The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) says it received the attempted coup in the Gambia with “utter dismay and shock”.
Four soldiers were arrested, a statement by the Gambian government said, adding three alleged accomplices were on the run.
It is unclear who exactly was behind Tuesday’s attempt to overthrow President Adama Barrow, who won a second term in elections last year.
“ECOWAS Commission strongly condemns the attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Gambia and underscores ECOWAS total rejection of all unconstitutional change of government in any
member State,” the Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.
ECOWAS Commission therefore saluted the leadership and personnel of the Gambia security services for their adherence to their constitutional role and for foiling “this illegal plot”.
The ECOWAS Commission reiterated that it stands firmly by the democratically elected government of the Gambia.
Mr Barrow defeated long-serving President Yahya Jammeh in a shock election victory in December 2016.
Mr Jammeh was forced into exile in Equatorial Guinea, though he remains an influential figure in The Gambia, one of Africa’s smallest countries.
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