BREAKING: Gambia's National Assembly Extends Jammeh's Rule By Three Months

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On Tuesday, he declared a state of emergency just two days before he is due to step down, citing “extraordinary” foreign interference in the country’s post-electoral crisis. The declaration was necessary, he said on state television, after the “unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign inference in the December 1 presidential elections and also in the internal affairs of The Gambia.” Meanwhile SKYTREND NEWS gathered that Nigeria soldiers today arrived at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19. Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation, The Punch Newspaper reports. According to a top military source in the Nigerian Air Force, the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal. It was gathered that apart from the NAF and the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army would also contribute troops, although the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report. The source said some of the NAF fighter jets were expected to airlift the troops. Also Outgoing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declares 90-day state of emergency two days before expected handover Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, state television said, after refusing to hand power to opposition leader Adama Barrow who won an election on Dec. 1. The precise terms of the state of emergency and its implications for Thursday’s inauguration of the president-elect were not immediately known. The Gambia’s Supreme Court had yesterday declined to stop Thursday’s inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow. The Supreme Court ruling followed a petition by President Yahya Jammeh, seeking an injunction aimed at blocking Barrow’s swearing in. Jammeh’s constitutional term in office is expected to end on Wednesday after he lost to businessman Barrow, in the December 1, 2016 poll. Although he initially accepted defeat, he has since lodged a case before the Supreme Court requesting the result be annulled. But the court is unable to hold a hearing until May – as most of the judges come from neighbouring countries – and Jammeh has said he is going nowhere until then. Barrow, who has received the support of the international community, has said he would go ahead with his inauguration on Jan. 19 despite Jammeh’s rejection of the result. Supreme Court Chief Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle told Jammeh’s lawyer that he could not make the order being sought to stop the January 19 inauguration. Fagbenle said he was unable to preside over the motion filed because he was named in the petition. Already, thousands of people have begun fleeing Gambia amid growing signs that ECOWAS could invade the former British colony within days. Regional leaders have signalled their determination to mount a rare African defence of democratic principle by using force to ensure that Jammeh, Gambia’s president of 22 years, gives up power. For Adverts Placement Or Free News Updates, Contact Us On WhatsApp: 08083609209. Email editor@skytrendnews.com To Publish Your Articles. ]]>