Senegal-Gambia-Bissau peace mediators on political impasse

By Omar Bah The Senegal-Gambia-Guinea Bissau women’s forum for peace and security in collaboration with the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), together with other women platforms from Bissau and Cassamance yesterday called on President-elect Adama Barrow and were hoping to also meet outgoing President Jammeh to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. Addressing a press conference yesterday at the ACDHRS conference hall in Kololi, Executive Director ACDHRS Hannah Forster said: “Allow me to state that we have sent a request to the out-going President seeking for an audience, but unfortunately as we speak we have not receive any feedback from the office of the president, but we will continue to make efforts to ensure that we reach to him in the not too-distant future. “Fortunately this Wednesday morning we were able to meet President-elect Adama Barrow, and as peace mediators we called this press conference to share with you some of the main essences of our declaration with the president-elect. “As trained women mediators working in governance we do feel that we have a role to play through putting together our expertise on the table to ensure that there is no violence. Because when violence erupts is our children and husbands who suffer, which is a loss, loss situation, this is why we want to clear the air as soon as possible”. Ndeye Marie Thiam from the platform of women for peace in Cassamance said their visit to the country is geared towards showing solidarity with the citizenry in the current political impasse. She said: “We cannot remain silent in a situation that may lead to military intervention or a civil unrest in a sister country. The forum is firmly convinced that all these scenarios can only create greater tension and seriously endanger the peace and security of the Gambia as well as the peace of the entire sub-region which is already exposed to terrorism, over flow of mercenaries and proliferation of arms.” “The forum strongly urges the Gambia Armed Forces not to stand up against their people who have so far demonstrated a high level of maturity. We will also reassert our full support to Gambians regardless of the outcome of the present situation. We also welcome all the initiatives and efforts by ECOWAS, the African Union and United Nations toward a peaceful resolution”.]]>