As Gambians hole to take their adjacent president connected Saturday, the UN Secretary-General asked on Friday for voters to assistance foster “a peaceful environment” at the polls.  

In a connection released by his Spokesperson, António Guterres calls “on the electoral absorption body, candidates, governmental enactment leaders and their followers, done their conduct, to guarantee a peaceful situation conducive to a credible, inclusive and transparent” election process.  

According to quality agencies, determination are six candidates successful the contention to preside over the 2.2 cardinal people who unrecorded successful the West African nation. 

Adama Barrow, the incumbent, defeated Yahya Jammeh, who had been successful powerfulness for implicit 20 years, successful 2016.  

At the time, Mr. Jammeh initially refused to measurement down, resulting successful a law crisis, but helium yet facilitated an orderly transportation of power, with the UN and different partners commending his “goodwill and statesmanship”. 

Visit 

As portion of the preparations for the election, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, is visiting the country.  

During the 3 days visit, Mr. Saleh, who besides acts arsenic the caput of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), will meet election observers, civilian nine organisations and the UN Country Team.  

On Friday, the Special Representative also had talks with the Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Mr. Saleh is accompanied by the Assistant Secretary-General for Afric, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee. 

Reparations Commission 

In his statement, Mr. Guterres besides welcomes the completion of the enactment of the Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). 

On 25 November, the Commission submitted its last study to the President of the Republic. 

The Secretary-General commended the Commission for its “tireless work” and urged the Government to guarantee “speedy follow-up action” connected the recommendations contained successful the report.  

Mr. Guterres concluded assuring that the United Nations remains “a staunch partner” in the transitional justness process successful The Gambia. 

“[The UN] stands acceptable to proceed supporting nationalist efforts towards the afloat implementation of the Commission’s recommendations to guarantee justice, reparations for victims and closure, arsenic indispensable steps towards nationalist reconciliation and societal cohesion”, he assured.