Gambia's new President sworn in; incumbent won't step down
Gambia's new President sworn in; incumbent won't step down
CNN, 19 Jan 2017
URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/18/africa/gambia-jammeh-barrow/
By Bryony Jones and Ben Westcott, CNN
Updated 1724 GMT (0124 HKT) January 19, 2017
(CNN)Adama Barrow was sworn in Thursday as Gambia's new President at the West African nation's embassy in neighboring Senegal while incumbent Yahya Jammeh has refused to step down from office.
Foreign diplomats attended the ceremony in Dakar as Jammeh ignored repeated pleas by African leaders and the United States urging a peaceful transition.
Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 military coup, suffered a surprise defeat in elections in December, with Barrow winning 45% of the vote. He originally conceded but then announced his "total rejection of the election results."
Barrow has been waiting in Senegal -- which surrounds Gambia -- for the handover of power.
Updated 1724 GMT (0124 HKT) January 19, 2017
(CNN)Adama Barrow was sworn in Thursday as Gambia's new President at the West African nation's embassy in neighboring Senegal while incumbent Yahya Jammeh has refused to step down from office.
Foreign diplomats attended the ceremony in Dakar as Jammeh ignored repeated pleas by African leaders and the United States urging a peaceful transition.
Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 military coup, suffered a surprise defeat in elections in December, with Barrow winning 45% of the vote. He originally conceded but then announced his "total rejection of the election results."
Barrow has been waiting in Senegal -- which surrounds Gambia -- for the handover of power.