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STORY: UN / GAMBIA CHAMBAS
TRT: 02:45
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13 JANUARY 2017, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT
RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations headquarters
13 JANUARY 2017, NEW YORK CITY
2. Pan left, SRSG Chambas talking to Security Council members
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and Sahel:
“A High-level delegation has returned to Banjul today, as we meet here, January 13th, in an attempt to persuade President Jammeh to abide by the elections results and to step down. They plan to leave no doubt about the determination of ECOWAS to use all necessary means, including force, to have the will of the Gambian people upheld. Should this be deemed necessary, ECOWAS intends to seek the endorsement of the AU Peace and Security Commission and the formal approval of this Council to deploy troops to the Gambia.”
4. Wide shot, presser
5. Close up, reporter
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and Sahel:
“I found that in the Council there was unanimity on this issue that West Africa should be supported to ensure that there’s respect for choice of the Gambian people, which is Mr. Barrow, and that there should be a handing over of power by Mr. Jammeh to the newly elected president on the 19 of January.”
7. Wide shot, presser
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and Sahel:
“The general principle is that Mr. Jammeh should be allowed to leave the country and consequently allow the country to move on. I think that Nigerian National Assembly in that regard was trying to be helpful, constructive, to break an impasse by offering him asylum to come to Nigeria if he so wishes so that president elect Barrow can take office.”
9. Close up, photographer
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and Sahel:
“Whether he stays or goes is up to him. What should be clear is that he should allow the country to move forward under the new leadership. A prefer option would probably be for him to allow some space and maybe agree to leave the country for a while.”
11. Wide shot, presser
The head of the United Nations (UN) West Africa office told the Security Council a high-level delegation was in Bajul today to persuade Gambian president Jammeh to abide by the elections results and step down, adding that they plan to leave no doubt about their determination to “use all necessary means, including force, to have the will of the Gambian people upheld.”
Speaking Friday (13 Jan) to the UN 15-member body, Mohammed Ibn Chambas noted his office (UNOWAS) is fully involved in supporting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-led mediation, which continues to explore all avenues towards a peaceful transfer of power.
The Islamic Republic of The Gambia held presidential elections on 1 December 2016. Initially, President Yahya Jammeh, who ruled the country for 22 years, conceded defeat to president-elect Adama Barrow, but later Jammeh rejected his electoral defeat and called for another vote.
Chambas stressed that should the use of force “deemed necessary,” ECOWAS intends to seek the endorsement of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Commission and the formal approval of the UN Security Council to deploy troops to Gambia.
Later, in a press conference after the Security Council meeting, he told reporters “I found that in the Council there was unanimity on this issue that West Africa should be supported to ensure that there’s respect for choice of the Gambian people, which is Mr. Barrow, and that there should be a handing over of power by Mr. Jammeh to the newly elected president on the 19 of January.”
Asked about the Nigerian authorities asylum offer to president Jammeh, the UN Special Representative noted that Jammeh should be allowed to leave the country and “consequently allow the country to move on.”
He added, “I think that Nigerian National Assembly in that regard was trying to be helpful, constructive, to break an impasse by offering him asylum to come to Nigeria if he so wishes so that president-elect Barrow can take office.”
Chambas also said “whether he stays or goes is up to him. What should be clear is that he should allow the country to move forward under the new leadership. A prefer option would probably be for him to allow some space and maybe agree to leave the country for a while.”
