Gambia’s Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Environment have resigned from President Yahya Jammeh’s government, according to report on Tuesday.

They all resigned as regional forces prepare to oust the veteran leader unless he steps down by Thursday.

The surprise loss was seen as a boost to democracy in the former British colony, which has had only two presidents since it gained independence in 1965.

But Jammeh’s defiance has sent the tiny West African country into crisis, causing government defections and opening up the prospect of military intervention by other countries in the region.

A senior Nigerian military source said Nigeria and other West African nations were prepared to intervene militarily to remove him if he remains in office after Wednesday, when his presidential mandate runs out.

“The chiefs of defence staff of West African countries met on Monday to discuss strategies on the best way to get Yahya Jammeh out if he refuses to hand over power,’’ said the Nigerian source, who declined to be identified.

“Some West African countries will be contributing troops, including Nigeria, for the operation,’’ said the source, adding that the United Nations and African Union had offered support to regional body ECOWAS for the plan.

According to Gambian state television on late Monday, Finance Minister Abdou Kolley was being replaced.

Ministry sources said other government leaders including Foreign Minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye had left the government and the country.

Their departures follow the resignation of communications minister Sheriff Bojang last week.

The mayor of the capital Banjul has also resigned, according to sources at the city council.

This post was syndicated from Nigerian News from Leadership News. Click here to read the full text on the original website.

Also, Like us on facebook</s>Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Neneh MacDouall-Gaye has resigned from her position just as President Yahya Jammeh has insisted on staying in power two days to the end of his tenure.

MacDouall-Gaye on Monday said she cannot perform her duties effectively any longer under “the prevailing circumstances.”

“This letter serves as a formal notice of my resignation as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia,” Mrs. MacDouall-Gaye wrote.

“After due deliberation, I am of the conviction that under the prevailing circumstances I cannot effectively serve as foreign minister,” she added.

She prayed to Allah that the country’s political “impasse be resolved peacefully to the pride of The Gambia nation.”

The foreign minister’s resignation comes barely a week after Gambia’s information minister, Sheriff Bojang, resigned and fled the country.

MacDouall-Gaye was one of Jammeh’s most trusted allies who had served under various capacities in his government.

There are unconfirmed reports that the country’s minister of finance and economic affairs, Addou kolley, minister of trade, industry and employment, Abdou Jobe, minister of Environment, Ousman Jarju, may have also resigned from the government.

Jammeh had vowed not to relinquish power as the inauguration of President-elect draws closer on Thursday.</s>The Gambia's ministers for finance, foreign affairs, trade and the environment have resigned from President Yahya Jammeh's government, according to ministry sources and state television.

The resignations were announced on Tuesday less than a day after the country's Chief Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle pulled out of a case filed by Jammeh seeking to stop the inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow.

Fagbenle said late on Monday that he could not hear the new case, dealing a blow to Jammeh's efforts to halt the inauguration of Barrow, who remains in Senegal.

Inside Story: Can a showdown be averted in Gambia?

The inauguration is scheduled for Thursday, when Barrow is expected to return from Senegal.

"Given that the injunction affects me in my capacity as the chief justice, I will recuse myself from hearing it," he said.

"The motion therefore waits for the constitution of the Supreme Court or allow the judges to arrive in The Gambia."

Edward Gomez, a lawyer for Jammeh's party, conceded that it was "certainly not possible under these circumstances" to have an injunction barring Barrow from being sworn in.

On Tuesday, Morocco's Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar and a top secret service official arrived in The Gambian capital Banjul to hold talks with Jammeh, Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque reported from neighbouring Senegal.

There have been talks of a possible asylum or exile for Jammeh to an African country, in exchange for him stepping down.

Political turmoil

The small West African country has been plunged into political turmoil since Jammeh disputed Barrow's December election victory and refused to cede power.

Jammeh has lodged a challenge to the election result with The Gambia's Supreme Court and last week filed a fresh injunction to prevent the chief justice from swearing Barrow into office.

Last week the Supreme Court said Jammeh's challenge to the election result could not be heard for several months as it did not have a full bench, and the extra judges needed to hear the case were not available.

The Gambia relies on foreign judges, notably from Nigeria, to staff its courts due to a lack of its own trained professionals.

With tensions running high, Jammeh said on Sunday that he had spoken to Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and was adamant he would not budge until the Supreme Court had heard his challenge to the poll result.

"The so-called deadline of January 19, 2017, is not cast in stone and all parties shall await the outcome of the Supreme Court," he said on state television.

Leaders of neighbouring countries and the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, have repeatedly called on the long-serving strongman to leave office peacefully, so far to no avail.

As well as Sirleaf, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Ghana's President John Mahama, who left office 10 days ago, have appealed to Jammeh to step down twice in person, without success, most recently on Friday.

Barrow was the surprise guest at a Bamako summit over the weekend, where he was welcomed as a head of state and introduced to several world leaders.

On Sunday, a personal tragedy struck his family when his eight-year-old son Habibou died after being bitten by dogs, according to a family source.

The prospect of military intervention in The Gambia has even been floated in recent days, following declarations by the United Nations and African Union that boots on the ground could get the green light without a rapid resolution of the crisis.

The head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel said on Friday that ECOWAS would ask the Security Council to approve the deployment of troops to The Gambia if Jammeh continues to refuse to leave office.

On Friday, it was reported that the Nigerian military issued a memo to prepare 800 soldiers for a possible deployment in Gambia. There have also been reports that the Nigerian military has sought training and logistical support from British advisers before any military intervention.

Before his inauguration on Thursday, Barrow's special adviser Mai Fatty read a statement on his behalf in Dakar, urging Gambians to "exercise restraint, observe the rule of law and not to respond to provocation".</s>Former Minister to become a Backbencher

Former Government Minister, Alexandra Otway–Noel who publicly resigned from her post last week Friday, has confirmed that she will not be taking up the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament and instead will become a backbencher of Government.

“Ms Otway–Noel remains a member of the NNP and plans to maintain a positive and respectful relationship with the Prime Minister and Government, continuing to assist wherever possible with the onward and upward trajectory of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. She will also of course continue to serve her constituents faithfully and with her usual vigour,” said a new release issued on Monday afternoon.

As a result of the New National Party winning all 15 seats in the Parliament in the 2013 general elections, there is presently no Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament. The 3 opposition senators in the Upper House of Parliament were appointed by the courtesy of the Governor-General. If Otway–Noel were to resign from the NNP, this would give her the option of becoming the Leader of the Opposition and the power to select 3 of her own senators.

She tendered her resignation on Friday, with the public learning about it via her Facebook account. After her posting, Government officials were unable to confirm because Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell who is the Head of Government, and the Cabinet Secretary, said they were not yet in receipt of the letter.

However, in her Monday release which was also received via Whatsapp, she denied that she informed the general public before submitting to the key officials. “Further to the initial Press Release issued on the 13th January 2017, this is to clarify some key points so as to avoid any potential misunderstandings. First, contrary to a rumour in circulation, following the accepted protocol, letters of resignation were formally issued to the Prime Minister’s office and the Cabinet Secretary before the general press release was issued,” said the release.

Otway–Noel said she resigned from her Government position to pursue a number of exciting opportunities in the private sector and has agreed to ensure a smooth transition to her successor.

Government is yet to issue a statement about her resignation.
Four Cabinet of the Gambia members resign, including Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Abdou Kolley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Minister of Trade, Abdou Jobe, and Minister of Environment Pa Ousman Jarju.