Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, has announced plans to hold a meeting with four other West African leaders in Abuja on Monday as part of the ongoing efforts to ensure a peaceful transition of power in The Gambia.

The aim of the meeting is to resolve the political crisis that has broken out in the country.

Other West African leaders to be present at the meeting are Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Senegal’s President Macky Sall, immediate past President of Ghana, John Mahama and Sierra Leonean Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh.

According to Buhari’s chief spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the meeting would be aimed at avoiding violence and preserving democracy in The Gambia.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on December 16, 2016, urged outgoing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to hand over power to President-elect Adama Barrow by January 19, 2017 when his mandate expires, but the Gambian leader is yet to show any signs showing that he will do so.

After the December 1, 2016 presidential election in The Gambia, President Yahya Jammeh (photo), who at first conceded defeat later returned to reject the result of the election which he once declared free and fair. This has been raising serious concerns locally, regionally and internationally.

Jammeh had since then gone to the court to question the results in order to avoid handing over power despite pressure from ECOWAS, African Union and the United Nations.

He has insisted on holding on to power and decried “the resolution of ECOWAS on the current situation to implement the results of Dec 1, 2016 presidential election by whatever means possible’’.

ECOWAS has chosen Nigeria’s President to facilitate the negotiations, while the immediate former President of Ghana, John Mahama, will be the co-mediator, Sahara Reporters reports.

Buhari’s chief spokesman added that the responsibility of the two men is to ensure the safety of President-elect Adama Barrow.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State in a statement during the weekend warned its citizens against visiting the tourist destination of Gambia while also urging those already there to leave.

“The US Department of State warns US citizens against travel to The Gambia because of the potential for civil unrest and violence in the near future,” the statement said.

Anita Fatunji