UN Tells Out Going Gambia President To "Respect People’s Decisions And Transfer Power To New President Elect"

Strongly condemning the outgoing Gambian President's rejection of the outcome of the Presidential election in the country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council called on him to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process.

In a statement issued by his office, Mr. Ban called on President Yahya Jammeh as well as all political actors and their supporters “to fully respect the outcome of the election and to resolve all disputes that may arise from the electoral process through established legal procedures in an expeditious and transparent manner.”

“[The Secretary-General] reiterates his earlier call for a peaceful, timely and orderly transfer of power, in full respect of the will of the Gambian people as expressed in the election,” added the statement.


The UN chief also urged all stakeholders, including defence and security forces, to refrain from any statements or actions that may lead to violence or unrest.

The UN Security Council also, in a separate statement, called on outgoing President Jammeh “to respect the choice of the sovereign people of Gambia, as he did on 2 December, and to transfer, without condition and undue delay, power to President-elect Adama Barrow.”