Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh will not face prosecution upon leaving office, the country’s opposition coalition that won the election has assured.

Jammeh who has ruled the small West African nation for 22 years lost the election held on December 1, and conceded defeat to the president-elect Adama Barrow in a televised statement, before receding his decision on December 9.

The ECOWAS bloc is negotiating with the Gambian leader to allow a smooth transition of power.

Jammeh has however brushed the ECOWAS leaders aside, saying he will not accept the defeat.

The spokesman for the opposition coalition that backed Adama Barrow told the AFP that Jammeh will not face prosecution after he leaves office.

“There is no indication of a threat (of prosecution) or the need to threaten outgoing President Yahya Jammeh,” Halifa Sallah said.

“President-elect Barrow says he is going to treat outgoing President Yahya Jammeh like a former head of state and would consult him for advice,” he added.

French President Francois Hollande said the results of the poll were “indisputable” and that Barrow “must be installed as soon as possible”.