Gambia’s president to return home today

Adama Barrow, the new Gambian president, is expected to return home today to assume power at 16:00 GMT.

Mr Barrow was sworn in last week in Senegal as regional leaders were persuading his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, to step aside.

Diplomats have urged Mr Barrow’s swift return to avoid any power vacuum. Reports say Mr Barrow will stay at his own residence while State House is assessed for potential risks following Mr Jammeh’s departure into exile in Equatorial Guinea.

Several thousand West African troops remain in The Gambia amid reports that rogue pro-Jammeh elements are embedded in the country’s security forces.

President Barrow will be accompanied by the United Nations envoy for West Africa, Mohamed ibn Chambas, who’s said the UN will help uphold security in The Gambia.

Source: BBC