Gambia's Yahya Jammeh finally steps down as president

Long time Gambia leader Yahya Jammeh has finally stepped down from power following pressure from West African regional bloc ECOWAS after president-elect Adama Barrow was sworn into office on Thursday in Senegal.

Jammeh made the announcement in a Nationwide broadcast overnight on state television.

"I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians," Jammeh said.

"I promise before Allah and the entire nation that all the issues we currently face will be resolved peacefully. It is not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed" he said 

"All those who have supported me or were against me in this period, I implore them to put the supreme interest of our nation the Gambia above all partisan interest and endeavour to work together as one nation," he added.

Jammeh lost the December 1 Presidential election to Adama Barrow, and immediately conceded defeat but later changed his decision, accusing the electoral commission of fraud and said he will not step down until a fresh election is conducted.