The Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow has arrived home to a warm welcome after his predecessor fled into exile.<br /><br /> Hundreds of diplomats and officials greeted him at the airport while thousands of supporters lined the streets of the capital Banjul.<br /><br /> The West African ECOWAS regional force was on hand having put pressure on Yahya Jammeh who had refused to step down after Barrow’s election win in December.<br /><br /> The outcome is being celebrated as a moment of democratic hope for Africa, although The Gambia’s tiny size is said to have helped.<br /><br /> The president, a former estate agent, took to twitter to mark his arrival home. <br /><br /> His predecessor’s refusal to go forced Barrow’s inauguration to take place at the Gambian Embassy in neighbouring Senegal.<br /><br /> Barrow has asked the West African force to stay in Gambia for another six months, according to the UN’s special representative for the region.<br /><br /> Jammeh ruled for 22 years in increasingly repressive fashion in The Gambia, marked by allegations of torture and assassinations.<br /><br /> The UN has promised help in investigating human rights abuses.<br /><br /> The ex-leader took off for Equatorial Guinea a few days ago after regional leaders helped organise the deal for him to seek exile in the country.<br />
