The details of the deal ex Gambia's president, Yahya Jammeh signed before he agreed to step down, have emerged.
Yahya Jammeh goes into exile
Yahya Jammeh ruled The Gambia for as long as 22 years before he
lost elections in December last year. However, he refused to step down
until he was pressurred to do so after signing a deal with the ECOWAS.
Elaborate details of the deal signed by the former Gambian dictator before agreeing to step down on January 21 have emerged.
The deal, which spared the tiny West African country military
action threatened by the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), had major input from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the
United Nations (UN) as well as Presidents Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz of
Mauritania and President Alpha Conde of Guinea. It followed the failure
of initial mediation efforts by leaders of ECOWAS member countries.
A major highlight of the deal was the declaration by ECOWAS to halt
any military operations in The Gambia for the sub-regional body to
continue the pursuit of the peaceful and political resolution of the
crisis.
To facilitate a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of
power and the establishment of the new government of President Adama
Barrow, it was recommended that Mr.Jammeh should temporarily leave The
Gambia on 21 January.
However, ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN made a commitment to work with
the new Gambian government to pave the way for Mr. Jammeh's return to
The Gambia at any time he chooses in line with international human
rights legislations and his right as a Gambian citizen and former
president. Similarly, ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN promised to ensure that
countries that elect to host Mr. Jammeh and his family during the
temporary exile period are not made to endure harassment, intimidation,
sanctions and sundry pressures.
Also, ECOWAS, AU and the UN urged the new Gambian government to
provide assurance that supporters and members of Mr. Jammeh's government
are not subjects of intimidation or harassment.
The three international bodies, details of the deal showed, also
made a commitment to work with the new government to prevent the seizure
of assets and properties lawfully acquired by Mr. Jammeh, his family,
cabinet members, government officials and supporters of his political
party. The bodies equally assured the former dictator that their
readiness to work with his successor's government to treat him with the
kind of dignity befitting a citizen, former president and party leader
as contained in the country's 1997 Constitution and other related laws.
Similar assurances were given in respect of the treatment of his
immediate family, cabinet members, government officials, security
officials, party supporters, and loyalists.
The ousted dictator was equally assured by ECOWAS, the AU, and the
UN that the government of his successor would enact legislations
inimical to the treatment of himself, his family and supporters with
dignity.
To avoid recriminations typical of fractious transfer of power in
Africa, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN assured that they would partner with
the Gambian government on national reconciliation to strengthen social,
cultural and national cohesion.
The three bodies also announced their readiness to assist the new
government to institute measures capable of forestalling a breakdown of
law and order by working with the Barrow regime to support the Gambian
Defence and Security Forces and maintain their integrity.
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