Yahya Jammeh of Gambia on Friday finally agreed to step down peacefully after hours of mediation talks with two West African leaders.
The Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow in a statement on his twitter page said “I would like to inform you that Yahya Jammeh has agreed to step down. He is scheduled to depart Gambia today.”
I would like to inform you that Yahya Jammeh has agreed to step down. He is scheduled to depart Gambia today. #NewGambia
— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) January 20, 2017
Mr. Jammeh was given two separate timelines on Friday to exit power or be forced out by ECOWAS troops.
Guinean officials tell @FRANCE24 that Jammeh currently writing statement where he accepts to leave, in the presence of Guinean officials
— nicolas germain (@nicolasF24) January 20, 2017
He is expected to move to Conakry once he leaves the Gambia. President Adama Barrow in another tweet said “I would like to inform you that Yaya Jammeh agreed to relinquish power and leave the country.”
I would like to inform you that Yaya Jammeh agreed to relinquish power and leave the country.
— Adama Barrow (@BarrowOfficial1) January 20, 2017
Guinea’s President Alpha Conde and his counterpart from Mauritanian Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz flew to the capital Banjul on Friday to persuade Mr. Jammeh to step down.
The #Gambia‘s chief of defence staff Ousman Badjie has pledged allegiance to Adama Barrow, along with the inspector general of police, Sonko
— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) January 20, 2017
Mr. Jammeh had refused to leave office after losing last year’s presidential elections won by the new president, Adama Barrow.
Senegalese troops backed by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS entered the Gambia on Thursday shortly after the swearing in of Adama Barrow as new president in Senegal. They were to force Mr. Jammeh out should he refuse to cede power peacefully.
President Adama Barrow is now expected to return to Banjul to begin his presidency after his inauguration in Senegal.
In a message on twitter he thanked Senegalese president, Macky Sall for hosting him and his family.
Thank you once again President @Macky_Sall for hosting me and my family https://t.co/PaEFm4HkDm
— Adama Barrow (@BarrowOfficial1) January 20, 2017
Mr. Jammeh had ruled the Gambia for 22 years after taking power through a coup 1994.
Source: Africafeeds.com
