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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General Expresses Concern Over Latest Reports from The Gambia

16 August 1996

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, expressed his grave concern at the surprise radio announcement from The Gambia today that the main political parties operating before the military takeover in July 1994 would be banned from taking part in presidential and parliamentary elections later this year. He said if the reports were confirmed, this would be "a very retrograde step". Earlier today the Secretary-General had welcomed the lifting of the ban on political parties and the postponement of the date for the Presidential Elections to 26 September so as to allow political parties more time to organise themselves.

Chief Anyaoku said: "As far as the Commonwealth is concerned, this latest announcement, if confirmed, is a very retrograde step. By banning the main political parties and their leaders, the decree will effectively block a whole generation of politicians and public servants from the country's political life. Should this development mean that the people of The Gambia are denied their right to elect a government of their choice, the Commonwealth will have to reconsider its position."

The Secretary-General added that the Commonwealth had been assisting the transition to democracy in The Gambia through the provision of experts to the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission and was considering sending an Observer Group for the forthcoming Presidential elections. In the light of the latest development, the Secretary-General said he would be consulting with members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on the way forward.

CMAG was set up by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their summit in New Zealand last November to deal with serious and persistent violations of basic Commonwealth principles. So far, the group has been concerned with the restoration of democracy in The Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Since the establishment of the Group, Sierra Leone has held successful elections in February which ended military rule.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

96/36 16 August 1996

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int