‘Inconsistent’ African leaders pampered Jammeh for too long - Dr. Aning

International Relations and Security expert Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Aning has accused African leaders of being the cause of the crisis in The Gambia since they refused to sanction Yahya Jammeh when he flouted the rules.

According to him, African leaders have been inconsistent in implementing the norms and values inherent in the protocols and conventions they have signed relating to how member states must behave with respect to democracy, rule of law, good governance and transparent administration of their country.

Dr. Aning emphasised on the fact that Jammeh on several occasions flouted the rules since he became president by creating situations that have been against the normative framework ECOWAS established and always got away with it.

He added, “I think his fellow Head of States ought to have sanctioned him and dealt with The Gambia….. I think part of the fault is also because we don’t elicit compliance from member states and their leaders with what they have signed on to uphold”.

Meanwhile, President-elect Adama Barrow will soon be sworn in today at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal while Yahya Jammeh still refuses to step down after discussions with ECOWAS leaders failed to reach an amicable solution.

Yahya Jammeh, days after conceding defeat in the December elections, later came out to allege the election was rigged and filed a case in court. He also declared a 90-day state of emergency in the country banning people from entering.

ECOWAS troops from Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria have been deployed to The Gambia to secure the State House and seat of government.