This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38650266

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Gambia political crisis: What happens next? Gambia political crisis: What happens next?
(35 minutes later)
A political crisis in The Gambia appears to be coming to a head, with Adama Barrow being sworn in as president with the support of the international community, and the UN Security Council unanimously backing action by regional powers to ensure Yahya Jammeh hands over power. A political crisis in The Gambia appears to be coming to a head, with Senegalese troops having entered the country to ensure long-time leader Yahya Jammeh gives up power after losing elections last month. The internationally recognised new president, Adama Barrow, was sworn in at his country's embassy in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, earlier and shortly afterwards the UN Security Council unanimously backed action against Mr Jammeh.
What happens next?What happens next?
Mr Barrow was sworn in while still in neighbouring Senegal, holding a Koran as he took the oath of office at the Gambian embassy.Mr Barrow was sworn in while still in neighbouring Senegal, holding a Koran as he took the oath of office at the Gambian embassy.
The oath was administered by the Gambian Bar Association president, Sheriff Tambadou, in the presence of ambassadors from countries in the UN Security Council and key African states.The oath was administered by the Gambian Bar Association president, Sheriff Tambadou, in the presence of ambassadors from countries in the UN Security Council and key African states.
There is little doubt that Mr Barrow, who won last month's elections, will now be recognised internationally as The Gambia's new head of state. There is little doubt that Mr Barrow, who won last month's elections, will now be widely recognised internationally as The Gambia's new head of state.
However, it remains unclear how soon he will be able to take power in Banjul.However, it remains unclear how soon he will be able to take power in Banjul.
West African regional grouping Ecowas has mandated Senegal, which almost surrounds The Gambia, to lead a military intervention to install Mr Barrow and its troops have massed on the border. Nigeria has sent aircraft and troops to Senegal, and deployed a warship. West African regional grouping Ecowas mandated Senegal, which almost surrounds The Gambia, to lead a military intervention to install Mr Barrow and its troops have now entered the country. Nigeria has sent aircraft and troops to Senegal, and deployed a warship.
West African military sources say intervention is intended only as a last resort if Mr Jammeh cannot be persuaded by the threat of force to stand aside. "If no political solution is found, we will step in," Col Abdou Ndiaye, a spokesman for the Senegalese military, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
Mr Barrow has urged soldiers in The Gambia to remain in their barracks and said those that do not will be considered rebels.Mr Barrow has urged soldiers in The Gambia to remain in their barracks and said those that do not will be considered rebels.
The country is a popular tourist destination and after the British Foreign Office updated its travel advice, holiday companies have been evacuating tourists.The country is a popular tourist destination and after the British Foreign Office updated its travel advice, holiday companies have been evacuating tourists.
Would military intervention be legal? Is military intervention legal?
The UN Security Council has unanimously backed Ecowas efforts to install Mr Barrow. However, the text of the resolution said this should be "by political means first" and made no explicit mention of military action. Some diplomats have suggested that formal UN authorisation for an intervention may not be necessary if Mr Barrow, having assumed the presidency, requests help. The UN Security Council unanimously backed Ecowas efforts to install Mr Barrow. However, the text of the resolution said this should be "by political means first" and made no explicit mention of military action. Some diplomats have suggested that formal UN authorisation for an intervention may not be necessary if Mr Barrow, having assumed the presidency, requested help.
What is Mr Jammeh's position?What is Mr Jammeh's position?
Mr Jammeh tried to bolster his position earlier this week by declaring a state of emergency and engineering a parliamentary vote to extend his presidency by three months. He said these moves would prevent a power vacuum while the Supreme Court considered a legal challenge he has submitted over the election result.Mr Jammeh tried to bolster his position earlier this week by declaring a state of emergency and engineering a parliamentary vote to extend his presidency by three months. He said these moves would prevent a power vacuum while the Supreme Court considered a legal challenge he has submitted over the election result.
Apparently disregarding the possibility that the court could eventually rule against him, he also promised to stay in power until new elections can be held. The parliamentary vote took place while Mr Jammeh was officially president and is considered legally valid under Gambian law. This means Gambia could now be considered to have two presidents, although each side obviously disputes the legitimacy of the other.
Although the parliamentary vote took place while Mr Jammeh was officially president, regional powers did not regard the decision as valid and are continuing with their plans to install Mr Barrow at State House. Without the extension, Mr Jammeh's term ended at midnight on Thursday. Regional powers chose to disregard the parliamentary vote on the grounds that Mr Barrow won December's election fairly and should take office. Without the extension, Mr Jammeh's term ended at midnight on Thursday.
Would military intervention succeed? Will military intervention succeed?
A Senegalese-led intervention force would be expected to have more firepower than the Gambian army but it is not clear how much resistance it would face. The Senegalese-led intervention force will be expected to have more firepower than the Gambian army but it is not clear how much resistance it will face.
The army chief is a close Jammeh loyalist but has been quoted as saying he would not risk his men's lives in a political dispute.The army chief is a close Jammeh loyalist but has been quoted as saying he would not risk his men's lives in a political dispute.
The elite regiment of the army, drawn mainly from the same ethnic group as Mr Jammeh, is well-armed and is regarded as being fiercely loyal.The elite regiment of the army, drawn mainly from the same ethnic group as Mr Jammeh, is well-armed and is regarded as being fiercely loyal.
Mr Jammeh remains ensconced at State House with their protection and unnamed officials have been reported as saying these troops would resist any attempt to arrest the former president. However, they would be at a considerable numerical disadvantage to an intervening force. Mr Jammeh remains ensconced at State House with their protection and unnamed officials have been reported as saying these troops would resist any attempt to arrest him. However, they would be at a considerable numerical disadvantage to the intervening force.
The loyalty of other Gambian regiments is much less certain. Correspondents say there has been talk that some are unhappy with recent events and want a peaceful resolution.The loyalty of other Gambian regiments is much less certain. Correspondents say there has been talk that some are unhappy with recent events and want a peaceful resolution.
How are the Gambian people reacting?How are the Gambian people reacting?
Tension is high in the Gambian capital, Banjul, over concerns that the political conflict will escalate into violence. Thousands of people have fled to neighbouring countries and rural areas.Tension is high in the Gambian capital, Banjul, over concerns that the political conflict will escalate into violence. Thousands of people have fled to neighbouring countries and rural areas.
Earlier this week, Mr Barrow's coalition urged Gambians to "exercise restraint, observe the rule of law and not to respond to provocation".Earlier this week, Mr Barrow's coalition urged Gambians to "exercise restraint, observe the rule of law and not to respond to provocation".
The BBC's Umaru Fofana, who is in Banjul, says people there are petrified. They are stocking up on food and water. Everyone is praying for a peaceful resolution, he says. The BBC's Umaru Fofana, who is in Banjul, says people there are petrified. They are stocking up on food and water. Everyone has been praying for a peaceful resolution, he says.
What is the dispute over the election?What is the dispute over the election?
Mr Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, initially accepted that Mr Barrow had won the election but later reversed his position and said he would not step down.Mr Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, initially accepted that Mr Barrow had won the election but later reversed his position and said he would not step down.
He filed a petition to the Supreme Court, challenging the election results, and says the existence of this legal process means it would be unconstitutional for Mr Barrow to assume office.He filed a petition to the Supreme Court, challenging the election results, and says the existence of this legal process means it would be unconstitutional for Mr Barrow to assume office.
He also asked the Supreme Court for an injunction to stop the inauguration but the chief justice declined to rule on it, saying he must recuse himself from any case that could affect his own position - he would normally conduct the swearing-in ceremony.He also asked the Supreme Court for an injunction to stop the inauguration but the chief justice declined to rule on it, saying he must recuse himself from any case that could affect his own position - he would normally conduct the swearing-in ceremony.
Mr Jammeh has said there were irregularities in the election process, including the turning away of some of his supporters from polling stations, and errors made by the electoral commission.Mr Jammeh has said there were irregularities in the election process, including the turning away of some of his supporters from polling stations, and errors made by the electoral commission.
The commission accepted that some of the results it initially published contained errors, but said Mr Barrow still won.The commission accepted that some of the results it initially published contained errors, but said Mr Barrow still won.
Retaining power would ensure he was not prosecuted in The Gambia for alleged abuses committed during his rule.Retaining power would ensure he was not prosecuted in The Gambia for alleged abuses committed during his rule.
How have his allies reacted to the crisis?How have his allies reacted to the crisis?
Ministers are continuing to desert Mr Jammeh's government. Several ministers, and even the long-serving vice-president, have resigned in recent days.Ministers are continuing to desert Mr Jammeh's government. Several ministers, and even the long-serving vice-president, have resigned in recent days.
One of the ministers who resigned, former information chief Sheriff Bojang, said Mr Jammeh's arguments had a "veneer of constitutionalism" but were an attempt to subvert the will of the Gambian people. The international community says Mr Barrow won fairly.One of the ministers who resigned, former information chief Sheriff Bojang, said Mr Jammeh's arguments had a "veneer of constitutionalism" but were an attempt to subvert the will of the Gambian people. The international community says Mr Barrow won fairly.
The lawyer representing Mr Jammeh and his APRC party in the election challenge has also fled to Senegal and urged the long-time leader to step aside.The lawyer representing Mr Jammeh and his APRC party in the election challenge has also fled to Senegal and urged the long-time leader to step aside.
What is happening at the Supreme Court?What is happening at the Supreme Court?
Judges from Nigeria and Sierra Leone have been hired to hear the petition to overturn the election result, but they have yet to arrive in Banjul.Judges from Nigeria and Sierra Leone have been hired to hear the petition to overturn the election result, but they have yet to arrive in Banjul.
Gambian chief justice Emmanuel Fagbenle has said the court will be able to convene no earlier than May, and possibly not until November, because the Nigerian who is to act as court president, Onogeme Uduma, is fully booked for the coming months.Gambian chief justice Emmanuel Fagbenle has said the court will be able to convene no earlier than May, and possibly not until November, because the Nigerian who is to act as court president, Onogeme Uduma, is fully booked for the coming months.
How might this be resolved?How might this be resolved?
Mr Barrow has distanced himself from comments, made by other opposition figures, suggesting Mr Jammeh may be prosecuted over alleged abuses in power.Mr Barrow has distanced himself from comments, made by other opposition figures, suggesting Mr Jammeh may be prosecuted over alleged abuses in power.
He said Mr Jammeh should be able to stay in The Gambia and would be honoured as, and receive the privileges of, a former head of state if he stepped down.He said Mr Jammeh should be able to stay in The Gambia and would be honoured as, and receive the privileges of, a former head of state if he stepped down.
However, analysts say Mr Jammeh is unlikely to be persuaded by his opponent's apparently conciliatory language. However, Mr Jammeh does not appear to have been persuaded by his opponent's apparently conciliatory language.
Another option, raised by Nigerian MPs, is that Mr Jammeh could be offered asylum and a comfortable retirement in another African country.Another option, raised by Nigerian MPs, is that Mr Jammeh could be offered asylum and a comfortable retirement in another African country.
Besides Nigeria, Morocco has been mooted as a possible destination (Mr Jammeh's wife is Moroccan).Besides Nigeria, Morocco has been mooted as a possible destination (Mr Jammeh's wife is Moroccan).
A third possibility has become more likely with Mr Jammeh's recent moves to entrench himself - that Mr Jammeh continues to cling to power with the backing of at least some of the army, pending military intervention by regional powers. With the entry of Senegalese troops, a third possibility now appears to be unfolding - that Mr Jammeh, having rejected all offers so far, continues to cling to power with the backing of at least some of the army, until he is forcefully removed.