BANJUL: Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, state television said, after refusing to hand power to opposition leader Adama Barrow who won an election on Dec 1.

The terms of the state of emergency and its implications for Barrow’s inauguration on Thursday were not immediately known.

But the declaration appears to represent a hardening of Jammeh’s position.

Opposition leaders say an emergency could allow the government to cancel or postpone Barrow’s inauguration.

“I ... hereby declare a state of public emergency throughout the Islamic Republic of Gambia,” the declaration said.

Jammeh took power in a coup in 1994 and his government gained a reputation for torturing and killing of perceived opponents.

Pro-democracy activists across Africa welcomed his defeat and his refusal to step down has provoked a test of mettle for regional leaders.

Nigeria and other West African countries are preparing to intervene militarily and the ministers of finance, foreign affairs, trade and the environment have resigned from the government, according to ministry sources and state television.

In addition, hundreds of Gambians have fled into Senegal, Gambia’s only neighbour. Gambia has had just two presidents since independence from Britain in 1965.

“The chiefs of defence staff of West African countries met yesterday [Mon­day] to discuss strategies on the best way to get Yahya Jammeh out,” a senior Nigerian military source said.

“Some West African countries will be contributing troops, including Nigeria, for the operation,” said the source, adding that the United Nations and African Union had offered support to regional body ECOWAS for the plan.

Published in Dawn January 18th, 2017