Gambian leader told to cede power or be forced out
BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — The leaders of Guinea and Mauritania arrived in Gambia's capital Friday in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to get defeated President Yahya Jammeh to cede power, while a regional military force was awaiting orders to act.
The West African regional force, including tanks, moved into Gambia Thursday evening and has met no resistance, said Marcel Alain de Souza, chairman of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS.
[...] the last minute, we still think there is a solution resulting from a dialogue.
Jammeh started negotiations with ECOWAS on Thursday and agreed to step down but demanded an amnesty for any crimes that he may have committed during his 22 years in power and that he be permitted to stay in Gambia, at his home village of Kanilai, said de Souza.
Jammeh's continued presence in Gambia would "create disturbances to public order and terrorist movements," said de Souza.
Barrow, in his inaugural speech, which took place under heavy security, called on Jammeh to respect the will of the people and step aside.
The United States supports diplomatically the regional force's intervention and is in touch with officials in Senegal, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.