In the West African nation of Gambia, people are tuning in — on TV, radios and cellphones — to testimony about alleged abuses by former president Yahya Jammeh.
As Gambia's new president Adama Barrow settles into his new role, he is also taking steps to resuscitate international ties cut off by his predecessor Yahya Jammeh.
Gambia's defeated leader Yahya Jammeh has departed the country, after a weeks-long standoff as he tried to maintain his grip on power which culminated in West African troops crossing Gambia's borders.
West African troops have already crossed the border into Gambia and say they are prepared to remove Yahya Jammeh, who has refused to step down, by force to make way for the new leader.
Two men now claim to be president of Gambia — the winner of last month's election, and the longtime leader. The newly minted president, Adama Barrow, took the oath of office in neighboring Senegal.
In a few hours, longtime Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh's presidential term will expire. But he is clinging to power as troops from regional powers reportedly amass at the border.
The president-elect is scheduled to take office on Thursday. But longtime President Yahya Jammeh has defiantly said he won't allow that to happen, citing supposed voting "irregularities."
Gambian president Yahya Jammeh is defying calls from regional and international leaders to give up power, despite his loss at the polls earlier this month.
Security forces descended on the country's election commission headquarters, ratcheting up tension in the country as regional leaders arrive to try and persuade the current president to quit power.
Gambia's longtime president initially seemed to accept the loss, but then suddenly reversed course and called for a new election. Regional leaders are also trying to persuade him to quit power.
Election officials say an opposition candidate has defeated Gambia's longtime leader in the country's presidential vote. It remains to be seen how the current president will react to the news.
This vote marks the most serious challenge yet to the rule of President Yahya Jammeh. The president has ruled for 22 years since he led a coup, and has a dismal human rights record.
