Brussels – The European Union today (Tuesday) welcomed the “calm, peaceful and transparent” way in which The Gambia organized the presidential elections on Saturday, in which Adama Barrow was re-elected for a second term.
The high turnout at the polls shows the commitment of the people of The Gambia in the democratic path they have been following since December 2016″, said, in a statement, the spokesperson of the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell.
The election results were rejected, hours before the announcement of the final results, by the opposition, which expressed its concern about the “excessive delay” in its announcement and assured that it reserves “the right to take whatever measures the situation requires”.
However, they urged “all Gambians to remain calm and peaceful”.
The same European source said he expected “all candidates to act in good faith” and urged all to respect the rule of law and use available legal procedures, “if they deem it necessary”, to contest the election results.
The European Union sent an observation mission to these elections which, in a statement on Monday, pointed to areas where reforms would be needed.
“We look forward to your final report, which will be made public at the end of the process, including recommendations for future electoral processes,” said the same representative of European diplomacy.
The EU stressed that it hoped to continue its “close cooperation” with The Gambia on the path to democratic reforms and national reconciliation.
Barrow won the majority of votes in 45 of the country’s 53 constituencies, cementing his Gambian leadership for a second term.
More than 950,000 Gambians were called to the polls at some 1,500 polling stations, in a vote that was “very peaceful and orderly” and in which citizens demonstrated “in large numbers”, according to the Independent Electoral Commission.
Barrow will lead Gambia for another five years.
In December 2016 he defeated former president Yahya Jammeh with 43.29% of the vote.
Jammeh ruled the small African country for 22 years with an iron fist, and his regime was characterized by serious human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial executions of students, activists, opponents and public officials.
The commission that assessed the crimes during that period has called for those responsible to be brought to justice, but Barrow has yet to commit to this matter.
Source: Angola Press News Agency