By AFPMore by this AuthorBANJULGambian President Yahya Jammeh, who is facing possible military intervention to force him to step down, seized power in a 1994 coup and clung to office for 22 years with a blend of severity, mysticism and iron-clad self-belief. STATE OF EMERGENCYJammeh lost the vote to outsider Adama Barrow, but has refused to recognise the results. On Tuesday, he announced a state of emergency, saying it was necessary because of interference by foreign powers in the election. His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Doctor Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen joined the army in 1984. Ten years later, Jammeh mounted a coup with fellow army officers against Dawda Jawara, who had ruled the country since independence, pledging to root out corruption and hold elections.

Source: Daily Nation January 19, 2017 05:32 UTC