Gambia’s new president names woman as vice president

By Mustapha K Darboe

BAJUL, Gambia (AA) - The newly-elected President of Gambia Adama Barrow, who is scheduled to arrive in the country from Senegal where he was sworn in, has appointed a woman as his vice President.

The rest of the cabinet appointees are due to be announced later on Monday.

Fatoumata Tambajang Jallow is a former UN diplomat who has served former President Yahya Jammeh as a health minister.

"President Barrow is preparing to come tomorrow. There will be a celebration at the Independence stadium as planned before," Barrow's Spokesperson Halifa Sallah told reporters.

On late Sunday, the regional military forces took over Gambia's State House and disarmed all the soldiers ahead of the new president's arrival and are currently patrolling the city with heavy armored tanks.

Earlier, President Barrow told journalists in Senegal that he would be back after a "security sweep" was done.

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 Yahya Jammeh if he refused to step down.

On Monday, thousands of Gambians also started arriving from Senegal via the River Gambia that separates Banjul from the northern side of the country.

Omar Ndow, the head of Banjul Red who is coordinating the transportation of returnees, told Anadolu Agency: “Thousands of people have come back so far.”

"My colleagues at the other side of the river have been overwhelmed and they had to ask me to send them some volunteers. They said they have about 10, 000 people yet to cross."

About 45,000 have fled the country fearing turmoil because of the crisis.