Only court can declare president, Jammeh insists

DAKAR. — Gambia’s outgoing President Yahya Jammeh is criticising foreign pressure for him to step down and calling on Gambians to wait for a Supreme Court decision to determine the credibility of the December 1 elections that he lost.

On Tuesday, thousands of supporters of Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction gathered around a Supreme Court hearing, pushing for the annulment of the election outcome.

The Supreme Court, with only one sitting member, adjourned until next Monday but said it likely cannot hear the petition filed by the party until May, when the Nigerian and Sierra Leonen judges appointed by Jammeh are available.

The delay creates uncertainty that many fear could turn to violence.

Jammeh at first conceded defeat to opposition coalition candidate Adama Barrow but later called for a new vote, saying the December 1 elections had irreg- ularities.

The coalition has said it plans to move forward with Barrow’s inauguration next week on January 19, at the end of Jammeh’s mandate, and the United Nations, European Union and West African bloc have called on Jammeh to respect the election and step down from power.

“Only the Supreme Court can declare anyone a president. So I ask anyone of us to respect the supreme law of the republic and await the Supreme Court review on the election result,” said Jammeh in a late Tuesday address on state-run TV.

The incumbent criticised interference from other countries, including those of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), which today will send a delegation to try to persuade Jammeh to step down.

Jammeh said there was an “unprecedented level of foreign interference in our elections and internal affairs. And also a sustained smear campaign, propaganda and misinformation.” He called on Gambians to resolve the issue themselves.

“I believe as we can, as Gambians, come together and resolve this and any other matter without undue external interference,” he said. “

“The Constitution does not allow us to enter any engagement, agreement or treaty that denigrates the supremacy of the Gambian Constitution.”

Jammeh said he has appointed a secretary-general to mediate the post-election crisis among all parties.