mardi 31 janvier 2017
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mercredi 25 janvier 2017
samedi 21 janvier 2017
Inauguration Speech President Donald J Trump
President Donald J Trump the 45th President ofthe 45th President of the United States
vendredi 20 janvier 2017
Efforts Underway to Convince Gambia’s Jammeh to Cede Power
Efforts Underway to Convince Gambia’s Jammeh to Cede Power
- Margaret Besheer
UNITED NATIONS —
Leaders from the West African
nations of Guinea and Mauritania were in the Gambian capital of Banjul Friday
in an attempt to convince defeated President Yahya Jammeh to cede power and
leave the country or face military action.
The leaders gave Jammeh until
midday local time to relinquish power, the 15-nation Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) said.
After the deadline was
imposed, Jammeh asked for a four-hour extension to cede.
Guinean President Alpha Conde
and Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived together in Banjul
Friday.
ECOWAS chairman Marcel Alain
de Souza said Conde would offer Jammeh the chance to cede authority peacefully.
"If that fails, we will bring him by force or by will," he said.
The West African regional
force moved into Gambia Thursday evening, de Souza said. At least 20 military
vehicles were at the border town of Karang Friday morning.
The United Nations Security
Council approved the military intervention and has recognized Adama Barrow as
the new president.
Barrow took the oath of office
Thursday at the Gambian embassy in neighboring Senegal. He was to have been
sworn in at the Gambian capital of Banjul.
US supports show of force
On Thursday, U.S. State
Department spokesman, John Kirby said Washington supports the West African
force "because we understand that the purpose is to help stabilize a tense
situation and to try to observe the will of the people of Gambia."
Kirby said the U.S. has no
plans to send in any U.S. troops.
The Security Council
unanimously backed a Senegalese-drafted resolution condemning "in the
strongest possible terms" attempts to prevent a peaceful and orderly
transfer of power.
Council president Olof Skoog,
the Swedish ambassador, said he personally spoke to President Barrow to tell
him he has the council's full support.
Council members Egypt, Uruguay
and Bolivia stressed that the resolution in no way authorizes military force to
install Barrow as president.
ECOWAS and the African Union
Peace and Security Council have called in separate communiques for "all
necessary measures" to be taken to respect the will of the Gambian people
regarding the election outcome. In diplomatic language, that often means the
use of military force.
The United Nations refugee
agency, meanwhile, said Friday that tens of thousands of Gambians were fleeing
the country amid the standoff. Spokesman Babar Baloch told reporters in Geneva
an estimated 45,000 people had reportedly fled to Senegal in recent days and
said there is the possibility of many more to follow.
Before he was sworn in
Thursday, a jubilant Barrow said his country's flag will "fly high among
the most democratic nations of the world. The new era of Gambia is here at
last. This is a day no Gambian will ever forget."
This is the first time since
Gambia became independent in 1965 that Gambians have changed their government
through the ballot box."
The celebrations in the streets of Banjul began slowly because of the uncertainty and the presence of Gambian security forces; but, the partying grew when it became clear the troops had no intention of using force.
The celebrations in the streets of Banjul began slowly because of the uncertainty and the presence of Gambian security forces; but, the partying grew when it became clear the troops had no intention of using force.
Ballot box success
Barrow won the country's
December 1 election. Jammeh, who once vowed to rule Gambia for "a billion
years," initially accepted the results, but changed his mind, citing
alleged voting irregularities.
He has refused to give up
power, declaring a state of emergency and ramming through a now meaningless
three-month extension of his mandate through the parliament.
Amnesty International and
other major human rights groups accuse Jammeh of having little tolerance for
dissent. They say he has killed or jailed many opponents. He also has
threatened to murder homosexuals and once ordered the kidnapping more than
1,000 villagers accused of being witches.
VOA
jeudi 19 janvier 2017
Barrow demands loyalty from armed forces
Barrow demands loyalty from armed forces
"From today on I am the president of The Gambia regardless of whether you voted for me or not," he said.
Mr Barrow added that his election was an opportunity for Gambians to "effect change that has been in the making for decades" and pledged "liberty and prosperity for everyone" regardless of ethnicity or gender.
He also vowed constitutional and legal reforms and said his election was the start of a meritocratic Gambia where "what you know" will be count for more than "who you know".
Mr Barrow took the oath of office with the backing of foreign governments, despite the fact that Yahya Jammeh has refused give up power in The Gambia.
Breaking
Barrow 'inaugurated' as Gambian president
Mr Barrow has
been sworn in
The ceremony was administered by Sheriff Tambadou, president of the Gambian Bar Association.
The tiny West African state now has two men claiming to be president. Its parliament voted earlier this week to extend Yahya Jammeh's rule by 90 days while he challenges his election defeat at the hands of Mr Barrow, a former estate agent, in the courts.
mercredi 18 janvier 2017
People Flee Gambia as Presidential Drama Escalates
People
Flee Gambia as Presidential Drama Escalates
January 18,
2017 11:18 AM
- Katarina Hoije
In Gambia, the National
Assembly has extended President Yahya Jammeh’s term by three months under a
newly declared state of emergency.
The central market in Banjul
was deserted Wednesday amid a heavy police presence throughout the downtown
area.
The harbor where people board the ferry to take them out of the capital and on
to Senegal was packed. Port authorities said thousands left yesterday, and a
steady stream of women and children were headed in that direction today with
their luggage.
The uncertainty centers around Thursday, January 19 the day that President-elect Adama Barrow is scheduled to be inaugurated.
The uncertainty centers around Thursday, January 19 the day that President-elect Adama Barrow is scheduled to be inaugurated.
In Banjul, people are growing impatient with Yahya Jammeh.
“He’s wrong. He already sit for 22 years. You should give other people a chance,” says a carpenter named Tijan.
“He’s wrong. He already sit for 22 years. You should give other people a chance,” says a carpenter named Tijan.
But Jammeh is digging in. He
has condemned what he has called extraordinary foreign interference in the
country's affairs. He challenged the election results, but the Supreme Court
says it is unable to meet until May because of a shortage of judges.
ECOWAS says Jammeh must step down Thursday. The regional bloc is threatening a military intervention.
Security concerns
International tour groups are scrambling to evacuate tourists. Tom Laker, a Dutch citizen, was preparing to head to the airport.
“I don’t actually think that tourists here are in danger, but I do see that the situation is tense enough to maybe warrant bringing people back home,” he said.
ECOWAS says Jammeh must step down Thursday. The regional bloc is threatening a military intervention.
Security concerns
International tour groups are scrambling to evacuate tourists. Tom Laker, a Dutch citizen, was preparing to head to the airport.
“I don’t actually think that tourists here are in danger, but I do see that the situation is tense enough to maybe warrant bringing people back home,” he said.
In a televised statement, Jammeh said that the security forces have been instructed to maintain law and order, and that “acts intended to disturb public order and peace” are banned. The airport remains open.
President-elect Barrow is in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. He needs to be inaugurated on Gambian soil. Barrow has insisted that will happen Thursday as scheduled, though from the looks of things here in Banjul, it does not look like it will take place here.
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