West African forces have arrested a senior Gambian army general and have seized weapons from the private residence of exiled former ruler Yahya Jammeh, force commander Francois Ndiaye has said.

General Bora Colley, the head of an elite commando unit, had been arrested in neighbouring Senegal, he said, without giving details.

Regional troops had also raided Mr Jammeh’s residence in his home village of Kanilai, recovering arms and ammunition, General Ndiaye said, adding: “The situation is under control.”

General Colley was the former commander of the military camp in Kanilai, where Mr Jammeh had planned to go and retire before being forced into exile after refusing to accept defeat in the 1 December election, The Gambia’s Freedom newspaper reported.

Four guards for Mr Jammeh’s wife, Zainab, were also arrested, in the border town of Karang in Senegal, General Ndiaye said.

Regional forces have been helping President Adama Barrow to consolidate his power in the tiny West African nation since Mr Jammeh went into exile more than a week ago.

Mr Jammeh had tried to cling to power, but left after under pressure from Senegalese-led troops and mediators.

BBC