Gambia’s ex-leader Jammeh agrees to step down

By Mustapha K. Darboe

BANJUL, Gambia (AA) – The country’s former president who refused to leave office after election defeat in December finally agreed to step down early Saturday.

Yahya Jammeh said in a national broadcast he believes no one has to die to solve the political crisis gripping the small West African nation.

“As a result of all the numerous sacrifices that we and those before us have made as a nation, Gambia has affirmed its desire to determine its own future and destiny. This is a course I have always been ready to defend and even with my life," he added.

Jammeh was defeated by opposition coalition leader Adama Barrow but rejected the results one week after the Dec. 1 vote, claiming the process was tainted with unacceptable irregularities.

Regional leaders made two unsuccessful visits to Gambia in attempts to convince Jammeh to cede power.

Barrow was inaugurated Thursday at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal, where forces mobilized by the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc prepared to oust Jammeh if he refused to step down.

Approximately 7,000 ECOWAS troops stood ready to enter Gambia – a number analysts believe could easily overrun Gambian security forces within a day.

A Barrow spokesman on Friday urged Jammeh to leave office to avoid military intervention.

Late Friday, the country’s army and police chiefs asked 45,000 Gambians who had fled the turmoil to Senegal to return, according to the UN.