#NewGambia: Disgraced, Yahya Jammeh finally flees into exile

The political impasse in The Gambia may have come to an end as reports filtered in late Saturday that Yahya Jammeh had fled into exile.

Jammeh, the one-time strongman of The Gambia who ruled for 22 years, lost the country’s presidential poll which held December 1, 2016. He had earlier accepted the results which indicated that he lost the election but turned renegade soon after, creating a political impasse that warranted the intervention of leaders in the ECOWAS region.

Jammeh left The Gambia on Saturday without formally handing over to Adama Barrow who roundly trounced him in the polls. Barrow had been sworn-in as President of The Gambia on January 19 while in exile in Senegal. Latest reports say he is about to make a triumphant entry into the country.

Read also: Jammeh departs Gambia today, to go into exile

The disgraced former soldier who seized power in 1994 was reportedly seen taking off in an unmarked aircraft in the company of the Guinean President, Alpha Conde, who had been involved in last minute negotiations to see Jammeh leave office peacefully.

Signs that Jammeh would ultimately cave in to pressures came soon after combined troops from Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria entered the tiny African country while awaiting orders to take him out forcefully. Earlier, his Vice President, Ministers and Armed Forces chiefs had deserted the administration.

Jammeh’s destination is yet unknown but talks about him leaving for exile had indicated that he may either settle in Guinea, Mauritania or Equatorial Guinea. Eye witnesses say he was given a red-carpet treatment at the airport before his departure.

 

 

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