Skip to main content

US orders families of embassy personnel out of Gambia

Accra - The West African regional bloc stands with the people of Gambia and will apply diplomatic solutions to solve the country's political crisis, the body's chair said on Saturday.
The Economic Community of west African States has before threatened to send troops led by neighbouring Senegal to Gambia if President Yahya Jammeh does not step down when his mandate ends on January 19.
The longtime leader lost a December 1 election to opposition coalition candidate Adama Barrow.
Jammeh initially conceded, but later called for a new vote.
The United Nations, the United States, the European Union and others have united in criticising him.
Jammeh's party filed a petition to the country's Supreme Court against the election, and a key court ruling is expected January 10.
Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said on Saturday the West African bloc, which she chairs, hopes diplomacy will help democracy prevail in Gambia.
"We want to apply diplomatic solutions to solve the problem," Sirleaf said.
Asked if troops would be moved into Gambia she responded, "No, we want to keep the region peaceful."
However, in recognition of the solidifying crisis, the United States on Saturday advised American citizens not to travel to Gambia "because of the potential for civil unrest and violence in the near future."
The US State Department also ordered relatives of diplomats and embassy staff to leave Gambia and warned all its citizens to depart now, saying those who choose to stay should "prepare for the possible deterioration of security."
Sirleaf spoke at the inauguration of Ghana's new president, where she met with other leaders from the regional bloc known as Ecowas.
President Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn into office in Ghana's capital on Saturday in a peaceful transition following the election last month in which he defeated the incumbent.
"We call on the people of Gambia to follow the example of Ghana by accepting democratic rule," Sirleaf said.
Sirleaf said West Africa cannot go back to a time when most countries were under military rule.
Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994, and his administration has been accused of gross human rights violations including arbitrary detentions and deaths in custody of political opponents.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Upcoming Yoruba actress, Feyi Hassan releases sexy birthday pictures

Upcoming is a bit harsh to describe, pretty Yoruba actress, Feyisara Hassan, because already she has produced five films of her own, while featuring in plenty more. Feyi, who became a producer as a teenager added another year on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 and to celebrate the special day she released some sexy pictures to show another side of her person. Vulnerably beautiful, delicate and yet provocative, Feyi, slays minds in this shoot, without having to go over the edge. Happy birthday girl.

Wike moves to ban 5,000 unapproved schools in Rivers

The Rivers State government says it has concluded plans to ban all unapproved schools operating in the state with effect from September this year. State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, disclosed this when he led members of the Rivers state House of Assembly Committee on Education on an inspection of ongoing rehabilitation work at Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta in company of officials of the state Ministry of Education. Prof. Ebeku said about five thousand illegal private schools are operating in the state. He said that publications will be done in both National and local papers in the coming days with the full names of the affected schools. According to Ebeku, “We found that there are so many unapproved quacks schools operating in the state and this is not acceptable for many reasons. They deliver poor quality education and because they are operating underground they are not paying required taxes as legitimate approved organizations. “We would not want ...

Stop exploiting Buhari’s ill health, northern group tells Yoruba leaders

Northern Patriotic Assembly (NPA) has warned politicians in the country to stop exploiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s ill health situation for political and personal gains . In a statement issued in Kaduna Wednesday the group said such actions by politicians was “immoral and despicable”. The statement signed by its President, Idakwo Jibrin and Secretary General, Alhaji Adamu Wakil pointedly accused some Yoruba Leaders of trying create crisis in the country through their utterances. According to the group recent remarks on the President’s health credited to Chief Bisi Akande and Femi Falana were part of a larger plot to plunge the country into crisis to the benefit of the Yorubas. “Even more unnerving is situation whereby people we once held in high esteem as elders, leaders and professionals decided to descend into the mud, using President Buhari’s health as their new object of obsession. “They have fanatically tried to impose this obsession of theirs on other Nigerians in a desper...