Negotiations to persuade the defeated President Yayha Jammeh of Gambia to step down have failed.
Mauritanian President, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz who was in the Gambia to try and resolve the crisis has now flown to Senegal to meet with President Macky Sall.
Gambia’s President elect Adama Barrow insists he will be sworn into office.
With the situation spiraling out of control, it’s unclear whether the inauguration will take place.
“It is very clear that the inauguration that should have taken place at the National Stadium will not be taking place as planned and all those who are supporters of the coalition are asked to prepare themselves for the commemoration, the celebration that will eventually take place when Barrow is in the state house,” said Barrow’s Spokesperson Halifa Sallah.
Senegal, with the backing of leaders in the region, has threatened to invade Gambia to depose Jammeh if he does not hand over power immediately.
The AU Human Rights Commission’s chair says all eyes will now be on the AU and Ecowas to see how they’re going to proceed.
The commission has cautioned against the negative implications of the use of military force.
“We must try by all means persuade diplomatic solutions to the problem because if the AU and Ecowas deploy military lives will be lost and Gambia will return to conflict,” AU’s Chairperson on Human Rights Pansy Tlakula warned.
Political commentators on the other hand say the Gambian issue was badly managed by the opposition coalition. The opposition was elated and started making careless pronouncements while Jammeh was still in power.
Senegal’s forces are reported to be at the Gambian border and will enter at midnight if Jammeh refuses to relinquish power.
– By TV Bulletins
