Adama Barrow To Be Sworn-in As President At Gambia Embassy In Dakar

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By Sadiq Umar – The swearing-in ceremony for Gambia’s President-elect of Gambia, Adama Barrow would take place at the country’s embassy located in Banjul, News Investigators learnt.

Arrangements have been concluded to ensure that Mr. Barrow assumed of office as president today January 19 in accordance with the country’s constitution.

The in-coming Gambia president who has since taken refuge in Senegal, has said repeatedly the inauguration will take place on schedule in Gambia.

Under international law, an embassy of a country is recognized as a geographical jurisdiction of that country.

“The legitimacy or otherwise of such action is subject to different interpretations,” International lawyer Ned Munir Nwoko told News Investigators in Abuja. “But if Mr. Barrow is sworn-in at his country’s embassy by competent judicial authorities, bearing in mind the prevailing circumstances and considering the backing of the ECOWAS nations, international public opinion will confer legitimacy on him as president” .

According to him, since Mr. Barrow has been recognised internationally as the rightful winner of the election, recognising him as president would not be a problem even if he is sworn-in an embassy,” he added.

A reliable source close to the arrangement but do not want to be quoted told News Investigators that the inauguration ceremony would be witnessed by some foreign dignitaries.

Already, West African nations are planning military intervention in Gambia to ensure that President-elect Adama Barrow is inaugurated on Thursday.

Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia are among members of the Economic Community of West African States that have contributed troops to ECOMIG, the regional force preparing to give protection to Mr. Barrow.

The Nigerian Air Force had on Wednesday deployed 200 men, fighter jets, transport aircraft and a helicopter to Senegal, which borders Gambia, for the operation.

ECOWAS military spokesman, Seydou Maiga Moro was quoted as saying that the standby force will begin hostilities against out-going President Yahya Jammeh midnight if last minute negotiations for peaceful handover fails.

“We’re waiting for negotiations, If between midnight and now nothing is accomplished, we’re starting the hostilities. All the troops are already in place,” Mr. Seydou reportedly told the Senegalese radio station RFM.

 

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