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AU welcomes inauguration of new Gambian president

Xinhua, January 21, 2017 Adjust font size:

The African Union (AU) has welcomed the swearing in ceremony that took place on Thursday, and congratulated the new President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, for his assumption of the Presidency.

The pan-African bloc has called on all AU member states, as well as the larger international community, to recognize Adama Barrow as the legitimate President of The Gambia.

The Peace and Security Council of AU on Friday held meeting and passed decision on the post-election situation in the Gambia.

The Council has expressed AU's readiness to work closely with the new Gambian authorities to promote peace, security, stability and reconciliation in the country.

The Council looks forward to the participation of President Adama Barrow in the upcoming 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union from Jan. 30 to 31 in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, according to the communique of the meeting.

It has reaffirmed its full support to the decisions by ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) in Abuja, including the consideration to use all necessary means to ensure the respect of the will of the people of The Gambia, said the communique.

The Council has taken note of the deadline set by the ECOWAS Authority for former President Yahya Jammeh to fully comply with the will of The Gambian people, as well as with the ECOWAS and AU decisions.

It has expressed its deep appreciation to ECOWAS for its principled stand with regard to The Gambia, in line with the AU zero tolerance policy for unconstitutional changes of government in Africa. Endit