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Local children watch Senegal soldiers providing security to their local gathering point at the Gambia border with Senegal at the town of Karang, Senegal, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. Gambia's defeated President Yahya Jammeh must cede power by noon Friday or he will be dislodged by a regional force that has already moved into the country, West African officials said. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

The leaders of Guinea and Mauritania arrived in Gambia's capital Friday in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to get defeated President Yahya Jammeh to cede power, while a regional military force was awaiting orders to act.

The head of the regional force has said the troops will force Jammeh out if he doesn't step aside. A noon deadline set by the regional body passed as the Guinean and Mauritanian leaders arrived for talks.