Halifa Sallah

West African forces ready for Gambia intervention as leader's mandate ends

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.