Adama Barrow sworn in as President of Gambia in Senegal

Adama Barrow on 19 January 2017 was sworn in as the third President of The Gambia at a ceremony in the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

With the swearing in ceremony comes an event that marked The Gambia’s first change of presidency in 22 years. It is also the first change of presidency by democratic means since independence from Britain in 1965.

Barrow had won the 2016 Gambian presidential elections that were held in The Gambia on 1 December 2016.

Soon after the inauguration of Barrow in neighbouring Senegal, troops from a bloc of West African countries have entered Gambia in support of him.

About Adama Barrow

• Adama Barrow is a member of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

• He served as the treasurer of the UDP and operated a real estate agency, before winning the presidential elections.

• A coalition of seven opposition parties chose him as their endorsed candidate for the 2016 presidential election.

• He went on to defeat the long-term incumbent, Yahya Jammeh.

• The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on 19 January 2017 expressing "full support" to Barrow as president.

• His claim to the presidency is disputed by the preceding president, Yahya Jammeh.

About 2016 Gambian presidential election

• Presidential elections were held in The Gambia on 1 December 2016.

• On 2 December 2016, Jammeh conceded defeat.

• The final official results showed Barrow winning a 43.3 per cent plurality, achieving a 3.7 per cent margin of victory over Jammeh's 39.6 per cent. A third candidate, Mamma Kandeh, received 17.1 per cent of the votes.

• Jammeh, on 9 December 2016, announced that he was rejecting the results and called for a new election. The decision gave birth to a constitutional crisis.