Gambian President-Elect Adama Barrow is not dead despite reports he was murdered in cold blood

Contrary to reports that went viral, Gambia’s President-Elect Adama Barrow is alive, sources from The Gambia have confirmed.

Reports about his death on Wednesday claim he was assassinated by unknown assailants.

CBN Television reported that the assailants overpowered the security guards of Mr. Barrow, leaving two of the guards dead and other six injured from gunshots.

Reacting to the report, popular Gambian Journalist, Fatu Camara wrote: “BREAKING: We are getting reports that due to threats on the lives of coalition members, many of them are currently evacuated to safe houses..

Meanwhile, contrary to fake news going around that President Elect Barrow and two security guards were assassinated, we can confirm to you that Barrow is fine as we speak. Stay tuned!,” she posted on Facebook.

According to CBN TV, “the assailants overpowered the security guards of Mr. Barrow, leaving two of the guards dead and other six injured from gunshots.”

Adama has responded to Jammeh, who said Saturday that a decision of the Economic Community of West African States to send troops to ensure a peaceful transition of power was a “declaration of war” and called for a fresh poll.

“It should be crystal clear that filing an election petition is the private matter of a loser in an election. It does not prevent mandatory constitutional processes from taking place,” Barrow said.

ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations could only intervene if “the two presidents fail to do, with impeccable thoroughness, what the constitution of the republic demands,” he said.

“Any president whose term of office expires who takes up arms against an incoming president whose term should begin according to law, would be regarded by the international community as a rebel leader,” Barrow warned.

The authorities meanwhile shut down two radio stations, the Gambia Press Union said.

Teranga FM is considered critical of the Jammeh government and has been closed down twice before.

Hilltop radio station was also ordered to close by the National Intelligence Agency, which gave no reason for the measure, the union said.

The Gambia Press Union expressed concern that this could signal the beginning of a crackdown on independent media amid the country’s escalating political crisis.

After more than two decades in power, Jammeh, 51, lost the election to Barrow, a former real estate agent who was little known even in Gambia before he announced his candidacy.

After initially accepting the result, Jammeh later rejected it, alleging irregularities, and filed a petition to the Supreme Court which is due to be reviewed on January 10.

Earlier this month ECOWAS said it would stage a military intervention, led by neighbouring Senegal, if Jammeh failed to step down and set a deadline of January 19.