Gambia: US asks citizens to leave amid political uncertainty

The United States (US) has asked its citizens in the
Gambia to leave the tiny West African country which is
currently in a state of political uncertainty.

The uncertainty is a result of the refusal of president
Yahya Jammeh to handover executive power after
losing the December 1 presidential elections as per the
results declared by the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC).

The US embassy in Banjul, called a meeting of citizens
on Friday January 6, at which the directive was issued.

"
To confirm earlier reports, US Embassy in
#Gambia restated its unwavering support to
Pres.-Elect Barrow, urged US citizens to leave
country.
— Jeffrey Smith (@Smith_JeffreyT) January 6,
2017"

Jammeh’s party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation
and Construction (APRC) on December 13 filed an
election petition in the Supreme Court. The first hearing
of the case is scheduled for January 10, 2017; nine
days to the investiture of Adama Barrow – the
president-elect.

The Army have pledged allegiance to Jammeh in the
midst of the impasse. The opposition coalition insist
that they are going ahead with plans for Barrow’s
inauguration.

Jammeh has dismissed a regional mediation effort by
the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) describing it as ‘biased.’

ECOWAS to discuss Gambia in Ghana
Garba Shehu, the spokesperson of the Chief Mediator in
the Gambian crisis, Nigerian President Muhammadu
Buhari, disclosed that leaders of ECOWAS will discuss
the political crisis.

“Shortly after the inauguration, the leaders will be
meeting on the crisis in The Gambia. A major decision
on the impasse is expected to be taken at that all-
important meeting,” Shehu was quoted by local Nigerian
media Vanguard.

Majority of ECOWAS leaders are attending the swearing
in ceremony of Ghana’s new president, Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday. The co-mediator in
the Gambian crisis is outgoing president of Ghana John
Dramani Mahama.

Africanews