Adama Barrow has been sworn in as president of the Gambia in neighboring Senegal. He took his oath of office at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal on Thursday.
The swearing in was administered by the president of the Gambian Bar Association, Sheriff Tambadou.
This is a victory of the Gambian nation. Our national flag will fly high among those of the most democratic nations of the world. #Gambia pic.twitter.com/QRGZg1gzbs
— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) January 19, 2017
Mr. Barrow in his first speech after being inaugurated said “From today on, I am the president of the Gambia regardless of whether you voted for me or not.”
Barrow: “From today on, I am the president of the Gambia regardless of whether you voted for me or not.”
— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) January 19, 2017
The man who was officially declared winner of the country’s presidential elections last year said “This is a victory for the Gambian nation, power belongs to the people in The Gambia”.
Mr. Barrow has been seeking refuge in Senegal for days now for security reasons after Mr. Yahya Jammeh refused to hand over power peacefully.
Adama Barrow said “This is a day no Gambian will ever forget. It’s the first time since The Gambia became independent that it’s changed government through the ballot box”
Barrow after being sworn in as president: “This is a victory for the Gambian nation.. power belongs to the people in The #Gambia“
— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) January 19, 2017
A standby ECOWAS troop is ready to enter the Gambia to oust Mr. Jammeh whose tenure has expired.
It is time. #NewGambia pic.twitter.com/VNXY1h3Ds5
— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) January 19, 2017
The army chief of the Gambia has stated that his soldiers are not going to fight troops coming from neighboring Senegal should they enter the country.
Ousman Badjie is quoted by the AFP news agency to have said that “We are not going to involve ourselves militarily, this is a political dispute,”
This means should the troops from the sub-regional bloc ECOWAS enter the Gambia to force Yahya Jammeh out, the country’s army will not engage in any combat to protect Mr. Jammeh.
Source: Africafeeds.com