Embattled out-gone President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia has asked a shift in deadline of midday to 4pm to vacate office as ECOWAS soldiers close on him.
Government sources said the request was made when the leaders of Guinea and Mauritania arrived in the capital, Banjul, in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to get him to cede power.
A regional military force that crossed the border in support of his democratically elected successor, Adama Barrow, was awaiting orders on Friday. Marcel Alain de Souza, chair of the west African union Ecowas, said troops would force Jammeh out if he refused to leave the country.
The West African troops entered the Gambia on Thursday night, hours after Barrow was forced to hold his inauguration as president in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
De Souza said the west African force, which includes tanks, has so far met no resistance. Banjul, the capital, was deserted on Friday.
The twitter handle of Charles Onyango-Obbot @cobbo3 said “ Jammeh asks for deadline extension – from midday (local time) to 4pm! He’s not done packing #Gambia.
Jammeh asks for deadline extension – from midday (local time) to 4pm! He’s not done packing #Gambiahttps://t.co/qL9yE55Q5x
— Charles Onyango-Obbo (@cobbo3) January 20, 2017
Meanwhile, President Adama Barrow has given his first speech after being sworn in.
According to France 24, Jammeh is currently writing statement where he accepts to leave, in the presence of Guinean officials.
Guinean officials tell @FRANCE24 that Jammeh currently writing statement where he accepts to leave, in the presence of Guinean officials
— nicolas germain (@nicolasF24) January 20, 2017
