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The Gambia's new president Adama Barrow returns home The Gambia's new president Adama Barrow returns home to joyous scenes
(35 minutes later)
The Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, has returned home, ending a prolonged political crisis sparked by disputed elections that forced him to flee to neighbouring Senegal. The Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, returned to his country on Thursday afternoon, prompting a noisy and joyous wave of hope and excitement at the prospect of a brighter future for the small, poor west African state.
Dressed in flowing white robes and cap, Barrow stepped off the plane as heavily-armed troops from Senegal and Nigeria stood by. He was accompanied by his two wives and some of his children, and welcomed by military officials and senior members of his coalition government. By late afternoon thousands of people had lined the streets of Banjul, the capital, to welcome Barrow, blowing whistles, dancing, banging drums and singing “We welcome you our president, our hope, our solution” in the local Fula language.
Barrow’s return ends days of anxious waiting in the small former British colony, which was thrown into chaos when the long-time president, Yahya Jammeh, refused to step down after losing elections last month. Hundreds more thronged the airport, cheering when Barrow emerged from the plane that had brought him from neighbouring Senegal in a flowing white robe to walk slowly along a red carpet, greeted by military officials and members of his coalition government.
Jammeh left the Gambia, which he had ruled for 22 years, for exile in Equatorial Guinea at the weekend after a last-minute deal and under massive pressure from regional powers. Several thousand west African troops were poised to oust Jammeh if diplomatic talks failed. “I am a happy man … I think the bad part is finished now,” the 51-year-old former property developer, who was accompanied by his wife and children, told reporters at the airport.
A senior government official in Banjul said it was important for Barrow “to come to avoid the void”. The official said the priority would be “putting into place the pillars of reform and human rights”, adding: “People are very happy.” The arrival of Barrow brings to an end a prolonged political crisis in the Gambia.
Barrow has promised to reverse many of the authoritarian policies of Jammeh, who was accused of imprisoning, torturing and killing his political opponents. “The arrival is long overdue,” said Ebrima Bah, who was waiting at the airport earlier on Thursday. “His arrival is raising my confidence in the new government.”
“I’m 100% a Barrow supporter and I’m more happy than I can say,” said Kanamo Sansou, sitting with his friends at Serrekunda market close to the capital, Banjul. The former British colony was thrown into chaos in December when the autocratic president, Yahya Jammeh, refused to step down after unexpectedly losing elections to an alliance of opposition parties, despite repeated efforts at mediation by powerful regional states including Nigeria.
“He will be different in all aspects … we have been living under dictatorship for 22 years,” added a pensioner, Ibrahima Gaye. “You can go home at night and sleep without worrying you will be arrested before daybreak.” Jammeh eventually left the Gambia, which he had ruled for 22 years, at the weekend after thousands of troops from other west African nations entered the country and he had secured a deal that will allow him to escape prosecution and keep much of his assets.
Around 4,000 west African troops remain in the Gambia charged with ensuring safety, as it is believed rogue pro-Jammeh elements remain in the security forces that were once under his personal control. Low-flying fighter jets and the presence of Nigerian and Senegalese troops at the airport were a reminder of the turbulent transition, and of the major challenges which face the new leader.
Barrow has asked the force, which had moved into the country to pressure his predecessor to go into exile after he refused to accept his election defeat, to remain in the Gambia for six months, a UN official said on Thursday. A senior government official in Banjul said Barrow’s priority would be “putting into place the pillars of reform and human rights”. “People are very happy,” he added.
“The president of the Gambia asked for the mission to remain for six months, and it’s up to [the regional bloc] Ecowas to decide,” Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the UN’s most senior official in west Africa, told a news conference in Senegal. During the election campaign, Barrow promised wide-ranging reforms which would overturn many of the authoritarian policies of Jammeh, who was accused of imprisoning, torturing and killing his political opponents.
Last year a series of protests led to the detention of more than 90 opposition activists and supporters. One prominent opposition politician, a father of nine, was beaten to death in custody.
“I’m 100% a Barrow supporter and I’m more happy than I can say,” said Kanamo Sansou, sitting with his friends at Serrekunda market, near Banjul.
“He will be different in all aspects … we have been living under dictatorship for 22 years,” added Ibrahima Gaye, a pensioner. “You can go home at night and sleep without worrying you will be arrested before daybreak.”
Earlier in the day Swiss prosecutors had confirmed they had detained the former Gambian interior minister following allegations that he must have been aware of grave human rights abuses.
Ousman Sonlo, described as one of Jammeh’s top aides, had fled the Gambia for Europe after being sacked by the authoritarian ruler in September.
Barrow has asked the force of around 7,000 west Africa troops to remain in his country for six months.
Diplomats had urged Barrow to return quickly to curb the impact of the political crisis on the tourist-reliant economy, which is already in a fragile state.Diplomats had urged Barrow to return quickly to curb the impact of the political crisis on the tourist-reliant economy, which is already in a fragile state.
In New York, Chambas, the UN envoy for west Africa, briefed the security council on the Gambia during a closed session and stressed that the United Nations was working to bolster stability. After languishing in geopolitical obscurity for decades, the Gambia has produced a wave of refugees, focusing more attention on the country. The combination of repression and poverty has driven tens, possibly hundreds, of thousands of young people out of the country in recent years, many heading across the Sahara to the Mediterranean coast in a desperate bid to start new lives in Europe.
The Swedish UN ambassador, Olof Skoog, who holds the security council’s presidency, said: “We shouldn’t just turn our back on the Gambia now and walk away to the next situation but really make sure that we stay the course and support democracy.” The route, known locally as “the back way”, is extremely dangerous, with many perishing in the Sahara or during the hazardous sea crossing.
Barrow will be staying at his own residence until further notice while the State House, Jammeh’s former seat of power, is assessed for potential risks. Aid agencies have spoken of significant humanitarian need in poor areas of the Gambia.
His first job is to deal with an internal crisis after it emerged that his pick for vice-president, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, may be constitutionally too old for the role. Barrow, who will be staying at his own residence until the State House, Jammeh’s former seat of power, is declared safe, will have to overcome years of economic isolation and lack of investment.
His first job is to deal with an internal crisis after it emerged his pick for vice-president, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, may be constitutionally too old for the role.
Barrow must also deal with latent ethnic tensions between Jammeh’s minority Jola people and the majority Mandinkas, to whom Barrow belongs.Barrow must also deal with latent ethnic tensions between Jammeh’s minority Jola people and the majority Mandinkas, to whom Barrow belongs.
There is some controversy over the relatively lenient terms under which Jammeh departed. Many of the upper ranks of the military are Jola.
Barrow has assured the former ruler he will have all the legal rights given to an ex-president, which under Gambian law include immunity from prosecution, barring a vote by two-thirds of the national assembly. There is some controversy over the relatively lenient terms under which Jammeh left the Gambia for exile in Equatorial Guinea.
Barrow has reportedly assured the former ruler he will have all the legal rights given to an ex-president, which under Gambian law include immunity from prosecution, barring a vote by two-thirds of the national assembly.
The new government has also confirmed Jammeh will be permitted to keep a fleet of luxury cars, despite the accusation by authorities that he looted $11.4m (£9m) from state coffers before his departure.The new government has also confirmed Jammeh will be permitted to keep a fleet of luxury cars, despite the accusation by authorities that he looted $11.4m (£9m) from state coffers before his departure.
A witness told Agence France Press that “two Rolls Royce and one (Mercedes) Benz” were loaded onto a Chadian cargo plane, while others await shipment.
The source added “10 cars” were still earmarked for future shipment, which diplomats and others familiar with the matter confirmed included a Bentley, Land Rovers, a red Mini Cooper, and another Mercedes.
He described Jammeh’s entourage as struggling between the choice of two larger Bentleys or three smaller cars, eventually opting for the Mercedes and the Rolls Royces on the night he left the country.
“They were trying to check which one fits. If they took the bigger cars they could only take two,” he said.
Alex Vines, head of the Africa Programme at London thinktank Chatham House, said a key lesson was the importance in west Africa of “youth and civil society pushing for change”.
“This played a roll in Nigeria and Ghana and now Gambia ... technology has helped,” Vines said.