Contested Gambia election

In a democratic election held in The Gambia on Dec. 1, current president Yahya Jammeh lost the popular vote to property developer Adama Barrow in a surprise result. After initially conceding, President Jammeh claimed, days later, that the election was invalid because of voting irregularities and declared he would not leave office. Jammeh has been president of The Gambia since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1994.

As of press time, regional multinational group The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which The Gambia is a member of, has called for Jammeh to step down peacefully. Neighboring country, Senegal, has said it will send troops into The Gambia to depose Jammeh if he does not step down at the end of his term on Jan. 19.