Following threat of military action against the country by President Muhammadu Buhari and other ECOWAS leaders, Gambia’s army chief Ousman Badjie has declared his loyalty to President Yahya Jammeh.
BBC reports that, in a letter he sent to the pro-government Daily Observer newspaper, Badjie affirmed his loyalty and the support of the Gambia Armed Forces for Jammeh.
Jammeh has maintained that he will not step down when his term ends on January 19.
He wrote:”May I please seize this opportunity to renew to your Excellency the assurance of the unflinching loyalty and support of the Gambia Armed Forces.”
In the event that Mr Jammeh does not hand over power to President-elect Adama Barrow on January 19, ECOWAS says its troops in neighbouring Senegal are ready to intervene in Gambia’s political situation.
Recall that the Gambian president had initially accepted defeat in the December 1, 2016 election but later backtracked.
The president had also warned that any attempt to intervene in the political situation of his country will be an ‘act of war.’
READ ALSO: Gambia on the verge of war, as head of electoral commission flees
BBC also reports that the country has not enjoyed a swift transition since its independence from Britain in 1965.
There are serious indications that Gambia might be headed for war following rifts over election results.
The head of Gambia electoral commission has already fled to Senegal alleging threat to his life.
