The African Union has described as “null and avoid” Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s rejection of the results of last week’s election.
The US and neighbouring Senegal also criticised the statement. Mr Jammeh had initially admitted defeat by his rival Adama Barrow.
Mr Jammeh cited “abnormalities” and called for fresh elections, saying he now rejected the results “totally”.
Mr Barrow accused the incumbent of damaging democracy.The results were revised by the country’s electoral commission on 5 December, when it emerged that the ballots for one area were added incorrectly, swelling Mr Barrow’s vote.
The error, which also added votes to the other candidates, did not change the outcome but narrowed Mr Barrow’s margin of victory from 9% to 4%.
Mr Barrow’s spokesperson said the head of the army, General Ousman Badjie, supported the president-elect, having pledged his allegiance after the initial result.
The BBC’s West Africa correspondent, Thomas Fessy, says the main question now is whether the Gambian leader has managed to split the army, retaining a faction ready to back his announcement.
AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said Mr Jammeh’s latest statement was “null and void” because he had already conceded defeat in the election.
“The chairperson of the commission strongly urges President Yahya Jammeh to facilitate a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power,” she said.
Senegal’s government called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Mr Ndiaye, speaking on national television, urged President Jammeh to respect the election result.
US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: “This action is a reprehensible and unacceptable breach of faith with the people of the Gambia and an egregious attempt to undermine a credible election process and remain in power illegitimately.”
The streets of the capital, Banjul, were reported to be calm on Friday night although soldiers were seen placing sandbags in strategic locations across the city, AFP news agency reports.
Mr Jammeh said “serious and unacceptable abnormalities” had been found in the electoral process and demanded “fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a God-fearing and independent electoral commission”.
Only last week, the president was shown on state TV calling Mr Barrow to wish him well.
“You are the elected president of The Gambia, and I wish you all the best. I have no ill will,” he said at the time.
According to the electoral commission, the revised results of the vote on 1 December was:
Mr Barrow won 222,708 votes (43.34%)
President Jammeh took 208,487 (39.6%)
A third-party candidate, Mama Kandeh, won 89,768 (17.1%)
Mr Barrow, a property developer, is due to take office in late January.The Gambia is the smallest countryin Africa, with a population of fewer than two million.In his 22 years in power, Mr Jammeh acquired a reputation as a ruthless leader.
Source:BBC Africa
M7 must have called him and advised him…next you will hear that they wont use marbles for voting but print papers in Dubai.
Why did Edgar rush to congratulate new president?
Their Esau Chulu is also rotten. What guarantee does he give that there are no further mistakes.
Yahyah is better than our Edward in that Yahya did not steal the marbles & he is calling for fresh elections while Edward stuck to his stolen votes.
This Tin pot dictator is in post traumatic shock. It is too late. He conceded defeat and the world has accepted.
By the way, BBC, São Tomé and Principal and Seychelles are smaller than The Gambia.
Thank you – The Gambia is not the smallest country in Africa. They are bigger than the Comoros, Cape Verde, and Mauritius, as well.
Barrow made one fatal mistake by announcing that Yahya Jameh would be sent to the ICC. Also the transition period is too long especially if the incumbent is an unstable mental case.
Jammeh and Edward are birds of the same feathers so they flock together. After realising that he had lost the Election to HH, Edward wanted to concede defeat but thanks to RB and KZ, Edward was convinced and changed his mind and the Electoral Coup succeeded with a crucial role played by ECZ. The result is that Edward is still in power but illegally. Edward,Mu7 and Mugabe have since advised Jammeh of the dangers of handing over power to Adama Harrow hence Jammeh made a u-turn. Power corrupts and absolute power for 22 years absolutely corrupted Jammeh. He had conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent earlier but with advice from fellow dictators Jammeh has changed his mind. Just like Edward ,Jammeh has carried out a coup against their respective Constitutions. In the case of Edward…
You lier.stop spreading lies
That’s what happened actually.
Anyway no election is perfect what with Russia being implicated in the election of Donald.
This is the reason why Africa is highly vulnerable to civil unrest and wars because of such characters. The people’s wish is stolen in broad-day light, as was the case in Zambia. The only thing that makes Gambia and Zambia different is the G and Z, but what makes Zambia the worst case is the clip bellow:
***** we have been democratic since 1991.
Y I are u involving Zambia in this matter.if we re to talk of Zambia Edgar chagwa Lungu was duly elected by the majority Zambian.kalusa will face it hard come 2021 coz we ve seen him and his true colours,if you are to do well ba upnd change the party hierarchy and replace with the people who have a heart ? of your party.
Take him out.
Thank God we are Zambians and have a democracy. In it 2016 and Gambians are leaving in Kaunda days.
* It is
Africa Union and USA are using double standards. Nobody in Africa now respect the will of the people.
Jammeh realizes no president in Africa handover power peacefully.
Nkurunzinza of Burundi extended his term illegally.
Lags me of Rwanda extended his rule forever.
Museveni of Uganda life president.
Mugabe of Zimbabwe life rule.
Edwardo of Angola life rule.
Kabila of DRC extended his rule.
Lungu of Zambia cheated to remain in power.
All these problems you looked away or burying your heads in the sand.
Leave Jammeh alone.
This guy looks like a bully from KMB. y
Gambia is the smallest country in the many land in Africa
Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa
And have had only two presidents since independence in 1965.
People are reading too much into this U-turn. Jammeh knows that the Election Result is irreversible but he is using this as a carrot to negotiate with President Elect an Agreement which will grant him immunity from prosecution after leaving office. In Zambia, Edward is scheming a similar strategy to get immunity from prosecution in case his Re-lection is found to be Null and Void after the Petetion is heard and determined. Edward has broken so many laws which is tantamount to committing Treason.Edward and Jammeh share common values.
You’re talking about the failed petition? Please read properly. There is no petition, just start campaigning for 2021
HH will be clearly beaten by Kambwili in 2021. Zambians have known HH and his plans now. We just pray that Lungu does not interfere in the PF presidential selection process the way the did with MPs. Zambia needs Sata like president. If Americans can go for a white cobra who are we not to vote for prince cobra
Nemwe bakambwili forget about new comers. you are a parent for all Zambians. you need MMD and UPND members to win. start using a uniting language
HH was very happy with this Gambian president.what can he say now?thats africa for you hh!!
Kambwili to be President Bwafya. I don’t think Kambwili is suitable for post of the president I would rather have HH than Kambwili.
Jammeh is now Appealing to Supreme Court of Gambia (SCG) to have the Elections annulled. Jammeh appointed the SCG Judges just like Edward appointed his friends as Judges at Zambia Concourt. Edward used his friends at Concourt to block the Petetion and to date the Petetion has not been heard though its still in Courts. It will be interesting to see if Jammeh’s judges in SCG will hear the Petetion and determine it. If SCG does that it will be a huge embarrassment to Concourt and Edward. Worse still if Concourt dismiss Jammeh’s Petetion. Edward and Jammeh are in the same boat. Edward lost the Election but he is clinging to power illegally and Jammeh is trying to do the same. If ECOWAS, AU & UN are not recognising Yahya Jammeh in Gambia why is SADC,AU & UN recognising Edward in Zambia when…
Good observation.