President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia has announced a state of emergency just less than 24 hours before the expiry of his term as President.
Jammeh, who took over the rule in Gambia through a coup has refused to relinquish power to the President elect Adama Barrow who beat him in the general elections that were conducted late last year. Adama Barrow, who is in Senegal for his own safety is expected to be sworn in on Thursday at a time when the national army has pledged an unwavering allegiance to the strongman Yahya Jammeh.
The supreme court in Gambia has declined ruling on the contentious elections but the state television has reported that the move by Yahya to declare a state of emergency is to prevent a “power vacuum” as the country waits for the high court to rule.
“I hereby declare a state of public emergency throughout the Islamic Republic of Gambia,” read the declaration from the President. According to the state of emergency declared, the public has been forbidden from acts of disobedience as well as any acts intended to disturb the public order.
The African Union has already announced that it will not recognize the presidency of Yahya Jammeh beyond the 19th of January 2017 with some countries including Nigeria threatening to intervene by use of military action is the dictator will refuse to relinquish power.
Adama Barrow was advised to remain in Senegal for his own safety and will depart tomorrow for his inauguration in Gambia though the possibilities of him taking over power are minimal unless the international community steps in to help him.
Yahya Jammeh had conceded defeat and even called the President elect and assured him of a smooth transition of power but later overturned his statement saying that the election was just s drill to test where his loyal supporters were. The United Nations is also considering sending troops if Jammeh will not step down.