The United Kingdom’s Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a travel advice ‘‘against all but essential travel
to the Gambia due to ongoing political uncertainty and potential military
intervention.’‘
A statement from the FCO read in
part, ‘‘If you’re currently in The Gambia you should leave by commercial means
if you have no essential need to remain. The potential for military
intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul
International Airport being closed at short notice.
‘‘You should follow events closely,
take extra care, keep in regular contact with your tour operator and airline
and continue to monitor travel advice and social media updates in case tensions
rise as the current political deadlock continues,’‘ they advised.
The potential for military
intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul
International Airport being closed at short notice.
Meanwhile, a UK holiday company,
Thomas Cook has stated that it will send additional flight to the Gambian
capital to bring back about 1,000 holidaymakers who are in the tiny West
African nation which is known to be a tourist destination due to its beaches.
SUGGESTED READING Gambia: West African force ready to
deal with Jammeh after January 19
Thomas Cook said a flight will be
sent to bring back some 985 package trip customers. Further four flights will
be sent to help evacuate some 2,500 “flight-only” customers.
The outgoing president, Yahya Jammeh
on Tuesday declared a 3 month state of emergency with
barely 24 hours to the end of his mandate. Jammeh lost the last presidential
polls run on December 1, 2016 but has refused to stand down citing
irregularities in the results.
He had earlier tried to stop the
swearing-in ceremony of the opposition coalition candidate, Adama Barrow, who
was declared winner of the polls. The court refused to sit on the case due to
the lack of judges. An earlier poll petition case filed by his party was also
not heard for the same reason.
Barrow, who enjoys international
support and recognition is currently in Senegal and was expected to fly in on
Thursday January 19 to be sworn in. The Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) after failing to talk Jammeh out has hinted that they could
apply military intervention to enforce the will of the Gambian people as
expressed in the last elections.
-Africanews
AEP
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