[Focus] Jammeh waves goodbye to The Gambia, Barrow set to take charge

The Gambia still waits on the final exit of long time ruler Yahya Jammeh who agreed to step down on Friday night after agreeing a deal to leave the country.

The deal with Jammeh was brokered by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and his Guinean counterpart, Alpha Conde.

Whiles the full terms of the deal are yet to be made known, Jammeh is largely expected to fly out to Conakry, the Guinean capital with Conde, who he describes as his ‘friend’ in the hard times.

I believe in the importance of dialogue and in the capacity of Africans to resolve among themselves all the challenges on the way towards democracy, economic and social development.

Mauritanian aircraft lands in Banjul at 2pm to take Yahyah Jammeh & Guinea president Alpha Conde to Conakry later in the day.

— Umaru Fofana (@UmaruFofana) January 21, 2017

The End!

READ THE FULL STORY HERE Jammeh bids The Gambia goodbye

#Gambia: #Jammeh just boarded plane. pic.twitter.com/mXBXm4SY1W

— Daniel Finnan (@Daniel_Finnan) January 21, 2017

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Jammeh and wife plus Conde fly out – The End

#Jammeh just boarded plane with his wife and #Guinea president – flying to #Conakry, it seems. #Gambia 22 years, The End.

— Thomas Fessy (@bbcfessy) January 21, 2017

The wait is on …

The #Gambia military brass band is here the airport. The red carpet has been rolled out. Yahya Jammeh should be on his way.

— Umaru Fofana (UmaruFofana) January 21, 2017

Crowds at airport growing, including APRC & #GambiaHasDecided supporters, anxiously watching several convoys entering airport #Gambia waits

— Sabrina Mahtani (@Sabrina_Mahtani) January 21, 2017

At #Gambia airport. People wearing #GambiaHasDecided tshirts yelling “freedom”. A media crowd waits to catch a glimpse of #Jammeh leaving

— Sabrina Mahtani (@Sabrina_Mahtani) January 21, 2017

Crowds of people have descended on the airport they expect Jammeh to fly out of, many wearing #GambiaHasDecided T-shirts. pic.twitter.com/3oOCRBVaRZ

— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) January 21, 2017

Coalition supporters on one side, Jammeh's on the other in the car park he'd have to drive through – that's IF he were to get on the plane. pic.twitter.com/eVBtlWlXCi

— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) January 21, 2017

#Gambia: 2 big vans marked 'Presidential Convoy' full of suitcases just entered runway area at #Banjul airport headed to Mauritian jet. pic.twitter.com/UObDx4bisK

— Daniel Finnan (@Daniel_Finnan) January 21, 2017

Video from Banjul airport as Jammeh finally bows out

Sunsets in Banjul, “Jammeh’s” plane still on the tarmac

Jammeh still at State House, journalists wait

Message is pretty clear opposite State House in #Banjul where #Jammeh is prob spending last few moments #Gambia – quiet here. pic.twitter.com/bMMQnVgZ1t

— Thomas Fessy (@bbcfessy) January 21, 2017

Drama at Banjul airport, Jammeh doesn’t want to be seen exiting?

The second aircraft has moved to another side of the tarmac. Another vehicle – with tinted windows – has driven there. What is happening!!!

— Umaru Fofana (@UmaruFofana) January 21, 2017

World's media takes pics of Guy In Hoodie hanging suggestively around Mauritanian presidential plane in #Gambia, in lieu of Jammeh. pic.twitter.com/5LUAGKnzKZ

— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) January 21, 2017

Whatsapp lifted, Jammeh still expected to fly out

A journalist who has been closely following developments in The Gambia reports that a Mauritanian aircraft is still on the tarmac at the Banjul International airport. he reports that records indicate that the plane will move to Malabo from Conakry.

Meanwhile there is a some tech news to report because restriction on social media platform, whatsapp has reportedly been lifted.

READ FULL STORY HERE Whatsapp restriction lifted as The Gambia waits for Jammeh’s exit

Plane carrying #Gambia's Yahyah Jammeh will proceed to Malabo from Conakry. Unclear if he will continue to the Equatorial Guinea capital.

— Umaru Fofana (@UmaruFofana) January 21, 2017

Jammeh exit: President Barrow announces his return

As Yahya Jammeh officially stepped down from office — I will be returning to my homeland, the Republic of The Gambia. #NewGambia

— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) January 21, 2017

What could be in Jammeh’s exit conditions?

A local journalist has been tweeting what could possibly be contained in the exit conditions that Jammeh is pushing for. It is widely believed that one those details are sorted Jammeh will leave for Guinea.

The two main conditions being amnesty and leave to participate in the next elections in the country. The Gambia will go to the polls in 2020 to elect a president. Jammeh won the last four polls and lost for the first time in 2016.

#Gambia #Jammeh's conditions are that he should get amnesty & be allowed to contest next election. So, an agreement is being worked on.

— Saikou Jammeh (@saiks2) January 20, 2017

Photos: Jammeh’s customized Rolls Royce cars

Some journalists in the Gambia have been tweeting photos of Jammeh’s official cars.

They look like any other Rolls Royce you find anywhere in the world. Only that Jammeh’s fleet of Rolls Royces all have his name monogrammed on the leather headrests.

Skepticism greets Barrow’s invitation to return home

Gambian refugees say they will not return home after fleeing to Senegal until long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh leaves the country. That condition is likely to be fulfilled on Saturday January 21 when Jammeh is expected to fly out to Guinea Conakry.

According to the United Nations refugees outfit, over 45,000 people have fled to Senegal since the beginning of the year fearing a political crisis.

UNHCR said in a statement that even more people would leave the country if the current situation was not resolved peacefully soon. Senegalese authorities had prepared aid for 100,000 arrivals, it said.

Senegal is the only landed neighbour of The Gambia even though relations between Dakar and Banjul had soured in recent times. The Red Cross was seen on Friday handing out blankets, soap, and food rations to refugees who had crossed over to the Senegalese border town of Karang.

President Barrow was sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Dakar because it is considered a territory of the Gambia. The inability to swear him in in Banjul was due to refusal of Jammeh to leave.

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President Barrow wants nationals to return to help build ‘The New Gambia’

A leading member of the Gambian coalition that defeated Jammeh in the December 1 polls last year, Mai Ahmad Fatty has disclosed that President Barrow wants all Gambians who fled during past and recent political uncertainty to return home.

Barrow met with Gambians resident in Senegal, where he was sworn in on Thursday. The meeting according to Fatty the new government was doing all it takes to resolve the refugee exodus particularly on its border with Senegal.

“It was useful opportunity to have met and interacted with so many of our citizens resident in Senegal. Many are victims of oppression who escaped to seek refuge, living under sustained challenges in exile for so many years. They sacrificed and risked their lives for The Gambia.

“It was inspiring to hear from Gambian Refugee Association in Senegal and their experiences living in exile. They can now return home to rebuild their lives. Having been a refugee myself, I could empathise what they went through.

“Yet the right of citizens to criticise their government or its officials is guaranteed by law and cannot be interfered with,” his post read in part.

Pride, patriotism, peace, African solutions – Quotes from Jammeh’s final address

“As a Muslim and a patriot I believe it is not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed. Since the beginning of this political impasse, that our dear nation is going through, I promise before Allah Subhana Wa Tala (God, The Sacred and the Mighty) and the entire nation that all the issues we currently face may be resolved peacefully.

I am thankful to Allah Subhana Wa Tala (God, The Sacred and the Mighty) that up to now not even a single casualty has been registered.

I believe in the importance of dialogue and in the capacity of Africans to resolve among themselves all the challenges on the way towards democracy, economic and social development.

It is as a result of this that I have decided today, in good conscience, to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians, women, children, youth and men, and friends of the Gambia who have supported me for 22 years in the building of a modern Gambia.”

Jammeh’s final speech

#Gambia's Yahya Jammeh Announces He's Stepping Down On National TV pic.twitter.com/b58hhnqmN2

— Adeola Fayehun (@AdeolaFayehun) January 21, 2017