Gambia: Barrow sworn in as new president
Adama Barrow has been sworn in as Gambia’s new president at the country’s embassy in Senegal as embattled Yahya Jammeh refused to step down.
Barrow, who won the Dec. 1, 2017 poll, took oath of office in a room, which held 40 people, including Senegal’s prime minister, the head of Gambia’s electoral commission and ECOWAS officials.
Outside the building on a residential street amid a heavy security presence, dozens of Gambians listened to the ceremony through loudspeakers.
Barrow, in his inauguration speech, ordered the Gambian soldiers to remain in their barracks, warning that those found illegally holding arms will be considered rebels.
He also appealed to the international community to support Gambians in enforcing their will.
“This is a day no Gambian will ever forget,” Barrow said after taking the oath, which was administered by the president of Gambia’s bar association.
Barrow has been recognized internationally but Yahya Jammeh refused to step down. He declared a state of emergency earlier this week, while the parliament has extended his term in office by three months.
West African leaders have threatened to remove Jammeh by force.
Nigeria said earlier that its “armed reconnaissance air force are over Gambia.”
The ECOWAS Commission, African Union and United Nations, in a joint statement, urged The Gambian army to strongly support President Barrow by maintaining public order.