The British tour operator Thomas Cook has announced it is evacuating holidaymakers from Gambia.
This follows the uncertainty that surrounds the political future of country after the national assembly extended the tenure of Yahya Jammeh who has refused to step down from power despite losing last year’s general elections
A state of emergency has also been declared which has created some level of panic among citizens.
According to Reuters, Thomas Cook in a statement said it had activated contingency plans and was arranging extra flights in the next 48 hours to remove 985 package tour customers from the Gambia.
There is pressure on Mr. Jammeh to step down but he has insisted he will not accept the calls for him to hand over power peacefully.
Mr. Jammeh’s attempts to get the country’s top court to stop the inauguration of Mr. Adama Barrow as well as have his party’s election challenge petition heard have all failed.
Meanwhile ECOWAS member states are reportedly getting ready to send a joint force to Gambia if Mr. Jammeh remains in office when his tenure expires.
Photo Credit: BBC Sports
Source: Africafeeds.com
