DAKAR, Senegal (AP) -- Senegalese troops
charged into neighboring Gambia late
Thursday to support the country's newly
inaugurated president, while longtime ruler
Yahya Jammeh showed no sign of
stepping down.


The troops moved in shortly after Adama
Barrow was inaugurated at Gambia's
embassy in neighboring Senegal, after a
final effort at diplomatic talks with
Jammeh failed to secure his departure.
His mandate expired at midnight.
Senegalese military spokesman Col.


Abdoul Ndiaye confirmed to The
Associated Press that the first West
African troops had crossed into Gambia
and were on their way to the capital,
Banjul. AP journalists saw at least 20
military vehicles gathered at the border
town of Karang.


In his inaugural speech, which took place
under heavy security, Barrow called on
Jammeh to respect the will of the people
and step aside. The new president also
called on Gambia's armed forces to
remain in their barracks as the regional
military intervention got underway.


Outside Gambia's embassy in Dakar, Baal
Jaabang held up a freshly framed portrait
of Barrow, already printed with the words:
"His Excellency Adama Barrow, President
of the Republic of Gambia."


"I'm extremely delighted, so wonderfully
happy today," he said. "But now the
situation risks moving into fighting. No
Gambian — in the diaspora or back home
— wants our country to face fighting."


Barrow had come to Senegal last week at
the urging of West African mediators, who
had feared for his safety amid the
political crisis.


He arrived at the embassy to cheers of joy
from hundreds of Gambians who had
gathered, with national flags, for a
glimpse of the new president.
"Our national flag will now fly high among
the most democratic nations of the
world," Barrow said after the ceremony.


Barrow was declared the winner of the
Dec. 1 election and at first was
congratulated by Jammeh in a phone call
aired on state television. But once it was
suggested that Jammeh could face
criminal charges linked to human rights
abuses during his long rule, he
backtracked and challenged the vote in
court, alleging irregularities.


Jammeh on Thursday remained at his
official residence and intended to stay
there, said an official close to the
administration who was not authorized to
speak to reporters. If the regional force is
going to arrest Jammeh, it will have to be
there, the official said.


Many of Jammeh's loyalists will resist,
the official added.


But there were signs that some in
Gambia's military might not put up a
fight. One soldier with close knowledge of
the situation said several barracks had
indicated they would support Barrow. The
soldiers spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were not authorized to
speak to reporters.


Gambia's army is estimated at well below
5,000 troops.


Jammeh may try to cling to power for a
few more days but he is becoming
increasingly isolated, said Alex Vines,
head of the Africa program at Chatham
House in London.


"After the inauguration of Adama Barrow,
the trickle of power flowing to him will
become more of a flood," Vines said.
"Jammeh clearly believes leaving Gambia
in a hurry is an option — his aircraft has
been on standby at Banjul airport for two
weeks," he added.


African nations began stepping away from
Jammeh, with Botswana announcing it no
longer recognized him as Gambia's
president. His refusal to hand over power
"undermines the ongoing efforts to
consolidate democracy and good
governance" in Gambia and Africa in
general, it said.


The African Union earlier announced that
the continental body would no longer
recognize Jammeh once his mandate
expired.


Congratulations to Barrow began pouring
in, including from British Foreign
Secretary Boris Johnson and the head of
the African Union, who said she would
invite Barrow to attend the continental
body's summit late this month.


Inside Gambia, many people hugged and
cheered, chanting "New Gambia, new
Gambia!" as news of the inauguration
spread.


"It's unbelievable! Today I can say
anything. I am the happiest man on
earth," said Lamin Sama, a 35-year-old in
Banjul. "For 22 years we couldn't say
anything, we were like slaves."


___
This version corrects spelling of
Senegalese army spokesman's name to
Abdoul.


___
Associated Press writers Robbie Corey-
Boulet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Edith M.
Lederer at the United Nations; Ahmed
Mohamed in Nouakchott, Mauritania; and
Bashir Adigun in Abuja, Nigeria and
Carley Petesch contributed to this report.

I see

Nice one. Since Jammeh no wan get sense na

Omo see danger.