President Muhammadu Buhari led delegation to Gambia to convince President Yahya Jammeh who lost the election in the country in December to hand over the winner, Adamu Barrow has failed.
Jammeh, who has ruled the small West African nation for 22 years with an iron fist, has filed a petition to challenge the election result at the Supreme Court. His party has also filed a motion with the Supreme Court to prevent Mr. Barrow from being sworn into office on January 19.
The United Nations, European Union, United States and the African Union have all called on President to hand over. The West Africa economic bloc, ECOWAS has been mediating on the political crisis in Gambia.
Leaders meeting at a Franco-African summit in the Malian capital Bamako on Saturday set January 19 as deadline to solve the Gambian political crisis, Radio France Internationale quoted Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe as saying. Barrow is expected to be sworn in on January 19.
“The choice of Gambian voters in favour of Adama Barrow must be respected,” Mr. Hollande said at the summit. The African Union said Friday said it will cease to recognise Mr. Jammeh as president after January 19..
ECOWAS pledged to send in troops to enforce the transition of power in Gambia if Mr. Jammeh persists in his refusal to step down.
