are power drunk.

Is good to be strong militarily ooo. See as one small country is threatening another country with military force as if is one small village.
Take North Korea for example ; had it been they cow militarily, South Korea in cohort with the US would have grounded the country already.
Iran too was sanctioned on so many fronts for a very long time without any consideration of war because of its military might.
I am not supporting Jameh in anyway, but war should be the last resort after all civil options fails.

EternalTruths:


Same thing go befall your Ancient Grandfather Buhari by 2019

Ghen Ghen!!!! You don vex

encriagona:
Wetin USA flag dey find among ECOWAS flag?

Mumu, that's Liberian Flag

Assignment 101

Name the countries with the remaining flags.

Some people are power drunk Sha, instead of handing over amicable after being in power for more than 20yrs, he rather choose to form Gaddafi.
Very stubborn and arrogant behaviour, even after conceding and accepting defeat.
Maybe he wants to end shamefully like Gaddafi.

Nigeria Army that can't even defeat ordinary bokoharam in their territory want to go to a foreign country and fight? RIP go full everywhere. Buhari is a hypocrite

Buhari is a hypocrite simple!

encriagona:
Wetin USA flag dey find among ECOWAS flag?

You shouldn't have made this comment without searching google for an answer. How old are you? Did you attempt social studies back in secondary school for you not to know it's the US that formed Liberia for ex slaves?

encriagona:
Wetin USA flag dey find among ECOWAS flag?

Liberia was a colony of the USA; their flag (The Lone Star) was derived from the USA flag.

this is what God saved otuoke ogororo man from.

ademusiwa2r:
[size=28pt]Nigeria military should not join in overthrowing mr Yahya Jammeh because the election was rigged . [/size]

advice the fool to go to election tribunal

EternalTruths:


Same thing go befall your Ancient Grandfather Buhari by 2019

Says the minority tribe hahahaha..

Africa leaders are power drunk... They think it's their birth right.

Dr Souza, Buhari and the ECOWAS should take a chill pill abeg. Who war epp? At the end, na women and children go suffer pass. Whatever happened to the courts? Jammeh should go to the courts to challenge the electoral result if he feels the results were compromised. And I learnt a Nigerian is the Chief Justice of the country. This promises to be interesting but please no war...