People
Flee Gambia as Presidential Drama Escalates
January 18,
2017 11:18 AM
- Katarina Hoije
In Gambia, the National
Assembly has extended President Yahya Jammeh’s term by three months under a
newly declared state of emergency.
The central market in Banjul
was deserted Wednesday amid a heavy police presence throughout the downtown
area.
The harbor where people board the ferry to take them out of the capital and on
to Senegal was packed. Port authorities said thousands left yesterday, and a
steady stream of women and children were headed in that direction today with
their luggage.
The uncertainty centers around Thursday, January 19 the day that President-elect Adama Barrow is scheduled to be inaugurated.
The uncertainty centers around Thursday, January 19 the day that President-elect Adama Barrow is scheduled to be inaugurated.
In Banjul, people are growing impatient with Yahya Jammeh.
“He’s wrong. He already sit for 22 years. You should give other people a chance,” says a carpenter named Tijan.
“He’s wrong. He already sit for 22 years. You should give other people a chance,” says a carpenter named Tijan.
But Jammeh is digging in. He
has condemned what he has called extraordinary foreign interference in the
country's affairs. He challenged the election results, but the Supreme Court
says it is unable to meet until May because of a shortage of judges.
ECOWAS says Jammeh must step down Thursday. The regional bloc is threatening a military intervention.
Security concerns
International tour groups are scrambling to evacuate tourists. Tom Laker, a Dutch citizen, was preparing to head to the airport.
“I don’t actually think that tourists here are in danger, but I do see that the situation is tense enough to maybe warrant bringing people back home,” he said.
ECOWAS says Jammeh must step down Thursday. The regional bloc is threatening a military intervention.
Security concerns
International tour groups are scrambling to evacuate tourists. Tom Laker, a Dutch citizen, was preparing to head to the airport.
“I don’t actually think that tourists here are in danger, but I do see that the situation is tense enough to maybe warrant bringing people back home,” he said.
In a televised statement, Jammeh said that the security forces have been instructed to maintain law and order, and that “acts intended to disturb public order and peace” are banned. The airport remains open.
President-elect Barrow is in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. He needs to be inaugurated on Gambian soil. Barrow has insisted that will happen Thursday as scheduled, though from the looks of things here in Banjul, it does not look like it will take place here.
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