Electoral Chairman Flees Gambia Over Threats to Life

The chairman of the Gambian Electoral Commission, Alieu Momar Njie, has fled the country following threats to his life.

His nephew, Modou Njie told newsmen on Tuesday that his uncle had left the country because of the threats.

Njie had declared Adama Barrow winner of the December 1 presidential election, but Yahya Jammeh, the president and a candidate in the election, has refused to relinquish power, challenging the election results in court.

“He was not willing to leave but the family had to put pressure on him. I understand that he is currently outside Gambia,” Njie said.

Reports from Gambia say, security forces had earlier occupied the office of the electoral commission and denied staff access for weeks, but have since left the premises.

Barrow said on Monday that he would take power on January 19, “as mandated by the constitution”, in spite of Jammeh’s court challenge.

After more than two decades in power, Jammeh, 51, lost the election to Barrow, a former real estate agent who was little known even in Gambia before he announced his candidature.