African leaders travel to Gambia to urge longtime leader to leave office after election defeat

Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Yahyah Jammeh, the president of Gambia for 22 years who was defeated in the country's first free election, has asked for an extension of a deadline forcing him to cede power.

Jammeh, who took power in the tiny West African country in a coup 22 years ago, lost a presidential election on Dec. 1 to Adama Barrow. Although the election was regarded by international observers as legitimate, Jammeh nullified the vote and has refused to leave office. Barrow was inaugurated in the Gambia embassy in Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday.

Leaders of Guinea and Mauritania arrived in Banjul, the Gambian capital, on Friday to persuade Jammeh to peacefully cede power to Barrow. A coalition military force of West African countries, massed in Senegal and organized to support Barrow and a peaceful transition, is awaiting orders. Marcel Alain de Souza of ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, said the troops would force Jammeh from office if he refused to leave voluntarily. De Souza added the military force has met no resistance thus far as it travels through Gambia.

It is feared that demonstrations and revolts, for and against Jammeh, may result from uncertainty in which two people each claim the presidency. Some Gambians have fled to neighboring Senegal, and British tourists, for whom Gambia is a resort destination, have been evacuated.

Jammeh imposed a state of emergency in the country earlier this week, and sources said he is still in the presidential State House, attempting to make a last-minute deal, the newspaper The Guardian reported Friday.

"This is the first time since The Gambia became independent in 1965 that Gambians have changed their government through the ballot box," Barrow said in his inaugural address. "Exceptional circumstances have compelled me to be sworn here today. My right as a winner to be sworn in and assume the office of president is constitutionally guaranteed and irreversible."

Gambia, under strongman Jammeh, has been cited for numerous human rights abuses. In his election campaign, Barrow called for comprehensive reforms.