Timeline of events in Gambia since Jammeh lost elections

BANJUL

Here is a timeline of developments in The Gambia since the December election which President Yahya Jammeh lost to opponent Adama Barrow:

JAMMEH CONCEDES DEFEAT

December 1, 2016: Gambians go to the polls to choose their new president from three candidates, including incumbent Jammeh, who has ruled with an iron fist for 22 years and Barrow, representing a large opposition coalition.

A day later the electoral commission announces that Mr Barrow has won, to scenes of jubilation on the streets.

Mr Jammeh concedes defeat, congratulating President-elect Barrow for his "clear victory", adding: "I wish him all the best and I wish all Gambians the best."

OPPOSITION FREED

December 5: Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who was jailed in July for taking part in a protest, is freed on bail with 18 others.

In the following days some 40 other members of the opposition are also freed.

JAMMEH U-TURN

December 6: The electoral commission says that Mr Barrow has won the election more narrowly than originally thought, and with a lower turnout.

He garnered 43.2 per cent and Mr Jammeh 39.6 per cent of the vote. Third party candidate Mama Kandeh took 17.1 per cent.

December 9: Mr Jammeh announces he has changed his mind, saying: "In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent and honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality."

He lodges a complaint with the Supreme Court to overturn the result.

The defiance sparks global concern, with the UN Security Council among those demanding Mr Jammeh hand over power.

JAMMEH URGED TO GO

December 13: Heads of state from West African regional bloc Ecowas are sent to Gambia, but do not manage to persuade Jammeh to acknowledge his defeat. A new mission takes place a month later.

On December 31 Jammeh accuses Ecowas of declaring "war".

SUPREME COURT STALLS

January 4, 2017: The army chief reaffirms his loyalty to Jammeh.

January 9: Jammeh fires 12 ambassadors after they called for him to step aside. Several ministers have since been fired or resigned.

January 10: The Gambia's chief Supreme Court justice says Jammeh's legal challenge against the result will not be heard for several months.

January 13: The African Union (AU) urges Jammeh to respect the results and quit power peacefully, warning of "serious consequences". It says it will not recognise him "as of 19 January 2017".

Thousands of Gambians fearing unrest cross the border into neighbouring Senegal and further afield to Guinea-Bissau.

BARROW IN SENEGAL

January 15: Senegalese President Macky Sall announces that he has agreed to "welcome Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow in Dakar until his inauguration," on January 19.

January 16: The Gambia's top judge pulls out of hearing a bid by Jammeh to halt the inauguration.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

January 17: Jammeh declares a state of emergency, saying foreign powers had created an "unwarranted hostile atmosphere, threatening the sovereignty, peace, security and stability of the country".

AFRICAN TROOPS READY

January 18: The Senegalese army says it is ready to intervene in Gambia if there is no solution to the crisis.

Senegal asks the UN security Council to approve any Ecowas military action in The Gambia to force Jammeh to cede power.