Gambian President Yahya Jammeh must hand over power after defeat in elections, the UN Security Council has said.<\/p>\n
President Jammeh initially conceded to Adama Barrow in last week’s vote but has since refused to accept the end of his 22-year rule.<\/p>\n
Mr Barrow said he was sure the military supported him as the country’s new leader.
\nThe UN added that a handover should come without condition or delay.<\/p>\n
President Jammeh first seemed to accept the loss but then backtracked and said, on Friday, that he “totally” rejected the result.<\/p>\n
In a unanimous statement, the UN’s 15 council members called on him to “respect the choice of the sovereign people of The Gambia”.<\/p>\n
The president’s U-turn was condemned by The African Union (AU), who described his statement as “null and void”.<\/p>\n
His reluctance to step down has also been criticised by the US and neighbouring Senegal.<\/p>\n
A heavy military presence has been reported in the Gambian capital, Banju, but the streets have remained calm.<\/p>\n
The BBC’s West Africa correspondent, Thomas Fessy, says the main question now is whether President Jammeh has managed to split the army, retaining a faction ready to back his announcement.<\/p>\n
According to the electoral commission, as a result of the vote on 1 December:<\/p>\n
Mr Barrow won 222,708 votes (43.34%)<\/p>\n
President Jammeh took 208,487 (39.6%)<\/p>\n
A third-party candidate, Mama Kandeh, won 89,768 (17.1%)<\/p>\n
Mr Barrow, a property developer, is due to take office in late January.<\/p>\n
The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, with a population of fewer than two million.
\nIn his 22 years in power, Mr Jammeh acquired a reputation as a ruthless leader.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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