ECOWAS considers military force against Jammeh
UN Envoy Mohamed Ibn Chambas has told UN Security Council that ECOWAS would seek UN support to use military force against defiant Gambia President YahyaJammeh who has refused to give way to president –elect Adama Barrow.
“They plan to leave no doubt about the determination of ECOWAS to use all necessary means including force, to have the will of the Gambian people upheld. Should this be deemed necessary, ECOWAS intends to seek the endorsement of the African Union Peace and Security Council and the formal approval of this Council to deploy troops to The Gambia,” Mr. Chambas said.
The BBC reported on Saturday, 14 January that Mr. Barrow was travelling with ECOWAS delegation to Mali where further talks were due to take place following a failed negotiation with Mr. Jammeh to allow a smooth inauguration of Mr. Barrow on 19 January.
Barrow was said to have been flown out of Gambia late Friday evening by an ECOWAS delegation led by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr. Jammeh insists that he will not give way until The Gambia Supreme Court makes its decision on a challenge he filed against the December 1 election to which he had earlier conceded defeat to Mr. Barrow.
