Gambia's ex-leader Yahya Jammeh departs the country for exile

Gambia's former long time leader Yahya Jammeh has left the country for Equatorial Guinea to begin his exile after stepping down from power following pressure from West African regional bloc ECOWAS to cede power to new president Adama Barrow.

His exit put an end to rising tension in the tiny west African country. New president, Adama Barrow who was on Thursday last week sworn into office in Senegal is now set to return to the country.

News of Jammeh's departure caused celebrations among citizens in the capital Banjul on Sunday.

Jammeh who has ruled the country for 22 years, took power in a coup in 1994 and lost the December, 1 presidential election to opposition leader, Adama Barrow. Though he initially accepted the election outcome, but later change his mind calling for fresh election. 

Upon the expiration of his tenure last Thursday, Jammeh refused to step which lead to thousands of troops from Senegal and Nigeria to enter the country in a bid to to forcefully evict him from power.

According to the head of the ECOWAS commission Marcel de Souza, some ECOWAS will remain in the country to ensure security.

Jammeh was accompanied to the plane by Guinean President Alpha Conde, who mediated the terms of his exit with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and others.

Jammeh will become the first president to peacefully hand over power in Gambia since the country got her independence from Britain in 1965.