TheCable

President Adama Barrow of Gambia says he believes that Yahya Jammeh, his predecessor, will relocate to Guinea after handing over power.

In an interview with AP, the new president said he has the plan of return home to take power once the situation is clear.

Barrow, who won the country’s last election, is currently in Senegal as a result of Jammeh’s refusal to cede power.

He took his oath of office in his country’s embassy in Senegal, with the backing of the international community.

“It is not yet confirmed information, but reliable sources are saying he’s leaving today… We believe he’ll go to Guinea, but we are waiting to confirm 100 percent,” Barrow was quoted as saying.

He said he had not yet been given the communique which should spell out the terms of Jammeh’s departure but that “what is fundamental is that he will live in a foreign country as of now.”

Responding to the online petition that kicked against granting asylum to Jammeh, Barrow said: “We aren’t talking about prosecution here, we are talking about getting a truth and reconciliation commission.

“Before you can act, you have to get the truth, to get the facts together.”

Jammeh initially accepted defeat and congratulated his opponent, but changed his mind and decided to challenge the outcome of the election.

Attempts by ECOWAS leaders to make him step down was met with stiff resistance until Guinean and Mauritanian leaders were able to pacify him.

In an address to the nation after accepting to relinquish power, Jammeh said his decision to quit was not dictated.

He said he believed that it was not necessary to have a “single drop bloodshed” as a result of the transition issue.

Jammeh ended his speech in a shaky voice, thanking his mother, wife and children for all “their prayers and support” throughout the 22 years he ruled the country.

Over 25,000 Gambians fled the country as a result of the post election political crisis.