Yesterday, Adama Barrow took the oath of office as the official President of Gambia at the Gambian embassy in Senegal's capital, Dakar, and his legiti
Yesterday, Adama Barrow took the oath of office as the official President of Gambia at the Gambian embassy in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, and his legitimacy has been recognised internationally. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on him to express his support. Guterres told President Barrow of his full support for his determination, and ECOWAS’s historic decision, with the unanimous backing of the Security Council, to restore the rule of law in The Gambia so as to honor and respect the will of the Gambian people. There has also been wild jubilation across Gambia in support of Barrow.
Guterres however expressed deep concern about the refusal of Yahya Jammeh to step down and about the outflow of Gambians into Senegal. A 15-member UN Security Council has given West African leaders its backing, while stressing that a political solution should be attempted first. The council earlier unanimously adopted a resolution backing efforts by the Economic Community of West African States to ensure a handover of power.
Meanwhile, not only have Senegalese troops launched a military intervention after Barrow’s inauguration as president, the Nigerian air force is flying over The Gambia and all seem set to force incumbent Jammeh to quit after his December election defeat.
According to Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Ayodele Famuyiwa,
“I confirm that the armed reconnaissance air force are over Gambia, they have the capacity to strike.”
He said that negotiations were still ongoing with Jammeh, a leader who has ruled the West African country for 22 years
“What we understand right now is that it appears he’s trying to reconsider his position, he may stand down.
“But we have our troops there and they are there to enforce the mandate.”
The UN Security Council was set to vote Thursday on backing ECOWAS efforts to force Jammeh to hand over power as the West African regional bloc amassed a military force ready to intervene. The Economic Community Of West African States has repeatedly called on Jammeh to accept his defeat and honour the country’s constitution.
