Senegal is hosting Adama Barrow, president-elect of neighbouring the Gambia, until his inauguration on 19 January, as the small west African country’s longtime leader, Yahya Jammeh, refuses to step down peacefully despite mediation efforts and calls from regional and international leaders.

Jammeh had initially conceded to Barrow after losing elections on 1 December but changed his mind a week later, saying the vote was invalid, citing irregularities. His party has submitted a petition to the supreme court against the results, but there are not enough judges currently presiding to hear the case.



Leaders from west Africa’s regional bloc, Ecowas, have met Jammeh and Barrow in attempts to mediate, and Nigeria has offered asylum to Jammeh. However, Ecowas said no deal had been reached yet.

After meeting African leaders at the France-Africa summit in Mali on Saturday, Barrow is now in Senegal, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.



At the request of Ecowas, Senegal will host Barrow until his inauguration, the official said.

The west African regional bloc has said that if Jammeh does not cede power it will consider military intervention and has already prepared a standby force led by Senegal, which almost completely surrounds the Gambia. A Nigerian army memo has also ordered officers to prepare a battalion of 800 troops for a possible military intervention should Jammeh not step down.

The African Union has announced it will cease to recognise Jammeh as the Gambia’s legitimate leader from 19 January, when his mandate expires, and warned of “serious consequences” if his actions led to the loss of lives.

The political uncertainty has in the past 10 days made several thousand Gambians – mostly women and children – flee the country of about 1.9 million people and cross the borders into Senegal.

