Jammeh, Gambia’s Dictator Finally Flees After Regaining Presidential Website Control

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Jammeh–after regaining control of website, fled.

Yahya Jammeh the Gambia’s dictator of 22 years finally fled into exile Saturday paving the way for the return of new president Adama Barrow who is expected back soon from Senegal.

In a last act of delusional defiance Jammeh has refused to yield control of the official website for the presidency even though it appears president Barrow had gained control Thursday.

The presidential website www.statehouse.gov.gm again contains several old photos of Jammeh performing presidential functions — dedicating buildings, handing out awards, surrounded by his ministers –even though all had quit by Thursday– and welcoming foreign dignitaries.

Jammeh in some of the images is referred to as “His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh Babili Mansa.”

On Thursday the website’s only content was one photograph of Barrow and the announcement of his pending inauguration.

But Jammeh wouldn’t leave the country, even with Ecowas tanks a few miles from state house until he regained control of the website, the only media where he could still refer to himself as “excellency.”

It’s unclear how long his images will remain on the official state house website where they were still posted as of 2AM U.S Eastern Standard Time Sunday.

Jammeh flew to Equatorial Guinea after a stopover in Guinea, two days after tanks from Ecowas countries rolled across the border from Senegal in a military operation to drive him out.

After conceding that he lost the December 1, 2016 presidential election Jammeh later changed his mind and refused to step down.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) the powerful regional organization of 15 countries issued a demand that he step down by January 19 so Barrow could be sworn in as scheduled.

Jammeh defied the orders and Barrow was sworn in Thursday in Dakar the Senegalese capital hours after the Ecowas invasion. The military operation was then suspended when Jammeh claimed he would leave. Finally, he announced his resignation Friday.

Jammeh negotiated a non-legally binding agreement with Ecowas to protect him from prosecution for alleged crimes during his reign and for his assets not to be seized. He also insisted on the right to return to the Gambia.

The immunity deal with Ecowas won’t stop victims of human rights abuse or relatives of those killed from filing lawsuits.

New president Barrow has said he prefers a truth and reconciliation process.

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