Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has returned to the country to assume power – days after his predecessor Yahya Jammeh left to go into exile.
President Barrow’s plane touched down at Banjul airport where jubilant crowds waited to welcome him. After landing, he tweeted: “I’m finally home #Gambia.”
Mr. Barrow, who has been in neighboring Senegal, won elections in December.
However, a handover was stalled when Mr. Jammeh, Gambia’s president of 22 years, refused to step aside.
He left for exile at the weekend after mediation by regional leaders and the threat of military intervention.
Throughout the great nation of Gambia, never have we been more unified. Because now, more than ever, Gambia speaks with one voice. #Gambia pic.twitter.com/DiZ2tXgCee
— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) January 26, 2017
Adama Barrow arrived home, a week after taking the oath of office abroad amid a whirlwind political crisis [Jerome Delay/AP]
Overhead, a fighter jet from the West African force guaranteeing the new president’s security performed fly-pasts.
He was sworn in as president at the Gambian embassy in Senegal a week ago, but a public inauguration on home soil is planned soon, aides say.
