Gambia plans Feb. 18 celebration as new leader arrives home
BANJUL, Gambia — Billboards across Gambia’s capital are declaring a Feb. 18 ceremony to mark the inauguration of the country’s new leader, a day after his triumphant arrival.
Hundreds of thousands turned out Thursday to greet President Adama Barrow, a week after he took the oath of office in neighbouring Senegal. Longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh, who clung to power despite losing December elections, finally flew into exile over the weekend after mounting international pressure.
Gambia has high hopes for Barrow, who has vowed to create greater freedoms in this tiny West African nation and reverse many of Jammeh’s actions, including his declaration that the country would withdraw from the International Criminal Court. Barrow also has said the new government will look into alleged abuses under Jammeh, who has been accused of overseeing a system that tortured and even killed opponents.
“Much has to be done to tell the people their vote counts,” spokesman Halifa Sallah said Friday. The first step is getting the Cabinet announced, he added.