Security Council resolution 2337 (2017) [on outcome of the presidential elections held in Gambia on 1 Dec. 2016]
Symbol: S/RES/2337 (2017)
Date: 2017-01-19
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/72 [303] GAMBIA--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Subjects: African Union|Economic Community of West African States|POLITICAL CONDITIONS|ELECTIONS|GAMBIA|MEDIATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: EGYPT
vote: yes
country: ETHIOPIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: KAZAKHSTAN
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SENEGAL
vote: yes
country: SWEDEN
vote: yes
country: UKRAINE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: URUGUAY
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                S/RES/2337 (2017)
               Security Council                                              Distr.: General
                                                                             19 January 2017




               Resolution 2337 (2017)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7866th meeting, on
               19 January 2017

                    The Security Council,
                      Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence,
               territorial integrity and unity of The Islamic Republic of The Gambia, and recalling
               the importance of the principles of good-neighbourliness, non-interference and
               regional cooperation,
                    Recalling the Statement of its President on 21 December 2016 on Peace
               consolidation in West Africa and the Press Statement of its Members on
               10 December 2016 on the Gambia elections,
                    Recalling the relevant provisions of Article 23 (4) of the African Union (AU)
               Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the provisions of the
               Supplementary Protocol of the Economic Community of West African States
               (ECOWAS) on Democracy and Good Governance,
                     Congratulating the Gambian people for the holding of the peaceful and
               transparent Presidential election on 1 December 2016,
                    Noting the official results of the elections of 1 December 2016 issued by the
               Gambian Independent Electoral Commission which proclaimed the election of
               Mr. Adama Barrow as President, and which the former President of The Islamic
               Republic of The Gambia, Mr. Yahya Jammeh, himself publicly recognized and
               accepted on 2 December,
                    Strongly condemning the statement by former President Jammeh, on
               9 December rejecting the December 1 official election results and the takeover of
               the Independent Electoral Commission by the Gambian Armed Forces on
               13 December 2016, and the attempt by the Parliament on 18 January 2017 to extend
               President Jammeh’s term for three months beyond his current mandate,
                     Condemning in the strongest possible terms the attempts to usurp the will of
               the people and undermine the integrity of the electoral process in The Gambia,
                    Condemning the attempt to prevent a peaceful and orderly transfer of power to
               President Barrow by declaring a state of emergency,




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                    Expressing grave concern at the risk of deterioration of the situation in the
               Gambia, recalling that the Gambian government bears primary responsibility for
               protecting human rights and protecting the civilian population in The Gambia and
               demanding that all stakeholders and parties act with maximum restraint, refrain
               from violence and remain calm,
                     Commending the declaration of the Peace and Security Council of the African
               Union (AU) at its 647th meeting held on 13 January 2017 that as of 19 January
               2017, outgoing President, Yahya Jammeh, will cease to be recognized by the AU as
               legitimate President of the Republic of the Gambia,
                    Taking note of the communiqué of the Chairman of the African Union on
               10 December 2016 and the joint Communique of The ECOWAS Commission, the
               African Union Commission and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the
               Sahel (UNOWAS) on 10 December 2016,
                     Commending the initiatives of ECOWAS, including the visit of a
               ECOWAS/UN high level delegation in Banjul on 13 December 2016, led by Her
               Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and
               Chairperson of the ECOWAS authority, aimed at ensuring a peaceful and orderly
               transition of process in The Gambia, as well as the ECOWAS high level delegation
               in Banjul on 13 January 2017,
                    Further welcoming the efforts of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari,
               President and Commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the
               ECOWAS Mediator in the Gambia and His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama,
               former President of the Republic of Ghana as the Co -chair,
                    Recognizing the important mediation role of Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas,
               Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations
               Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS),
                    Commending and strongly supporting the continued efforts of the African
               Union and ECOWAS to promote peace, stability and good governance in the
               Region,
                    1.    Urges all Gambian parties and stakeholders to respect the will of the
               people and the outcome of the election which recognized Adama Barrow as
               President-elect of The Gambia and representative of the freely expressed voice of
               the Gambian people as proclaimed by the Independent Electoral Commission;
                    2.  Endorses the decisions of ECOWAS and the African Union to recognize
               Mr. Adama Barrow as President of the Gambia;
                     3.    Calls upon the countries in the region and the relevant regional
               organisation to cooperate with President Barrow in his efforts to realize the
               transition of power;
                     4.   Welcomes the decisions on The Gambia of the Fiftieth Ordinary Session
               of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja on 17 December 2016 and the decisions of
               The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 644th meeting
               held on 12 December 2016 and its 647th meeting held on 13 January 2017;
                    5.  Welcomes further the decisions of the Peace and Security Council of the
               African Union (AU), declaring the inviolable nature of the outcome of the




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           presidential elections held on 1 December 2016 in The Gambia, calling upon former
           President Yahya Jammeh to keep to the letter and spirit of the speech he delivered
           on 2 December 2016, in which he welcomed the maturity of democracy in The
           Gambia and congratulated the President, Adama Barrow, and declaring further that,
           as of 19 January 2017, outgoing President Yahya Jammeh will cease to be
           recognized as legitimate President of the Republic of The Gambia;
                6.    Expresses its full support to the ECOWAS in its commitment to ensure,
           by political means first, the respect of the will of the people of The Gambia as
           expressed in the results of 1st December elections;
                 7.    Requests former President Jammeh to carry out a peaceful and orderly
           transition process, and to transfer power to President Adama Barrow by 19 January
           2017 in accordance with the Gambian constitution;
                8.   Emphasizes the importance that the safety of President Adama Barrow,
           and that of all Gambian citizens be fully ensured, and noted th e decision of
           ECOWAS Fiftieth Session in this regard;
                 9.     Requests all stakeholders, within and outside The Gambia, to exercise
           restraint, respect the rule of law and ensure the peaceful transfer of power;
                 10. Further requests the Gambian defence and security forces to demonstrate
           maximum restraint to maintain an atmosphere of calm in the Gambia and stresses
           their duty and obligation to place themselves at the disposal of the democratically
           elected authorities;
                11. Requests the Secretary General to update the Security Council on the
           implementation of this resolution within ten (10) days after its adoption;
                12. Requests the Secretary-General, including through his Special
           Representative, to facilitate, as appropriate, political dialogue between the Gambian
           stakeholders in order to ensure peace in The Gambia and respecting the outcome of
           the Presidential election as recognized by ECOWAS and African Union, and to
           provide technical assistance to the ECOWAS mediation where required;
                13.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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