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EU urges former Gambian president to respect election results

Xinhua, January 20, 2017 Adjust font size:

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Thursday urged former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to transfer power to President-elect Adama Barrow, the winner of the presidential race in December.

Mogherini made the remarks in a statement after having a phone conversation with President-elect Barrow, who was sworn in on Thursday at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, capital of Senegal.

The UN Security Council on Thursday urged all Gambian parties and West African countries to ensure peaceful transition of power in Gambia.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-nation council requests former President Yahya Jammeh to transfer power to President Adama Barrow by Jan. 19, 2017 in accordance with the Gambian constitution.

Barrow, staying in Dakar since Saturday, won Gambia's presidential election on Dec. 1, 2016. However, his election win was challenged by Jammeh who refused to cede power to him despite decisions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to send troops to support Gambia in power transition.

"Yahya Jammeh has so far not responded positively to sustained efforts by ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations," Mogherini said, " I urge him to reconsider his position and to respect the will of the Gambian people."

Underscoring that the coming weeks and months will be important to ensure a smooth transfer of power, Mogherini pledged that the EU is committed to supporting this process and is looking into all available instruments at its disposal. Endit