Gambian President Adama Barrow on Saturday confirmed that former president Yahya Jammeh has left the country.
Barrow on his twitter handle, @adama_barrow, said “would like to inform you that the 2nd President of the Republic of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh has left Gambia.#Gambia.
The tweet was accompanied by a picture.
It was earlier reported that Jammeh left the State House to join President Alpha Conda of Guinea to the airport, to begin a new life in exile.
Barrow succeeded Yahya Jammeh, who lost in the Dec. 1 presidential election and refused to vacate office when his 22-year rule expired midnight on Thursday.
West African mediators spent several hours in talks with him on Friday after military forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stopped actions to remove Jammeh by force to allow last-minute negotiations.
Jammeh, also on state TV announced that he would step down in the interest of the Gambian people adding that it was his duty to “preserve at every instant” their lives.
Barrow earlier said he was returning to his country once a security sweep had been completed.
He also told Gambians who had fled the country that they now had “the liberty to return home”. (NAN)
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