Gambia, G/Bissau top on ECOWAS agenda in Abuja

President Sirleaf and Buhari

The political crisis in Gambia would top the agenda of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government (HOSG) scheduled to hold on Saturday in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and current Chairperson of the Authority of HOSG, and President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra-Leone, were in The Gambia on Tuesday.

The leaders went to convince the long-ruling President Yahya Jammeh to relinquish power after losing an election on 1 December.

The leaders encouraged Jammeh to reconsider his rejection of the election results, based on what he called  “tallying errors” and his call for new elections.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Chairperson of ECOWAS also said leaders of the sub-region would address the situation in Guinea Bissau.

The ECOWAS chairperson had described the situation in Guinea Bissau as “very complicated, noting that “it is pertinent to choose a leader that reflected the will of the people”.

In April 2012, the military staged a coup d’état in that country, and military leaders and a coalition of political parties announced the formation of a Transitional National Council, under international pressure.

Guinea-Bissau has also been in a political impasse since August 2015, when President José Mario Vaz sacked then Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde.

Vaz also dissolved the government on Nov. 12 in an attempt to solve a political succession crisis.

A delegation from ECOWAS on Nov. 6 demanded that Vaz name a new prime minister and deal with dissenting deputies with the aim of resuming parliament’s normal functions.

NAN also gathered that the summit would consider the report of the 77th Ordinary Season of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the 37th session of the Mediation and Security Council.

The meeting would also consider the 2016 Annual Report of the President of the commission and discuss the sub-regions strategy for elections to African union positions.

A final communiqué will be presented at the end meeting. NAN