West Africa standby forces 'on alert' to intervene in Gambia

Defiant Gambian President Yammeh Jammeh risks being ejected by force after West Africa regional bloc said it had put its standby troops on alert.

ECOWAS commission Marcel de Souza warned on Thursday that a military intervention could be used to restore the people’s wish” if mediation efforts which are being spearheaded by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, failed to persuade Jammeh to give up power.

ECOWAS has previously warned him that it would take “all necessary actions” to resolve the impasse.

Jammeh has vowed to stay in power despite losing a December 1 election to property developer Adama Barrow.

The long serving president had initially conceded defeat but later called for the election to be annulled, alleging that it was marred by irregularities.

Gambia’s Supreme Court has set 10 January as the hearing date for a case brought by Jammeh’s party to cancel the result.