Gambia: Adama Barrow set to return Home, as Jammeh Settles for Exile in Guinea [photos]

Newly sworn in Gambian President Adama Barrow has announced that he will soon return to his country.

 

“As Yahya Jammeh officially stepped down from office — I will be returning to my homeland, the Republic of The Gambia. #NewGambia,” Mr. Barrow tweeted. 

This follows Yahya Jammeh’s flee to Guinea after 22 longs years of dictatorship rule.  

 

 Yahya Jammeh on Saturday flew into exile in Equatorial Guinea after stepping down under pressure from West African nations to accept that he lost a December election to President Adama Barrow, mediators said.

His exit ends rising tension as thousands of troops from Senegal and Nigeria who entered the tiny country on Thursday were poised to swoop on the capital Banjul. 

Jammeh took power in a coup in 1994, and his government was accused of torturing and killing perceived opponents. There were few celebrations in Banjul as news of his departure spread, but some people said they felt relief after years of  living in fear.  

ECOWAS had sent 7,000 troops into Gambia on Thursday, but halted operations  leaving some troops in the country to ensure security, when Jammeh finally agreed to step down

Jammeh demanded amnesty, the right to go to and from Gambia and recognition for his political party as a price for leaving. But no deal on amnesty was finalised.

Jammeh was accompanied onto the plane by Guinean President Alpha Conde, who mediated the terms of his exit with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and others, while his family boarded a separate plane.

Some Gambians said they had feared Jammeh might change his mind at the last moment. He conceded defeat to Barrow but backtracked a week later. Others said they were angry he was able to negotiate at all.

 

see photos from his departure below.