Gambian President Yahya Jammeh says he will not step down as leader of the small West African nation, and has condemned the meditation efforts by regional bloc ECOWAS that aims to get him to leave power to winner of the December 1 election, Adama Barrow.
Jammeh appeared on state television late on Tuesday with a hardline stand that he will not give power up, instead saying that the election should be held afresh.
The president had initially conceded defeat live on television, offering to give his support to Barrow during his tenure.
On December 9 however, he changed his position, rejecting the outcome of the poll.
Jammeh has ruled Gambia for 22 years, a period in which some human rights groups accused him of crimes against humanity.
The president said he would challenge the election results in the country’s Supreme Court
