Adama Barrow

The Gambia's longtime opposition won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections, easily defeating the party of ousted leader Yahya Jammeh, results announced on April 7 showed.

As military interventions go, it was practically flawless.

Last month Gambia's long-ruling dictator, President Yahya Jammeh, lost an election that turned out to be a little freer than he had planned. After first conceding defeat and even phoning up the victor, property developer Adama Barrow, to congratulate him, Jammeh changed his mind and decided to stay in power.

Gambia's exiled strongman Yahya Jammeh plundered millions of dollars in his final weeks in power leaving state coffers "empty," an aide to new President Adama Barrow said as West African troops prepared to secure his arrival in Banjul.

Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh flew out late Jan. 21 from the country he ruled for 22 years to cede power to President Adama Barrow and end a political crisis.

Jammeh refused to step down after a Dec. 1, 2016 election in which Barrow was declared the winner, triggering weeks of uncertainty that almost ended in a military intervention involving five other west African nations.

Gambia's leader Yahya Jammeh said on Jan. 21 he would step down from power in a statement made in the face of pressure from West African armies that entered his country to remove him after he refused to concede an election defeat to President Adama Barrow.

West African troops were ready to intervene in Gambia on Jan. 19 after President Yahya Jammeh's mandate expired and overnight talks to convince him to stand down failed. 

Gambia's President-elect Adama Barrow was set to be sworn into office on Jan. 19 at the Gambian embassy in neighboring Senegal, while there was no word from Jammeh. 

The Gambian parliament has voted to extend President Yahya Jammeh's term in office for three months, even as his mandate was set to end on Jan. 19, state television said Jan. 18. The extension takes effect immediately.

The inauguration of The Gambia's President-elect Adama Barrow will go ahead on Jan. 19, his spokesman insisted on Jan. 15, as President Yahya Jammeh declared once again he would not step down by then.