Here are the key dates in the tiny West African country of The Gambia since 1994, when dictator Yahya Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup.
The Gambian government said Wednesday it was willing to prosecute him for crimes committed during his more than 20-year rule.
- 1994 coup -
On July 22, 1994, Yahya Jammeh, aged 29, leads a group of young army officers in the overthrow of president Dawda Jawara and bans political activity.
On September 26, 1996, he wins a presidential election but observers express doubts about the transparency of the vote.
He is re-elected in 2001, and then again in 2006 at an election rights groups dismiss as undemocratic because of repression of the media and of government critics.
In 2011 he wins 70 percent of the vote at an election main opponent Ousainou Darboe says is "bogus, fraudulent and preposterous".
- Coup foiled -
On December 30, 2014 Gambian soldiers launch a coup bid while Jammeh is abroad, but it is foiled.
The coup is led by Gambian opposition members based in the United States.
- Opposition mobilises -
In April 2016, a leader of the main opposition UDP party, Solo Sandeng, is arrested with several other people during a demonstration to demand political reforms. He dies in detention.
Two days later authorities crack down on protests over his death, sparking new demonstrations and arrests.
Several opposition officials, including the head of the main opposition UDP party Darboe, are jailed for their part in the protests but are released a few months later.
- Jammeh rejects vote -
In December 2016 presidential elections, opposition candidate Adama Barrow beats Jammeh by less than 20,000 votes.
Jammeh rejects the result of the election and demands a new vote. Thousands of Gambians flee the country fearing violence.
- Barrow sworn in -
Neighbouring Senegal grants Barrow protection and he is sworn in as president at the Gambian embassy in Dakar on January 19, 2017.
With troops from the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ready to force Jammeh out, he finally agrees to go into exile in Equatorial Guinea after six weeks of crisis.
Barrow arrives back in the capital Banjul to a jubilant welcome to begin the nation's first democratic transfer of power.
- Truth commission -
In December 2017, a South Africa-style Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is set up to investigate claims that Jammeh's regime used death squads, arbitrary arrests, torture and forcible disappearances against political opponents.
The commission hears testimony from nearly 400 people.
It recommends that Jammeh and his accomplices be brought before an international court.
Barrow has six months to implement its recommendations.
In December 2021, Barrow is re-elected.
In April 2022, he chooses two of Jammeh's former allies as president and co-president of the newly elected parliament.
- Government moves to prosecute Jammeh -
On May 25, the Gambian government says it is ready to prosecute Jammeh for a "myriad of crimes" committed during his rule.
It is unclear however whether Jammeh will face justice as there is no extradition accord between The Gambia and Equatorial Guinea.