Gambia's longtime leader agrees to step down

The man who has ruled the West African country of Gambia for more than two decades has said he will step down following weeks of refusing to accept defeat in democratic elections.

Speaking on state television Yahya Jammeh said: "I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation."

He said his decision was taken in the national interest and he was proud to have served the Gambian people, imploring them to work together as one nation.

Mr Jammeh lost an election to Adama Barrow in December and initially conceded defeat, but changed his mind saying the vote had been unfair.

He had been attempting to hammer out an amnesty deal for himself in exchange for his departure, but he did not give details on any pact that was struck.

It is not clear when Mr Barrow will return from neighbouring Senegal to take power.

Senegalese troops on the outskirts of the Gambian capital, Banjul, were told to halt the military operation to allow for further negotiations. The leaders of Mauritania and Guinea flew into the capital to mediate.

Mai Fatty, the special adviser to the presidency, told Sky News: "There's only one President of Gambia. Yahya Jammeh's out of power. He can't harm anyone anymore."

Mr Barrow, who once worked as a security guard at Argos in London, told us in his first interview with a British media outlet, that he had much in common with his American counterpart, Donald Trump. Both are businessmen with zero experience in politics but have a desire to create jobs.

Mr Barrow said his first priority will be restoring humans rights and establishing freedom of speech in his homeland and he stressed Gambia's close links with Britain.

"There is a strong tie with Britain and Gambia if you recall history. They colonised Gambia and we are part of the Commonwealth and we will return to the Commonwealth again. Any aspects that are going on in Gambia, Britain will be our number one partner in terms of trade, in terms of democracy, in terms of good governance. They will be our partners."

He went on to stress the importance of the support of his West African neighbours in enforcing the democratic outcome of Gambia's elections last month.

Mr Jammeh's stance and refusal to handover power led to widespread condemnation around Africa and several countries offered military support to forcibly remove him if needed.

"Its very significant (for Africa)," said Mr Barrow, "I think democracy is growing in Africa and that is positive so we believe it is changing and it is changing positively and that is good for this Continent."