Gambia President-elect Adama Barrow: Yahya Jammeh must concede

Adama Barrow, left, accused Mr Jammeh of damaging democracy

Gambian President-elect Adama Barrow has called on incumbent Yahya Jammeh to accept defeat in last week's election.

President Jammeh initially appeared to concede after results showed he had clearly been defeated, but on Friday said he rejected the results "totally". Mr Barrow said the president had "no constitutional authority to reject the results" and demand another election.

It is not clear whether the army will fully support Mr Barrow

The African Union (AU) has also condemned Mr Jammeh's latest statement, describing it as "null and void".

Mr Barrow urged his rival to allow "a smooth transfer of executive powers in the supreme interest of this country".


President Jammeh's reluctance to accept the result has criticised by the US and neighbouring Senegal.

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Mr Barrow's spokesperson said the head of the army, General Ousman Badjie, supported the president-elect, having pledged allegiance after the initial result.

The BBC's West Africa correspondent, Thomas Fessy, says the main question now is whether the Gambian leader has managed to split the army, retaining a faction ready to back his announcement.