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Gambia crisis: Jammeh misses second deadline to step down | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A deadline for defeated President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed forces at 16:00 GMT has expired with no news. | |
The earlier deadline of noon passed as the Guinean and Mauritanian presidents arrived in Banjul for last-ditch talks. There has been no statement from them. | |
Mr Jammeh's elected successor, Adama Barrow, was sworn in as president at a ceremony in Senegal on Thursday. | Mr Jammeh's elected successor, Adama Barrow, was sworn in as president at a ceremony in Senegal on Thursday. |
Troops acting in support of President Barrow have paused their advance. | Troops acting in support of President Barrow have paused their advance. |
The forces from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) regional grouping are backed by the United Nations. | The forces from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) regional grouping are backed by the United Nations. |
They crossed into The Gambia from Senegal on Thursday but have been told not to advance further until the talks have finished. | They crossed into The Gambia from Senegal on Thursday but have been told not to advance further until the talks have finished. |
Mr Barrow's legitimacy as president has been recognised internationally, after he won last month's elections. | Mr Barrow's legitimacy as president has been recognised internationally, after he won last month's elections. |
Mr Jammeh remains at the state house in The Gambia's capital, where soldiers are calm, the BBC's Umaru Fofana reports. | Mr Jammeh remains at the state house in The Gambia's capital, where soldiers are calm, the BBC's Umaru Fofana reports. |
The head of the Gambian army, Gen Ousman Badjie, told Reuters that he now recognises Mr Barrow as commander-in-chief. | |
Mr Jammeh's term expired at midnight on Wednesday - but, while still president, he engineered a parliamentary vote to extend his presidency. As Mr Barrow has already been sworn in, the country could be said to have two presidents. | Mr Jammeh's term expired at midnight on Wednesday - but, while still president, he engineered a parliamentary vote to extend his presidency. As Mr Barrow has already been sworn in, the country could be said to have two presidents. |
Guinea's President Alpha Conde and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived in Banjul on Friday morning for the talks with Mr Jammeh. | Guinea's President Alpha Conde and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived in Banjul on Friday morning for the talks with Mr Jammeh. |
The chairman of the Ecowas commission, Marcel Alain de Souza, said that if the meeting with Mr Conde proved unsuccessful, military action would follow. | The chairman of the Ecowas commission, Marcel Alain de Souza, said that if the meeting with Mr Conde proved unsuccessful, military action would follow. |
Break for prayers: By Umaru Fofana, BBC Africa, Banjul | Break for prayers: By Umaru Fofana, BBC Africa, Banjul |
With talks still ongoing between Yahya Jammeh and the visiting presidents of Guinea and Mauritania, I have been waiting at State House, the seat of the presidency. | With talks still ongoing between Yahya Jammeh and the visiting presidents of Guinea and Mauritania, I have been waiting at State House, the seat of the presidency. |
When it was time for Friday prayers and as there was no sign of progress I went to the Chairman Jammeh Mosque inside the grounds of State House. | When it was time for Friday prayers and as there was no sign of progress I went to the Chairman Jammeh Mosque inside the grounds of State House. |
The soldiers were great. They welcomed me there and looked pleased to know I was a practising Muslim. | The soldiers were great. They welcomed me there and looked pleased to know I was a practising Muslim. |
Imam Alhaji Jallow was preaching about faith and following the right path. An interesting theme if you ask me, in view of the times. | Imam Alhaji Jallow was preaching about faith and following the right path. An interesting theme if you ask me, in view of the times. |
Midway through the sermon, we were asked to leave the four front rows. We shifted. | Midway through the sermon, we were asked to leave the four front rows. We shifted. |
As the sermon proceeded I was called outside the mosque. Confused, I asked why. No answers. My colleague and I were driven out of State House. Very respectfully I must say. | As the sermon proceeded I was called outside the mosque. Confused, I asked why. No answers. My colleague and I were driven out of State House. Very respectfully I must say. |
As we left, a member of the presidential guard whispered to me the obvious: Mr Jammeh and his guests would be coming to the mosque for prayers. | As we left, a member of the presidential guard whispered to me the obvious: Mr Jammeh and his guests would be coming to the mosque for prayers. |
They were perhaps worried that I would get an insight into how the talks were going if I remained. | They were perhaps worried that I would get an insight into how the talks were going if I remained. |
Ecowas said that its forces had encountered no resistance after entering The Gambia. | Ecowas said that its forces had encountered no resistance after entering The Gambia. |
The troops are from Senegal and other West African countries. | The troops are from Senegal and other West African countries. |
Mr Barrow, who remains in Senegal, has said that he will not return to Gambia's capital, Banjul, until the military operation has ended. | Mr Barrow, who remains in Senegal, has said that he will not return to Gambia's capital, Banjul, until the military operation has ended. |
The threat by the West African regional bloc Ecowas to remove Mr Jammeh by force is supported by the 15-member UN Security Council, although the council has stressed that a political solution should be the priority. | The threat by the West African regional bloc Ecowas to remove Mr Jammeh by force is supported by the 15-member UN Security Council, although the council has stressed that a political solution should be the priority. |
A Senegalese army spokesman, Col Abdou Ndiaye, told the BBC that troops who were now in The Gambia were prepared to fight if necessary. | A Senegalese army spokesman, Col Abdou Ndiaye, told the BBC that troops who were now in The Gambia were prepared to fight if necessary. |
"It is already war, if we find any resistance, we will fight it," he said, adding: "If there are people who are fighting for the former president, we will fight them." | "It is already war, if we find any resistance, we will fight it," he said, adding: "If there are people who are fighting for the former president, we will fight them." |
But Col Ndiaye said the main goal of Ecowas was to restore democracy and to allow the newly-elected president to take power. | But Col Ndiaye said the main goal of Ecowas was to restore democracy and to allow the newly-elected president to take power. |
Tourists have been evacuated from The Gambia and the UK's Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the West African country. | Tourists have been evacuated from The Gambia and the UK's Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the West African country. |
In his inaugural speech at the Gambian embassy in Senegal's capital, Dakar, President Barrow ordered all members of The Gambia's armed forces to remain in their barracks. | In his inaugural speech at the Gambian embassy in Senegal's capital, Dakar, President Barrow ordered all members of The Gambia's armed forces to remain in their barracks. |
Any found illegally bearing arms would be considered "rebels", he said. | Any found illegally bearing arms would be considered "rebels", he said. |
Amid the crisis, the UN refugee agency reported that more than 45,000 people had fled The Gambia for Senegal so far this year. | Amid the crisis, the UN refugee agency reported that more than 45,000 people had fled The Gambia for Senegal so far this year. |
More people could leave if the situation was not resolved, the UNHCR said. | More people could leave if the situation was not resolved, the UNHCR said. |
Why is Mr Jammeh refusing to go? | Why is Mr Jammeh refusing to go? |
After first accepting defeat in the election he reversed his position and said he would not step down. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process. | After first accepting defeat in the election he reversed his position and said he would not step down. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process. |
The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow's win. | The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow's win. |
Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held. | Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held. |
Remaining in power would also give him protection against prosecution for alleged abuses committed during his rule. | Remaining in power would also give him protection against prosecution for alleged abuses committed during his rule. |