APRC, opposition parties to address current political tension

At a joint meeting, the ruling APRC party has come to terms with the opposition parties to collectively address the current political tension ahead of the presidential election slated for 1 December 2016.

All the political parties are to jointly establish an ad hoc committee which will be in dialogue with all the civil and security authorities to address the current political tensions and prevent future ones.

The political parties made this agreement at an inter-party committee meeting recently held at the head office of the Independent Electoral Commission in Kanifing.

According to a communique issued after the meeting, the deliberations were held in “a climate of mutual understanding and respect.”

The communique was signed by the representatives of APRC and the opposition parties namely, GMC, GPDP, NCP, NRP, PPP, PDOIS and UDP. 

The UN resident coordinator and the ambassadors of US and EU were also in attendance as observers.

Aside from addressing the current political tension, the parties have agreed to reconvene and structure the interparty committee to promote peaceful political party activities, and the holding of free, fair and genuine elections.

They are to also transform the interparty committee into “an effective and efficient crisis prevention management and resolution mechanism.”

The meeting also reviewed the existing memorandum of understanding that established the interparty committee, to ensure its observance.