Gambian
President Yahya Jammeh said on Friday he rejects the outcome of last week's
election that he lost to opposition leader Adama Barrow and called for fresh
elections.
The
announcement made on state television throws the future of the West African
country into doubt after the unexpected election result ended Jammeh's 22-year
rule and was widely seen as a moment of democratic hope.
Jammeh
had conceded defeat on state TV last week, prompting wild celebrations over the
defeat of a government that human rights groups accused of detaining, torturing
and killing opponents during the president's rule.
"After
a thorough investigation, I have decided to reject the outcome of the recent
election. I lament serious and unacceptable abnormalities which have reportedly
transpired during the electoral process," Jammeh said.
"I
recommend fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a
god-fearing and independent electoral commission," he said.
Witnesses
said Banjul, the capital, was quiet overnight, and there was particular
nervousness about the president's statement that he would deal harshly with any
troublemakers who took to the streets.
International
reaction was swift. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that Jammeh's
rejection of the results was an egregious attempt to undermine a credible
election and remain illegitimately in power.
Senegal's
foreign minister, Mankeur Ndiaye, called for an emergency meeting of the U.N.
Security Council and "solemnly" warned Jammeh not to harm Senegal's
interests or its citizens in Gambia.
Senegal,
which has Gambia's only land border and entirely surrounds the small riverside
country, is a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Its army intervened
in Gambia in 1981 during a coup.
Jammeh's
announcement presents an unexpected and severe challenge to the incoming Barrow
administration, which was already grappling with how to take the reins of power
and deal with the army that for two decades was loyal to the president.
Army
chief General Ousman Badjie has already called Barrow to pledge his allegiance,
the latter's spokesperson said, although diplomatic sources say they expect a
faction from Jammeh's Jola ethnic group to remain loyal to him.
The
head of Barrow's transition team said the president-elect and his staff were
safe.
"We
are consulting on what to do, but as far as we are concerned, the people have
voted," Mai Ahmad Fatty told Reuters. "We will maintain peace and
stability and not let anyone provoke us into violence."
Official
election results from the electoral commission gave Barrow, a real estate
developer who once worked as a security guard at retailer Argos in London, 45.5
percent of the vote against Jammeh's 36.7 percent.
But
the Independent Electoral Commission later corrected the results to give Barrow
a slimmer lead with 43.3 percent of votes, or fewer than 20,000 more than
Jammeh.
Some
people had doubted whether Jammeh would accept defeat, given that he had
abolished term limits and said before the election that he would rule for a
"billion years."
Barrow's
win galvanized many in Africa, who saw it as a step forward for democracy, and
they baulked at the prospect that it could be reversed.
"The
international community, notably ECOWAS (the West African regional bloc) and
the African Union, should loudly protest any unlawful attempt to subvert the
will of the Gambian people," said Babatunde Olugboji, deputy program
director at Human Rights Watch.
Barrow
is set to take over in late January following a transition period.
Source:Reuters
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Politics