The Gambia’s state television has reported that the country’s national assembly has ruled allowing embattled president Yahya Jammeh to stay in office for additional three months.
According to Reuters the national assembly passed the resolution to that effect which means Mr. Jammeh can stay on from Wednesday January 18 even though his legitimate tenure expires from Thursday January 19.
Mr. Adama Barrow, the president elect who is currently seeking refuge in Senegal is also due to be sworn in on January 19.
There is pressure on Mr. Jammeh to step down after losing last year’s presidential elections but he has insisted he will not accept the calls for him to hand over power peacefully.
Mr. Jammeh’s attempts to get the country’s top court to stop the inauguration of Mr. Barrow as well as have his party’s election challenge petition heard have all failed.
He has declared a state of emergency for 90 days, with scores of Gambians already fleeing the country for fear of an eruption of war. Some of his appointees have defected and fled the country as well.
Meanwhile ECOWAS member states are reportedly getting ready to send a joint force to Gambia if Mr. Jammeh remains in office when his tenure expires.
Source: Africafeeds.com
