Yahya Jammeh, the Gambia's leader for 22 years, flew out of the country today after declaring he would step down and hand power to President Adama Barrow, ending a political crisis.
Mr Jammeh boarded an unmarked plane heading for an unspecified destination and was seen off by a delegation of dignitaries and soldiers.
He had ruled the west African country for more than 20 years after seizing power in a coup in 1994.
Last month he was defeated in an election by Mr Barrow, but Mr Jammeh disputed the results and had refused to leave office.
His decision ends a political impasse and will likely be welcomed by democracy advocates and viewed as a triumph for African diplomacy.
"I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation," he said on state television, wearing a white robe and looking tired.
"All those who have supported me or were against me in this period, I implore them to put the supreme interest of our nation the Gambia above all partisan interest and endeavour to work together as one nation," he said.
Mr Jammeh said he was leaving power in the national interest after prayer and was proud to have served the Gambian people and grateful there was no bloodshed during the political impasse.
In practice, he had little choice but to step down. Around 7,000 soldiers from Nigeria and neighbouring Senegal entered the Gambia late on Thursday backed by tanks and warplanes and were poised to swoop into the capital as his army provided no resistance.
Mr Jammeh lost to Mr Barrow in December sparking celebrations on the streets of Banjul but, after initially conceding defeat, he changed his mind and said he would challenge the result in court.
In a bid to cling to power, he declared a state of emergency on Monday, dissolved the cabinet and the National Assembly extended his term for three months.
More than half its members had resigned and 45,000 people fled to Senegal as refugees.
