Thousands of tourists have arrived at Banjul airport hoping to board evacuation flights out of the country.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is warning against “all non-essential travel” to the west African nation due to the potential for military intervention and civil disturbance following presidential elections on 1st December.
For tourists already in the country, evacuation flights are being arranged due to fears that the main international airport could be shut at short notice.
Despite President Yahya Jammeh acknowledging defeat in the election late last year, he is now abruptly changed his mind and refusing to step aside for the inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow. My Barrow has vowed to take office on Thursday regardless of whether Jammeh leaves. The country is now officially in a 90-day state of emergency.
Regional leaders in Gambia have threatened to intervene with military force if Mr Jammeh does not step down. A senior Nigerian army spokesman said that numerous West African nations were assembling a military force in anticipation of violence.
The president, who could face prosecution for human rights abuses during his tenure, has received several offers of asylum from other countries, but has so far not taken them up. His private jet remains at the airport in Banjul, where it has been parked for two weeks.
Gambia is known as the ‘Smiling Coast of Africa’, and although it is the smallest country in the mainland continent, in recent years it has attracted a large number of tourists seeking winter sun.
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