Former President Yahya Jammeh has donated all his proceeds harvested from the 2016 farms to President Adama Barrow to be distributed to women in the small West African country.
Jammeh stated this on Gambian state TV over the weekend.
He said: “I hereby wish President Adama Barrow all the best from the bottom of my heart. The Almighty Allah has decided, and I will be found wanting if I as a Muslim and a former president do not sincerely wish him and his administration all the best”.
“On this note, I hereby donate to President Adama Barrow all the rice that is harvested in my Vision 2016 farms. This is the entire harvest for him to give to women who have been helping at the farms in CRR - Central River Division”.
More details of the peaceful battle to restore democracy in The Gambia became known yesterday.
After days of stand-off, former President Yahya Jammeh suddenly agreed to quit office, yielding to last-minute pressure from Guinean President Alpha Conde and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz, who were with him between Friday and Saturday.
After agreeing to leave and save The Gambia from a major crisis, Jammeh was confronted by big challenge – how to fly out.
The leaders, The Nation learnt, reached out to All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who authorised his private aircraft to be used to fly Jammeh out of Banjul, sources said.
Jammeh’s exit paved the way for the return of President Adama Barrow to take office after he was sworn in on Thursday in Dakar, Senegal.
Tinubu’s VP-CBT Falcon Jet had been with President Conde, who is a close friend of the leading politician.
It was not until late on Saturday night that Jammeh agreed to go. Sources said Tinubu was contacted to allow the use of his jet to fly Jammeh out of Banjul.
He reportedly gave a condition: it should only be used “if it will facilitate the quick exit of Jammeh and lead to the restoration of peace and democracy in The Gambia”.
The plane eventually flew out with Jammeh, his wife, mother and President Conde on board.
Senegal, it was learnt, insisted on knowing those on board before allowing it to overfly its airspace. This wish was granted. Jammeh was flown to Equitorial Guinea where he will be on exile
Jammeh arrived at the airport amid a large convoy of vehicles and throngs of cheering supporters.
He stood on a small platform to hear ceremonial music performed by a military band and then walked down a long red carpet, surrounded by dignitaries.
He climbed the steps to the plane, turned and kissed and waved a Qur’an at those assembled.
It was an emotional farewell. Many soldiers, supporters and dignitaries were crying. Others in The Gambia were glad to see the end of a 22-year dictatorship which had little respect for human rights and freedom of speech.
Gambia's Yahya Jammeh has finally relinquished mantle of leadership of the Gambia to his democratically elected successor, Adama Barrow in an official video.
Yahya Jammeh who ruled the Gambia for 22 years before he was defeated at last December Presidential Election will now leave the West African country immediately.
The whereabouts of former president Yahya Jammeh is unknown as military forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) crossed from Senegal into Gambia.
This is coming hours after President Adama Barrow was sworn into office, the African Press Agency reported Thursday.
Long convoys of military vehicles with armed soldiers entered the troubled nation through the border town of Karang, resident Abdoulie Bah told dpa.
The troops are expected to search for long-term ruler Yahya Jammeh, who refuses to give up power despite losing the Dec. 1, 2016 presidential election to Barrow.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his “deep concern” about Jammeh’s refusal to step aside.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously to back Barrow and called for a peaceful transition of power.
The resolution called on former president Jammeh “to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process,” and to transfer power to Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.
It also supported ECOWAS “in its commitment to ensure the respect of the will of the people … as expressed in the results of the December 1 elections.”
Earlier on Thursday, Barrow was sworn in as Gambian president in neighbouring Senegal, after weeks of political impasse caused by Jammeh’s refusal to accept the election result.
“This is a day no Gambian will ever forget,” said Barrow after he was sworn into office by the president of the Gambia Bar Association, Sherif Tambedou, at Gambia’s embassy in Senegal’s capital, Dakar.
Barrow promised to work towards national unity and establish good governance through “comprehensive” constitutional and legal reforms.
“We will now build a Gambia where what you know counts more than who you know,” Barrow said in a promise to end decades of nepotism and corruption.
Barrow’s inauguration came after an escalating political standoff triggered by Jammeh’s rejection of the election results.
Barrow had been scheduled to be inaugurated in Gambia, but the ceremony was jeopardised by Jammeh’s refusal to give up power. He is Gambia’s third president since independence from British rule in 1965.
During his inaugural speech, Barrow asked Gambia’s security forces to remain loyal to the constitution and commanded all soldiers to remain in their barracks.
Armed soldiers found outside their barracks would be regarded as “rebels,” the newly sworn-in president said.
The call for peace comes after Barrow had to flee for security reasons to Dakar on Saturday, after multiple attempts by West African leaders to convince Jammeh, who ruled Gambia for 22 years, to step down failed.
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz who was in Banjul late Thursday in last ditch to convince outgoing and defiant President Yahya Jammeh to hand over power peacefully -has flown out of the country after ‘fail talks’ and briefing Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar.
The two leaders including President-elect Adama Barrow reportedly met at the Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport...
According to Edward who is a private Military Contractor(Humint) and Counter Terrorism/Insurgency personnel -president Yahya Jammeh is now using decoy presidential convoys to avoid being attacked over his refusal to step down..
Senegal, a neighbouring country to Gambia has given President Yahaya Jammeh till midnight to step down otherwise military action would be engaged to oust him. To make true the warning, Senegalese troops have been seen moving towards the Gambian border in what seams a show of might to further signal to Jammeh he would be ousted militarily if he refuses to step down.
“Our troops are on alert… The ultimatum takes effect at midnight,” when Jammeh’s mandate is due to expire, army spokesman Colonel Abdou Ndiaye said. “If a political solution fails, we will engage” in operations in The Gambia, he said, confirming that troops were heading to the border. Recall that the Gambian parliament has extended Jammeh’s stay in office for another 90 days, a move that has further added fuel to Jammeh’s clinching to the country’s presidential seat eventhough Wednesday is supposed to be his final day in office as the Gambian president.
However, Nigerian Government has equally sent in some air, naval and will also send ground troops to join forces with the Senegalese troops to ensure President-elect, Adama Barrow is installed as The Gambia’s President on Thursday. Also, The U.N has equally backed the West African nations in the bid to ensure either a peaceful handover in The Gambia or use military force to archieve same should
Jammeh insist on clinching to power. Jammeh who had called Barrow to concede defeat after losing in the December 1, 2016 election held in the country later made a volte face, refusing to accept the outcome of the election and has since voiced strongly that he would not allow the President-elect, Barrow installed as the country’s president unless a fresh election is conducted. He claimed many of the Gambian citizens were disenfranchised.
Jammeh has been the country’s president since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1994.
Meanwhile, thousands of Gambians have fled the country while UK and Dutch tourists are being evacuated from the tiny West African state, which is popular with European holidaymakers because of its beaches.
