Gambian Chief Clings To Electricity Regardless of Regional Desire That He Phase Down

Enlarge this imageGambia’s president Yahya Jammeh shows his inked finger for the duration of voting before this month in Banjul, Gambia.Jerome Delay/APhide captiontoggle captionJerome Delay/APGambia’s president Yahya Jammeh displays his inked finger all through voting previously this month in Banjul, Gambia.Jerome Delay/APGambia’s president is defiantly refusing to cede electric power inspite of his reduction for the polls previously this thirty day period, as regional and intercontinental leaders are ratcheting up the pre sure on him to move down. “This region has been unbiased given that 1965. And so they want me to go away my state? Who are they to inform me to leave my state?” Yahya Jammeh claimed within a speech with the African Bar A sociated on Tuesday night time. “I will not be intimidated by any electrical power in this globe.” This election in the beginning seemed like it will usher in Gambia’s first-ever peaceful transfer of energy since independence. Jammeh, that Sean Rodriguez Jersey has ruled since he led a coup 22 several years in the past, initially conceded defeat to his opponent, busine sman Adama Barrow. But every week afterwards he dramatically reversed program and claimed that he rejected the election consequence, citing supposed “irregularities.” Jammeh has filed a case with the country’s Supreme Court docket requesting that that vote be annulled. On the other hand, “on Wednesday, the main justice had to adjourn the Supreme Courtroom hearing until eventually 10 January, eight times right before Mr Jammeh’s time period in office officially finishes,” the BBC reports. The chief justice said “there have been not enough judges to hear the situation.”Jammeh’s forces also seized regulate from the elections fee headquarters, right after the commi sioner insisted that Barrow received the election, as we reported. Users of ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc, try to interrupt Josh Bell Jersey the deadlock. ECOWAS leaders have all agreed to attend Barrow’ inauguration following thirty day period, in accordance on the Affiliated Push. Past week, the top of ECOWAS did not rule out sending troops to Gambia in an interview Monday with Radio France Internationale, as we described. In Jammeh’s remarks Tuesday, as NPR’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton John Jaso Jersey claimed, he “challenged the regional bloc to go ahead and implement the inauguration of Gambia’s president-elect subsequent thirty day period, warning, ‘What are they looking forward to?'” Some observers say that Jammeh’s remarkable reversal may have been prompted by fears that he could be prosecuted by a Barrow authorities, the BBC claimed. Jammeh features a dismal human legal rights record and it is witne sed like a leader who brooks no di sent. On the other hand, a spokesperson for that opposition coalition supporting Barrow stated the other. “There is not any indicator of a risk [of prosecution] or the must threaten outgoing President Yahya Jammeh,” Halifa Sallah claimed, according to Al Jazeera. “President-elect Barrow states he is going to take care of outgoing President Yahya Jammeh similar to a former head of state and would consult with him for advice.”