Gambia’s New President Adama Barrow Is Inaugurated… In Senegal

Gambia’s elected President Adama Barrow was sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Close enough, right? Adama delivered his inaugural speech as President in the embassy where he as spent the last few days, using the time to remind citizens, “This is the first time since the Gambia became independent in 1965 that the Gambia has changed the government through the ballot box.”

Meanwhile, military action continues to develop as west African states pressure former President Yahya Jammeh to just step down already. Hours after Barrow held his inauguration, spokesman of the Senegalese army, Abdou Ndiaye, confirmed with Reuters that troops had entered Gambia and were part of a “standby” force to ensure the peaceful transition of power. The leaders of Liberia, Mauritania and Guinea are also expected to arrive in Gambia today as part of a mediation mission. Hopefully Jammeh will take the hint.