Most of those leaving the country in anticipation of violence are women. Photo Credit: Getty
Gambians are reportedly fleeing their country days before the tenure of the embattled president, Yahya Jammeh ends. The president-elect, Adama Barrow has also sought refuge in neighboring Senegal until his inauguration.
The BBC reported that hundreds of people have arrived at the main pier in Banjul, where a ferry links The Gambia to the northern part of Senegal, to get aboard the boat to escape.
Those hoping to leave the country are mainly women and children. BBC Afrique quotes a fleeing mother as saying “We are four of us. We are leaving because of the political uncertainty”.
Another woman also told the BBC “I am going to Nyomi because I am afraid of the situation. I am going there to my family. I don’t know what is going to happen in Banjul. If everything goes off well, I will return”.
Mr. Jammeh has refused to step down from office after losing last year’s elections. His party has filed a petition to stop the inauguration of the president-elect Adama Barrow.
Mr. Jammeh said “I have confirmed that we have filed an application for an injunction to restrict Mr. Adama Barrow from being sworn in as well as restricting the chief justice and any other parties from swearing in Mr. Adama Barrow until the application is decided by the Supreme Court of Gambia. And until then, the status quo remains.”
State media in Senegal have said that Mr. Adama Barrow is to remain in Senegal until his planned inauguration on Thursday. Regional bloc Ecowas wants the UN to approve military action if Mr Barrow’s inauguration on Thursday is blocked.
Those leaving the Gambia are reportedly heading to Senegal, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Source: Africafeeds.com
