Ecowas has called for calm in the ongoing political crisis in The Gambia and warned against undermining the country’s Constitution.

The regional bloc’s Special Representative to The Gambia Vabah K. Gayflor said in a press release the group has been monitoring the various protests in the country and urged “all stakeholders to ensure peace, security and stability” prevailed in the country.

Ms Gayflor said Ecowas “is totally against any group or party that seeks to undermine the constitution of The Gambia and by extension any group that seeks to forcefully demand the removal of any constitutionally and democratically elected government, which contravenes the provisions of the ECOWAS 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

“The ECOWAS mandate requires the Mission to facilitate dialogue and initiatives that will ensure peace, security and stability in the country.

“The Mission’s engagement with civil society groups, religious groups and other stakeholders in respect of the current developmentshave all been geared towards this direction.”

There was no mention of the recent statement of former president Yahya Jammeh on the Joint Declaration with Ecowas and UN.

However the Ecowas special representative said: “The ECOWAS Mission will thus not give credence to any group that seeks to be a source of instability. Therefore, any distortions by some actors in respect of previous engagements by ECOWAS must be ignored.

“The Mission once again wishes to assure Gambian stakeholders and citizens at large that it will continue to facilitate dialogue, peaceful co-existence and stability and put in the necessary measures to enhance a stable and secure environment for national development.

“The Mission therefore remains seized within its mandate to work with the Government of The Gambia, Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations, and other relevant stakeholders to peacefully resolve any issues that have the potential to undermine the peace, security and stability in the country.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba