AU warns Jammeh of ‘serious consequences’, will cease to recognize him

The African Union has warned the Gambia’s defeated President Yahya Jammeh of serious consequences if his refusal to leave causes any crisis in the tiny West African nation.

The AU Peace and Security Council says President Jammeh will face “serious consequences in the event that his action causes any crisis that could lead to political disorder, humanitarian and human rights disaster, including loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties.” President Yahya Jammeh’s term expires next week and AU says it would not recognize the longtime ruler as president of the tourist attracting nation when his mandate ends.
Barrow is confident he would be sworn in as president next week but Jammeh’s party has filed an injunction in court to prohibit his inauguration.

A shortage of judges in the Supreme Court is making it impossible for the injunction and an election petition filed by Jammeh to be heard until May or November.
A delegation of West African officials including Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Ghana’s President John Mahama arrived in the capital Banjul on Friday.
They will try to persuade Jammeh on behalf of regional bloc ECOWAS to make an honorable exit, rather than risk dragging the country into crisis or civil war.