The Gambia’s newly sworn in President, Adama Barrow, has asked the United Nations (UN), ECOWAS and the African Union (AU), to force out Yahaya Jammeh to enable him (Barrow) take full responsibility of the country.
Mr. Barrow was sworn in today [Thursday], at The Gambia’s Embassy in Senegal Dakar, where he took the oath of office.
The ceremony was administered by Sheriff Tambadou, president of the Gambian Bar Association.
Mr. Barrow commended the ECOWAS, AU and other international bodies for their support in protecting the will of the Gambian people.
Mr. Barrow in his inaugural speech also instructed the heads of the military in The Gambia to recognise him as the new President, or risk being considered as renegades.
“My right as the winner to be sworn in and assume the office President is constitutionally guaranteed and irreversible. I hereby make a special appeal to ECOWAS, AU and the UN, particularly the Security Council to support the government and the people of The Gambia in enforcing their will and restore their sovereignty and constitutional legitimacy.”
He also called on Yahaya Jammeh to remain loyal to the constitution of The Gambia, and promised to be a President for all Gambians.
“This is a victory for the Gambian nation. Power belongs to the people in The Gambia. This is a day no Gambian will ever forget; first time since The Gambia became independent that it’s changed a government through the ballot box,” Barrow said.
“The capacity to effect change through the ballot box has proven power belongs to the people in The Gambia. Violent change is banished forever from the political life of this country. All Gambians are therefore winners. There is no loser in this election.”
The small West African state now has two men claiming to be president.
Its parliament voted earlier this week to extend Yahya Jammeh’s rule by 90 days, while he challenges his election defeat at the hands of Mr Barrow, a former estate agent, in the courts.
Regional forces, led by Senegal, have threatened to enter the country to oust Mr Jammeh.
The Gambia, popular with European tourists because of its beaches, has never had a smooth transfer of power since independence from Britain in 1965.
Whiles the swearing-in was taking place, the AFP News Agency reported that, Nigeria’s air force was flying over The Gambia, as regional troops prepare to force Yahya Jammeh to quit after his December election defeat.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/Ghana/with flies from BBC