Jammeh finally leaves Gambia

January 21, 2017 10:12 pm

Yahya Jammeh has left Gambia weeks after vowing to stay on until the supreme court hears the petition he filed to challenge the victory of President Adama Barrow in the December 1 election.

Abdoulie Sey, a Gambian journalist, who witnessed the departure of the soldier turned politician, disclosed this late Saturday.

In series of tweets, Sey gave updates on the last moments Jammeh spent in the country he has presided over since 1994.

#Gambia: Jammeh sympathisers at airport gate, waiting to see off their former president. Most of them in Jammeh’s T-shirts

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— Abdoulie Sey (@jaimolel) January 21, 2017

#Gambia: Jammeh entering flight. pic.twitter.com/QToQOurtZt

— Abdoulie Sey (@jaimolel) January 21, 2017
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#Gambia: Jammeh enters in aircraft. Supporters gere wailing: daddy! daddy! we love you!

— Abdoulie Sey (@jaimolel) January 21, 2017

Jammeh, who initially accepted the result of the election and congratulated Barrow, later made a U-turn, citing alleged irregularities.

Attempts by ECOWAS leaders to make him step down was met with stiff resistance until late Friday when Guinean and Mauritanian leaders succeeded in pacifying him.

This was a day after Senegalese troops entered Gambia with the intention of forcefully ejecting him. ECOWAS had also put together a standby force to oust him.

In an address to the nation after accepting to relinquish power, Jammeh said his decision to quit was not dictated.

He said he believed that it was not necessary to have a “single drop bloodshed” as a result of the transition issue.

Jammeh ended his speech in a shaky voice, thanking his mother, wife and children for all “their prayers and support” throughout the 22 years he ruled the country.

The whereabouts of Jammeh is not known, but Barrow believes his predecessor will relocate to Guinea.

In an interview with AP, the new president, who is currently in Senegal, where he took his oath of office, said Jammeh will have to stay outside Gambia “for now”.

“It is not yet confirmed information, but reliable sources are saying he’s leaving today… We believe he’ll go to Guinea, but we are waiting to confirm 100 percent,” Barrow was quoted as saying.

Over 25,000 Gambians fled the country as a result of the post election political crisis.