Read 2 minutes

Botswana has become the first country to announce that it no longer recognizes Yahya Jammeh as the president of The Gambia following his refusal to hand over power at the end of his term which ended last night.

Jammeh lost the December 1 election to Adama Barrow, who is in neighbouring Senegal and is said to be awaiting his inauguration scheduled for later today at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar.

In a statement, Botswana’s goverrnment said:

“Mr Jammeh’s decision not to respect the will of the Gambian people undermines the ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. This is also in direct contravention of the spirit and aspirations of the African Union Constitutive Act.

“The Government of Botswana therefore continues to appeal to the international community to do all within its power to exert pressure on Mr Jammeh to hand over power in order to ensure a smooth transition.”

Jammeh initially conceded defeat to Barrow, and went ahead to phone him on live television to wish him well in his rule.

Barely a week later however, he receded this decision, saying he did not accept the result of the poll because they were marred by irregularities.

ECOWAS states have been pressuring him to hand over power peacefully but he would not bulge.

The West African states have now mobilized a combined force to force the long serving Gambian leader to vacate the presidency.