Gambia's post-election crisis

Cape Town (dpa/GNA) - The small West African nation of Gambia has been plunged into a political crisis since autocrat Yahya Jammeh refused to accept the result of presidential elections which saw him lose power to Adama Barrow.

Jammeh - who ruled Gambia for 22 years with an iron fist - has filed a petition to challenge the results and seems bent on staying in office. Barrow is scheduled to succeed Jammeh on January 19.

December 1, 2016: Gambia holds presidential elections.

December 2: Barrow is declared winner.
December 9: Jammeh rejects the election results despite having admitted defeat a few days earlier.

December 13: West African leaders arrive in Gambia to convince Jammeh to leave office. Chief of defence staff, Ousman Badjie, announces he will stay loyal to Jammeh.

December 14: The ruling party files a petition to the currently disfunctional Supreme Court to challenge the election results.

December 19: Barrow announces he will take office on January 19.

January 3, 2017: The head of the electoral commission flees Gambia amid death threats.

January 9: Authorities close the fourth radio station within a week.

January 10: The Supreme Court postpones hearing for Jammeh's election challenge due to lack of judges.

January 11: Jammeh appoints mediator to arbitrate between himself and Barrow.

GNA.