(JollofNews) – A large contingent of Senegalese troops is heading to the Gambia ahead of a planned military intervention aimed at flushing out President Yahya Jammeh’s regime.
According to villagers near the Gambian border, hundreds of heavily Senegalese soldiers were seen heading to the Gambia in the morning from Ziguinchor.
Senegal which surrounds the Gambia on three sides, and is currently harbouring President-elect Barrow, has given Mr Jammeh midnight deadline to quit. It has also reportedly put its airforce and other military units on standby.
Nigeria which was leading mediation efforts is reported to have also sent an air force contingent to Senegal. It’s newest warship, the NNS Unity is en route to the Gambia.
“We are waiting so that all political means have been exhausted. The mandate of the president is finished at midnight,” Seydou Maiga Mboro, a Senegalese military commander told Senegalese radio station RFM.
Mr Jammeh’s mandate expires at midnight tonight after his surprised defeat in last month’s election by opposition candidate Adama Barrow.
He is however refusing to relinquish power after accusing the country’s electoral commission of rigging the election in favour of the opposition.
His attempt to overturn the election result at the Supreme Court has been delayed because of a shortage of judges as most of the judges come from neighbouring countries.
The regional group, Ecowas, which tried unsuccessfully to convince Mr Jammeh to handover power peacefully has warned of serious consequences if Mr Barrow’s inauguration is blocked on Thursday.
But as the clock ticks, Mr Jammeh used the country’s National Assembly, which is dominated by his party to extend his mandate to 90 days. He also declared a state of emergency in the country due to what he called unprecedented foreign interference in the election and his country’s internal affairs.
Mr Jammeh has condemned the threats of military intervention and has vowed to defend the territorial integrity of the Gambia.
It would be wrong wrong for foreign troops to invade a sovereign country without UN security council permission
It is wrong to refuse to step down after losing election
The fly wan follow corpse enter grave
Find out wether UN already approve it.
It is approved by the UN, I saw that happen on tv
That cost too much time and can be blocked, action must be taken as soon as possible
To hell with the UN. Do you talk like this when it is Israel or the US?
I would like to thank ECOWAS, AU,UN Security Council and all peace loving Gambians for kicking out this bloody dictator monster in mold of Jammeh. This world will be a paradise without the Jammehs,Robert Mugabes, Joseph Kabilas, Nkuruzizas,Yoweri Musevenis, Paul Kagames,Aribash-ers andmany others.
I am writing from America. I am a Nigerian that lived in Gambia for 12 years. I was a teacher in secondary schools and GTTI. I have all my children and investments in Gambia. Gambia is a very peaceful country. Gambia and Nigeria cannot divorce. The two countries are wed. We have Nigeria-Gambian Wives Association.
The Gambians including our wives and children have spoken. He has been there for 22 years. What does he want to become. Does he wants to become?
I think he just a clown and comedian to set history like the following: Zine El Abidine Ben, Ali,GnassingbĂ© EyadĂ©ma, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Gaafar Nimeiry, Siad Barre, Charles Taylor, Francisco MacĂas Nguema, Hissene Habre, Sekou Toure, General Sani Abacha, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Idi Amin Dada etc
He should have learnt from Africa and Leadership History
It sounds humorous that Jammerh is defiant and mischievous to the whole world.
Does he think he can fight the whole world? He is blurred
He is another 2PAC “Me against the world”
I think he wants to take some people along his demise. He should wonder after his last breath, will he rest?
The fly wan follow corpse enter grave
And it’s a crime to kill innocent people!!! Who’s signing up for war will pay Allah said.
I heard the Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy resigns from office
Hello President Jammeh,
Please, look at these recent headlines taken from various newspapers across the world.
OBAMA APPROVAL RATINGS HIGH AS HE PREPARES TO LEAVE OFFICE.
PRESIDENT MAHAMA HANDS OVER BATON TO MACKY SALL.
THERESA MAY SET TO BE SWORN IN AS THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN.
JONATHAN FORMERLY SUBMITS HAND OVER NOTES TO BUHARI.
Why do you prefer to be reminded, begged, and forced to leave office. A smart guy like you should easily see that you will be far better off if you make peace and leave quietly, especially after 22 whole years as President of Gambia. It makes me want to cry to think that you are literally waiting to be compelled to step down.
yaya jammeh is a dictator,a murderer and evil leader he killed a lot of people and ruled the gambia with an iron fist he live with the gun and must die with the gud
But could Jammeh already be in Conakry as we speak?
People might want to confirm this for themselves!
The Gambia is not war, it is an intervention from our African brothers and sisters to uphold the Gambian constitution and restore Democracy. We will just do fine GOD wish. Let us pray and stop complaining about the intervention. Our beloved country will soon be free—GOD wish everything will be ok and the country will turn out to be among the best in the world.
I mean to say The Gambia is not at war. It is an intervention from our African brothers and sisters to uphold Gambia’s constitution, maintain peace, restore Democracy and make sure the new government is up and running.
Maybe just maybe the intervention force will not even have to fight, but it might end up being just to keep the peace in the country and protect the new government and the population for a while.
EVEN IF IT’S GOING TO TAKE YEAR OF DIALOGUE TO
CONVINCE PRESIDENT YAYAH JAMMEH TO HAND OVER
POWER, LET AFRICANS AND GAMBIANS BE PATIENT WITH
THAT. IT IS BETTER THAN LOSING A LIFE OR LIVES IN THE
GAMBIA. IF THE WESTERN WORLD CAN SPEND PLENTY
TIME USING DIALOGUES TO SETTLE MATTERS, WE
AFRICANS SHOULD BEGIN TO VALUE OUR LIVES AND USE
THE SAME WAY TO SETTLE DISPUTES. AFRICANS HAVE
DIED AND ARE STILL DYING FROM WARS IN SO MANY
PARTS OF THE WORLD. I DON’T WANT CHAOS IN THE
GAMBIA.
IT CAN BE DONE IN A VERY SIMPLE WAY, EVEN THOUGH IT
WILL COST MORE MONEY BUT I SUGGEST A RE-
ELECTION,TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE UN (IF THEY REALLY
WANT PEACE). IF THE GAMBIAN PEOPLE ARE REALLY
TIRED AND FRUSTRATED WITH PRESIDENT JAMMEH, THEN
THE OUT COME OF THE ELECTION WILL EXPLAIN IT. “I SAY
NO TO MILITARY INTERVENTION” FOR THE SAKE OF THE
PEOPLE OF GAMBIA.
If you agree with me, Let us share this Around and Prevent
War on the Gambian People.
@ Michael George= This is not a war and has never been. We all want a peaceful mediation in every conflict, but Dictators enemy is peace and force is the only think they listen to. Africa need to maintain a forceful removal of Dictators from the continent. If it was not the impending military force to remove him, Yahya will never move an inch. Even if we have another election, it will be a giveaway. If we want Democracy, human rights and the rule of law be maintain in Africa, this kind of regimes must be uprooted.
@PEACE,
Good to tell the children about about democracy and how peace can be maintained in African countries. Thanks for Jobs of your’s very well done.
Sometimes, one may like to shed light for others but would end up beating the bush themselves. George Michael might not believe the fact that, a Yaya Jammeh character cannot be a president in any Western country just for one day or perhaps even less. He will in the short time, violate the norms and etiquettes of the peoples’ office, and he’ll be impeached by noon.
@ Bourne= Brother, always welcome. Hope this will end up in peace after all the zigzags.
He conceded. He is a sore loser. I have never heard a president who lost an election and refused to step down. He doesn’t respect the will of the people. Don’t you think that 22 years is enough.
Bro am a Nigerian and I agree with no war, but Gambians need this now or never can get freedom from that monster. God help Gambians in Jesus name.
No tourists will come as long as it is not safe. A new election has no sense and will take far tto much time, Jammeh will always say it was noy good and in the mean time hotels en restaurants go bankrupt, people will be fired and have no income, so total chaos!!!
I almost agreed with ur thought but can’t understand y re election, y going back to d polls?…jammehs greed n insatiable appetite for power finally backfired at him..I blif u av never been jammehs victim o any of ur relatives days y BT wit al due respect as u r entitle to ur opinion…. Let’s stay indoors n allow jammeh to accept d fact n go out on exile as many Gambians did during his 2decades rule.
Jammed must respect himself and the people of the Gambia and step aside for peace to rain .
I heard the army Chief Badjie said he won’t Oder the military to fight the Ecowas forces when they enter The Gambia. The commander at Kanilai said instead of fighting the Ecowas forces, they will join them. Hope is not a decoy? Let’s wait and see.
whereas other leaders of the world seek to resolve problems diplomatically unlike as is jammeh with the election results in question, and others making a peaceful transition, jammeh now shows the world his worst representation yet of what the gambia has to offer in terms of proper resolutions.
Decoy or not, the rules for engagement in circumstances like this are clear: the Gambia military will be disarmed and reformed. Intervention troupes won’t let them carry weapons except for a few loyal ones that will join them
Jammeh should recognize the fact that whatever has a beginning must have an end. As his attorney puts it, everything, except God’s kingdom, has an end.
Gambia is not his personal property. He should peacefully step aside & allow d wish of Gambians to prevail. I wander why a President who ruled for 22 years & after been defeated refuses to handover power.
Jammeh must go because if he allowed to remain in office after been defeated, it will create a bad image in Africa. Must of those long serving politicians will imulate him & refuses to handover power wen dey are defeated
My prayer for Jammer or Jammy is that he does not get killed like past African dictators and sit-tight leaders. Can someone please advise him to leave the post honourably now.
@Enny: where have you been hiding? A lot of people including his lawyer and presidents of other countries have told him to step down and leave.