Adama Barrow being sworn-in
The man who won the recent polls in The Gambia, Adama Barrow, has been sworn in as the president of the small West African country, but the loser is still holed up in Banjul, the capital.
It was an unusual ceremony which did not take place in Banjul’s Stadium – the traditional spot for holding such important state functions – but rather at the country’s Embassy in Dakar in neighbouring Senegal.
Sheriff Tambadou, president of the Gambian Bar Association, administered the oath of office to the new president, Adama Barrow.
Senegalese troops were said to have entered The Gambia to ensure that Adama Barrow assumes power as the country’s new president, as the regional body, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) pushes for the ouster of Jammeh.
Barrow has been recognised internationally.
But strongman Yahya Jammeh has refused to quit and is being backed by parliament.
West African leaders have threatened to remove Mr Jammeh by force. The UN Security Council is backing their efforts.
Adama Barrow used his first speech in office to call on the Gambian security forces to “remain loyal to the constitution” and stay in their barracks.
Soldiers found outside with firearms would be considered rebels, he said.
“From today on I am the president of The Gambia, regardless of whether you voted for me or not,” he said.
Mr Barrow added that his election was an opportunity for Gambians to “effect change that has been in the making for decades” and pledged “liberty and prosperity for everyone,” regardless of ethnicity or gender.
He also vowed constitutional and legal reforms and said his election was the start of a meritocratic Gambia where “what you know” will count for more than “who you know.”
Mr Barrow took the oath of office with the backing of foreign governments, despite the fact that Yahya Jammeh had refused to give up power in The Gambia.
The Gambia started making the headlines soon after the country’s strongman Yahaya Jammeh rescinded his decision of conceding defeat in the elections and asking for a re-run.
Detachments of troops from the member countries of the ECOWAS, led by a Senegalese General, are waiting for final orders to move in to ensure that Jammeh is forcefully removed, earlier diplomatic engagements having failed to have the man relinquish power.
Having been sworn in and with the backing of the international community, Mr Barrow can order the intervention of the ECOWAS troops to move in to force Yahaya Jammeh to relinquish power.
The technicalities appear to be thwarting the troop movement into the country because even after the all-clear from ECOWAS, the nod of the UN Security Council should still precede the eventual movement of the regional bloc’s soldiers.
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has approved the deployment of a combat team of 205 soldiers, backed with the appropriate logistical equipment, to The Gambia as part of the ECOWAS Mission in that country to oust Yahaya Jammeh.
The tenure of Jammeh ended midnight Wednesday, a situation which he responded to by having the country’s parliament slap a state of emergency on the country for three months.
Under the circumstances, he can stay on by the terms of the constitution of the country for the said period.
Other countries such as Nigeria have also contributed troops with military aircraft. President Buhari had added military jet fighters to enhance the operation.
Earlier, the Mauritanian President flew to The Gambia to intervene in the stalemate but at the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether he had been able to achieve his objective.
It does not suggest that The Gambian soldiers who number 2,500 or so, would put up a fight, the Army Chief, Ousman Badjie – an ally of Jammeh – was reported to have told AFP.
“This is a political dispute. I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men,” the AFP news agency quoted Ousman Badjie as saying.
By A.R. Gomda With Agency Reports