London 14 Feb (ANA) - UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will visit The Gambia today, just weeks after long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh went into exile under military pressure from regional forces following his election defeat. Mr Johnson said he was very pleased that the West African state wanted to rejoin the Commonwealth - a move, he said, the UK would ensure happens in the coming months. He will meet new President Adama Barrow, who has repeatedly signalled his intention to return the country to international bodies such as the Commonwealth and International Criminal Court (ICC). Mr Jammeh had withdrawn The Gambia's membership from the Commonwealth in 2013, describing it as a "neo-colonial" institution. The European Union promised The Gambia an aid package of about $80m (£65m) last week, almost three years after it froze its assistance. Many people in The Gambia are poor, and some of them try to make the treacherous journey to Europe in the hope of a better life. But the country is a popular with European tourists because of its beaches.(ANA) 

FA/ANA/14 February 2017-----