S/RES/2337 (2017) Expressing grave concern at the risk of deterioration of the situation in the Gambia, recalling that the Gambian government bears primary responsibility for protecting human rights and protecting the civilian population in The Gambia and demanding that all stakeholders and parties act with maximum restraint, refrain from violence and remain calm, Commending the declaration of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) at its 647th meeting held on 13 January 2017 that as of 19 January 2017, outgoing President, Yahya Jammeh, will cease to be recognized by the AU as legitimate President of the Republic of the Gambia, Taking note of the communiqué of the Chairman of the African Union on 10 December 2016 and the joint Communique of The ECOWAS Commission, the African Union Commission and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) on 10 December 2016, Commending the initiatives of ECOWAS, including the visit of a ECOWAS/UN high level delegation in Banjul on 13 December 2016, led by Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and Chairperson of the ECOWAS authority, aimed at ensuring a peaceful and orderly transition of process in The Gambia, as well as the ECOWAS high level delegation in Banjul on 13 January 2017, Further welcoming the efforts of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the ECOWAS Mediator in the Gambia and His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, former President of the Republic of Ghana as the Co -chair, Recognizing the important mediation role of Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Commending and strongly supporting the continued efforts of the African Union and ECOWAS to promote peace, stability and good governance in the Region, 1. Urges all Gambian parties and stakeholders to respect the will of the people and the outcome of the election which recognized Adama Barrow as President-elect of The Gambia and representative of the freely expressed voice of the Gambian people as proclaimed by the Independent Electoral Commission; 2. Endorses the decisions of ECOWAS and the African Union to recognize Mr. Adama Barrow as President of the Gambia; 3. Calls upon the countries in the region and the relevant regional organisation to cooperate with President Barrow in his efforts to realize the transition of power; 4. Welcomes the decisions on The Gambia of the Fiftieth Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja on 17 December 2016 and the decisions of The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 644th meeting held on 12 December 2016 and its 647th meeting held on 13 January 2017; 5. Welcomes further the decisions of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), declaring the inviolable nature of the outcome of the 2/3 17-00871

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