Gambia's Jammeh leaves power and country after 22 years

Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh flew out late Jan. 21 from the country he ruled for 22 years to cede power to President Adama Barrow and end a political crisis.

Jammeh refused to step down after a Dec. 1, 2016 election in which Barrow was declared the winner, triggering weeks of uncertainty that almost ended in a military intervention involving five other west African nations.

The longtime leader, wearing his habitual white flowing robes, waved to supporters before boarding a small, unmarked plane at Banjul airport alongside Guinea's President Alpha Conde after two days of talks over a departure deal, according to AFP.

He landed in Conakry, Guinea's capital but set off again for Equatorial Guinea, where he will remain in exile, the president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Marcel Alain de Souza, said at a Dakar press conference.

"No legislative measures" would be taken that would infringe the "dignity, security, safety and rights" of Jammeh or his family, ECOWAS said in a joint declaration with the African Union and United Nations.
Jammeh could return to The Gambia when he pleased, the statement added, and property "lawfully" belonging to him would not be seized.

Barrow, speaking to the Associated Press on Jan. 21 hours before Jammeh left the country, said that he would launch a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate the alleged human rights abuses of Jammeh's 22-year regime.

"We aren't talking about prosecution here. We are talking about getting a truth and reconciliation commission," Barrow said. "Before you can act, you have to get the truth, to get the facts together."

Jammeh finally said he would step aside in the early hours of Jan. 21 and hand power to Barrow,...