- Title: ECOWAS troops secure presidential palace in Gambia
- Date: 23rd January 2017
- Summary: BANJUL, GAMBIA (JANUARY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) DOG STANDING IN FOREGROUND, SOLDIERS AND ARMOURED VEHICLES OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ARMED SOLDIERS STANDING AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ENTRANCE SENTRIES LOOKING ON FROM WATCH TOWER VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS WITH ARMOURED VEHICLES OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE SENEGALESE FLAG AND INSIGNIA ON SOLDIER'S UNIFORM VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AND CARRIERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BANJUL RESIDENT, ISATOU TOURE, SAYING: "I believe this is a message to be heard all over Africa that this is a time for change. We do not need dictatorship anymore. We need democracy and through of that, there is development, so I think they will all get the message clear." VARIOUS OF STREET SCENE WITH SOLDIERS STATIONED AT STREET CORNER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AND SOLDIERS WALKING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) BANJUL RESIDENT, PAUL JAGNE, SAYING: "I am also giving thanks to the Senegalese government and their people and the ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) as well. I also pray and wish for more unity between the West African nations and the entire continent at large because these are all signs of unity. When your brother is in crisis, you intervene and give help. This is all unity." (SOUNDBITE) (Wolof) BANJUL RESIDENT, UNIDENTIFIED, SAYING: "We can't say that Jammeh did not work. His departure was God's doing. God has now sent us Barrow and we are looking forward to great things for our country. All I ask for is for every Gambian to support the new president so that he can do his work well. I also ask the international community to give Barrow all the help he needs." VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC
- Embargoed: 6th February 2017 10:50
- Keywords: Gambia Banjul Jammeh Barrow ECOWAS
- Location: BANJUL, GAMBIA
- City: BANJUL, GAMBIA
- Country: Gambia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00160AXCNB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:West African troops from regional force ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) stood guard outside Gambia's presidential palace on Monday (January 23) in preparation for new President Adama Barrow's return from neighbouring Senegal.
On Sunday (January 22), the regional military force entered the capital city of Banjul and took control of the presidential palace, the symbolic seat of ex-ruler Yahya Jammeh's 22-year authoritarian regime.
Jammeh, who refused to accept defeat to opposition challenger Barrow in a December 1 election, flew out of Banjul late on Saturday (January 21) en route to Equatorial Guinea as the regional force was poised to remove him.
The soldiers were deployed to secure the country and State House compound.
Soldiers could also be seen on Monday (January 23) stationed at street corners around the city.
Senegalese army officials said the force, which also includes troops from Nigeria, Ghana and Mali, met no resistance as they advanced on Sunday.
The regional military operation was first launched late on Thursday after Barrow was sworn in as president at Gambia's embassy in Senegal, but it was halted hours later to give Jammeh one last chance to leave peacefully.
Jammeh's departure followed two days of negotiations led by Guinea President Alpha Conde and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, prompting speculation over what, if any, terms were agreed upon to convince him to step down. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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