Image copyright Reuters Image caption Gambian President Adama Barrow greeted thousands of supporters at Independence Stadium

The Gambia has formally sworn in its new elected President, Adama Barrow, in front of a crowd of thousands including African heads of state.

It was the second time he had taken the oath after his formal inauguration was delayed by the reluctance of his predecessor to leave office.

"This is a victory for democracy," he told a full stadium of his countrymen near the capital Banjul.

"Few people would have thought that I'd be standing here today," he said.

He told the crowd that Gambian people now had the power to control their own destiny and that he was going to free political prisoners and improve press freedom.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The swearing-in ceremony was attended by leading army officers

"For 22 years, the Gambian people yearned to live in a country where our diverse tribes will be bridged by tolerance and our determination to work together for the common good," he said. "One Gambia, one nation, one people."

Mr Barrow, 51, talked of pressing economic challenges left over from the rule of his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh.

"We have inherited an economy in decline," the new president said, and promised to attract investment in the technology sector, introduce free primary education and strengthen the judiciary.

"Gambia has changed forever. The people are fully conscious that they can put a government in office as well as remove it."

The president's first swearing-in was at a low-key event at the country's embassy in Senegal last month, after the lengthy power struggle forced him into exile.

Crowds on Saturday had queued through the night to get a good spot inside the Independence Stadium.

Brass bands began playing ahead of the event and flags waved.

Mr Barrow is only the third president in the history of The Gambia, and the celebrations also mark 52 years of the west African country's independence.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Supporters of the new president gathered out the Independence Stadium ahead of the ceremony

Mr Jammeh was voted out in December but he only agreed to step aside when regional powers sent in troops ready to remove him by force.

He has since fled to Equatorial Guinea.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The crowds filed into the stadium ahead of the ceremony

The Gambia is now set to rejoin international institutions such as the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth.

Mr Barrow, a successful property developer who has never held public office, defied the odds by winning the election.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The Gambia's flag was hoisted above Independence Stadium for the ceremony

Speaking to the BBC just before the election, he said that Gambians "had been suffering for 22 years" and were ready for change.

His predecessor had once told the BBC he would rule for a billion years, if necessary.</s>File: The official inauguration of Adama Barrow as Gambian president takes place on Saturday. Photo: Seyllou / AFP

BANJUL - The Gambia will officially swear in Adama Barrow as president at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Saturday.

Barrow first took his oath of office in a makeshift inauguration ceremony in Senegal last month.

His inauguration brings an end to 22 years of oppression under Yahya Jammeh, who was forced to go into exile after refusing to concede the election.

Barrow inherits an insolvent economy, with a more than 40 percent unemployment rate.</s>New Gambian President Adama Barrow is due to be formally inaugurated in the capital Banjul where celebrations will mark 52 years of the west African country’s independence.

Mr Barrow was sworn in last month at a ceremony at the Gambian embassy in neighbouring Senegal.

Long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh had refused to step down despite his electoral defeat.

Under pressure from regional powers, he went into exile in Equatorial Guinea.

Adama Barrow is only the third president in the history of The Gambia.

He has promised a new dawn for the country, which was ruled with an iron fist by Yahya Jammeh.

Mr Jammeh was voted out in December but he only agreed to step aside when regional powers sent in troops ready to remove him by force.

Many political prisoners have already been freed and The Gambia is set to rejoin international institutions such as the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth.

BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says that thousands of people are expected to attend the ceremony at the main stadium in the capital Banjul.</s>Acting President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo has led the Presidents Of Liberia, Ellen Sirleaf to the inauguration ceremony for Gambia President, Adama Barrow.



Other high profile dignitaries across the African continent as well as other parts of the world that attended the ceremony include Presidents of Ivory coast, Alassane Ouattara, Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The new Gambian president Adama Barrow was ormally inaugurated today, February 18, at the Independence Stadium in the capital, Banjul.

Barrow was sworn-in by the new Chief Justice, Justice Hassan Jallow.

The official swearing-in of President Barrow has also been tied to The Gambia’s 52nd Independence Day celebration.</s>Thousands will attend ceremony in the capital Banjul to witness the first democratic transfer of power in the country.

The Gambia's new president, Adama Barrow, is due to be officially sworn in on the country's independence day.

President Barrow recently returned home from Senegal where he was sworn in last month after longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh refused to step down from power despite losing the presidential election.

On Saturday, Barrow will take oath as the west African country marks 52 years since it got its independence from Britain.

Several heads of state were scheduled to attend the ceremony.

Jammeh, who came to power through a military a coup in 1994, went into exile in the Equatorial Guinea after the regional body ECOWAS sent in troops to force him out of office.

Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque, reporting from Banjul, said thousands of people have come to the main stadium in the city to attend the ceremony.

"It is a very important day for all those who have voted for Barrow. People have been waiting inside the stadium for a long time," he said.

"The atmosphere is absolutely electric. Barow's main challenge now is to bring in reforms into the security services. The security services were very loyal to Jammeh."

Barrow has pledged to reverse many of Jammeh's actions and has committed to stay in the International Criminal Court and rejoin the Commonwealth. He also has vowed to free political prisoners.

Barrow, who will be the country's third president, announced last month plans to rename the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a dreaded secret police accused by rights groups of forced disappearances and torture under the control of Jammeh.

Saturday's inauguration is the first time the country is experiencing a democratic transfer of power.

Around 4,000 West African troops remain in the country charged with ensuring safety, as it is believed rogue pro-Jammeh elements remain in the security forces that were once under his personal control.</s>World leaders and supporters celebrate president's inauguration, marking end to tense standoff with predecessor Jammeh.

Adama Barrow has been sworn in as president on Gambian soil, marking the end of a tense political standoff with the West African nation's former leader.

Dressed in flowing white robes, Barrow arrived at the Independence Stadium on Saturday to fanfare in Bakau, a town 20km from the capital Banjul, waving to supporters from his vehicle.

Several world leaders and thousands of Gambians witnessed Barrow's second swearing-in ceremony.

Barrow first took the oath in an official ceremony at The Gambia's embassy in neighbouring Senegal in January, as former leader Yahya Jammeh refused to cede power.

International pressure and the threat of regional military intervention led Jammeh to finally accept his December election defeat and fly into exile in Equatorial Guinea.

Hundreds of thousands of Gambians welcomed Barrow's return to The Gambia on January 26.

Barrow, 52, was born the year that The Gambia gained independence.

He has promised to reverse many of Jammeh's policies which stretched over more than two decades of power.

Already, Barrow has committed to stay in the International Criminal Court (ICC), rejoin the Commonwealth, and free political prisoners.

The international community has warmed to Barrow's approach.

The European Union, which had cut support amid tensions with Jammeh, recently announced an $80m package of assistance.

Boris Johnson, British foreign secretary, visited Barrow on Tuesday, saying: "We are here to help."

Senegal's President Macky Sall was among the guests at the inauguration ceremony, which was protected by troops from the West African bloc, ECOWAS.

The regional force secured the country during the transition, which remained peaceful.

Sall said The Gambia and Senegal, a regional power that surrounds the tiny country, except for its coast, must strengthen economic and other relations. Many Senegalese live in The Gambia.

"We are the same people, and we remain the same people," he said.

Others attending included the leaders of Ghana, Liberia and Ivory Coast and the US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.</s>Adama Barrow has been sworn in as president on Gambian soil, marking the end of a tense political standoff with the West African nation’s former leader.

Dressed in flowing white robes, Barrow arrived at the Independence Stadium on Saturday to fanfare in Bakau, a town 20km from the capital Banjul, waving to supporters from his vehicle.

Several world leaders and thousands of Gambians witnessed Barrow’s second swearing-in ceremony.

Barrow first took the oath in an official ceremony at The Gambia’s embassy in neighbouring Senegal in January, as former leader Yahya Jammeh refused to cede power.

International pressure and the threat of regional military intervention led Jammeh to finally accept his December election defeat and fly into exile in Equatorial Guinea.

Hundreds of thousands of Gambians welcomed Barrow’s return to The Gambia on January 26.

Barrow, 52, was born the year that The Gambia gained independence.

He has promised to reverse many of Jammeh’s policies which stretched over more than two decades of power.

Already, Barrow has committed to stay in the International Criminal Court (ICC), rejoin the Commonwealth, and free political prisoners.

Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, reporting from the inauguration site, said Gambians were also celebrating the country’s 52nd independence day, which coincided with the swearing-in ceremony.

“Under Jammeh’s rule, the independence day was not a day of celebration. They had to celebrate July 22, instead. The day when Jammeh took power in 1994,” he said.

“So, Gambians are taking this opportunity Adama Barrow’s victory as well as their country.”</s>Gambian president, Adama Barrow will on Saturday be officially sworn in at the Independence Stadium in Banjul, the country’s capital.

The inauguration coincidentally falls on The Gambia’s 52nd Independence Day celebration.

US Department of State, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield is ecpected to be at the event.

Barrow had taken his first oath of office in Dakar, at the Gambian embassy in Senegal after former President Yahya Jammeh refused to leave office.

He was sworn-in by the head of The Gambian bar association.

This second oath will be administered by the new Chief Justice, Justice Hassan Jallow.</s>Adama Barrow has been sworn as President in Banjul, the Gambia’s capital.

The occasion was witnessed by thousands of people at the independence stadium.

It is the second time Mr Barrow is taking the oath of office.

The first time was at a very low-key event at the country’s embassy in Senegal, January, after a lengthy power struggle with the former President, Yahya Jammeh.

Mr Barrow is the third president in the history of the Gambia, and the celebration is also marking 52 years of the country’s independence.

Jammeh had refused to accept election results but finally left after mediation by regional leaders and the threat of military intervention.

The former President eventually flew into exile, ending his 22 years in power.</s>Bakau - Thousands of supporters gathered Saturday to finally celebrate the inauguration of Gambian President Adama Barrow, a month after he was sworn in across the border in neighbouring Senegal during a tense power struggle.

February 18 is also the anniversary of The Gambia's independence from Britain, but many are also calling the day the birth of a third republic following the ousting of Yahya Jammeh at the ballot box.

The festivities began on Saturday morning at Independence Stadium in Bakau, west of the capital, and were to be attended by several African heads of state as well as high-ranking diplomats.

The Gambia's first leader, Dawda Jawara, who governed from independence in 1965 until the 1994 coup mounted by Jammeh, has also been invited, organisers told AFP.

Crowds of hundreds began to gather as early as 03:00.

"I spent the night here at the stadium. This is to ensure that I can have a smooth passage inside", said Isatou Dibba, a Barrow supporter.

US and British diplomats were finding it difficult to enter the stadium, an AFP correspondent reported, as people who had not been able to get inside massed against a heavy security presence.

Barrow will retake the oath of office he first made at the Gambian embassy in Senegal, whose territory almost entirely surrounds The Gambia and whose president, Macky Sall, is seen as Barrow's closest ally.

Later he will address the nation, and 52 pigeons, representing each year of independence from Britain, will be released.

The swearing-in ceremony on January 19 was held at a fraught time for the tiny west African nation, as Jammeh was refusing to step aside and acknowledge the result of the election Barrow won several weeks earlier.

Senegal spearheaded efforts to deploy west African troops in The Gambia after Jammeh's departure, in order to secure a country whose military forces were riven with factions still loyal to the ex-leader.

Around 500 Senegalese, Ghanaian and Nigerian soldiers remain in the country and were helping provide security for the celebrations on Saturday.

President Sall is a guest of honour at the ceremony, while Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who pushed for mediation efforts with Jammeh during his last days in office, is also expected.

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was to attend, another key mediator during the nation's crisis, along with US Assistant Secretary of State Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in a sign of efforts to reset ties with the West.
Adama Barrow is officially sworn in as the Gambia's new President.