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UN chief remains deeply concerned about situation in Gambia after presidential elections

Xinhua, December 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said that he remains "deeply concerned" about the situation in Gambia following the Dec. 1 presidential elections, and urged the security forces of the West African country to "uphold their neutrality and demonstrate restraint under the unfolding circumstances."

The secretary-general, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, commended the firm stance taken by the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Dec. 17 with respect to the situation in Gambia, including the decisions to take all necessary actions to enforce the outcome of the presidential election, guarantee the protection of President-elect Adama Barrow, and attend the inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow on Jan. 19, 2017.

"The secretary-general remains deeply concerned about the situation in The Gambia following the presidential election on 1 December," the statement said. "He is particularly worried that the Independent Electoral Commission continues to be under the control of military forces."

"He urges the Gambian security forces to uphold their neutrality and demonstrate restraint under the unfolding circumstances," the statement said.

The secretary-general underscored the commitment of the United Nations to fully support the decisions taken by the ECOWAS Authority, including, if requested, through the provision of support to the mediation effort that will be led by Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and John Dramani Mahama of the Republic of Ghana, the statement added.

Yahya Jammeh, the outgoing Gambian president who has ruled Gambia since a 1994 military coup, suffered a shocking loss in the presidential elections after running for his fifth term.

Jammeh, in his Dec. 2 address on Gambian state television, accepted his defeat and congratulated opponent Barrow on his victory.

On Dec. 14, Ban condemned the military takeover of Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) premises, reiterating his call for "a peaceful, timely, and orderly transfer of power" in the West African country. Endit