Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 21 January 2017: The African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has welcomed the decision of Mr Yahya Jammeh to step-down and depart from the presidency of The Gambia in a bloodless transition of power. The transition is significant in that it is the first peaceful transfer of power in the Islamic Republic of The Gambia since the country’s independence in 1965.

Former President Jammeh stepped down on Saturday, 21 January 2017, and left the country with his family shortly thereafter, in the company of President Alpha Conde of the Republic of Guinea. This followed joint mediation efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).

With the departure of former President Yahya Jammeh, the Chairperson said she looks forward to the return home of the new President of The Gambia, H.E. Adama Barrow, who is still in the Republic of Senegal, where he was sworn-in at the Embassy of The Gambia, on Thursday, 19 January 2017.

The AU Commission Chairperson has taken the opportunity to express gratitude to stakeholders in The Gambia, including particularly the people, but also ECOWAS and UN.