Us says president jammeh losing opportunities to peacefully hand over power

You're referring to the situation in The Gambia, where President Yahya Jammeh has refused to step down after losing the presidential election to Adama Barrow.

Yes, it's true that President Jammeh has missed several opportunities to peacefully hand over power and respect the will of the Gambian people. Despite international pressure and mediation efforts, Jammeh has continued to cling to power, leading to a political crisis in the country.

Here are some key events that highlight Jammeh's refusal to step down:

  1. Election results: On December 1, 2016, Jammeh's opponent, Adama Barrow, was declared the winner of the presidential election with 43.3% of the vote. Jammeh initially accepted the results, but later claimed that the election was rigged and demanded a new vote.
  2. ECOWAS mediation: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened and brokered a deal for Jammeh to step down and allow Barrow to take office. However, Jammeh reneged on the agreement and refused to leave office.
  3. Diplomatic pressure: The international community, including the African Union, the United States, and the European Union, imposed sanctions on Jammeh and his government, including travel bans and asset freezes. Despite this, Jammeh remained defiant.
  4. Military intervention: On January 19, 2017, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched a military intervention in The Gambia, known as Operation Restore Democracy, to force Jammeh to step down. The intervention was successful, and Jammeh eventually left office on January 21, 2017.
  5. Aftermath: Jammeh's refusal to step down led to a political crisis in The Gambia, which had significant economic and social consequences for the country. The crisis also strained relations between The Gambia and its international partners.

In summary, President Jammeh's refusal to step down after losing the election was a missed opportunity for peaceful transfer of power, leading to a political crisis and international intervention.