Botswana 'no longer recognises Jammeh'

Botswana has become the first African state to announce that it no longer recognises Yahya Jammeh as The Gambia's president following his refusal to hand power to Adama Barrow who defeated him in elections on 1 December.

In a statement, Botswana's goverrnment said:

Mr Jammeh’s decision not to respect the will of the Gambian people undermines the ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. This is also in direct contravention of the spirit and aspirations of the African Union Constitutive Act.

The Government of Botswana therefore continues to appeal to the international community to do all within its power to exert pressure on Mr Jammeh to hand over power in order to ensure a smooth transition.

Mr Barrow was due to be inaugurated at a ceremony in The Gambia today, but Mr Jammeh has imposed a state of emergency and parliament has controversially extended his term by 90 days.