By Yero Jallow
Gambians in their numbers are fleeing the Gambia for fear of being trapped in war zone after long term Gambian Dictator Yaya Jammeh refused to hand over power to President-Elect Adama Barrow who defeated him on December 1st 2016 Presidential Elections. Talks between Jammeh and ECOWAS has failed and there is no hope at this point, unless a miracle happens for Jammeh to agree to leave. The number of Gambians cannot be put in numbers at this point as there is a wide displacement all over the subregion, Cassamance, Senegal, Guinea, and beyond. The ramnifications of war include displacement, tortures, infrastructural destruction to property and lives, and a lot more. The question is whether the subregion is ready for this, as ECOWAS clearly underscored in their argument that they wanted to keep the region peaceful. With Jammeh’s resistance, leaves ECOWAS and reputable world organizations with few options, and recently ECOWAS Chair, Ellen-Johnson was quoted as saying Jammeh is playing with ECOWAS.
Movements on the ground are very revealing; tensed, scary, and on heightened security alert. At the Banjul-Barra ferry station, it is packed with Gambians doing last minute escape, especially with recent highetend tensions in the capital city Banjul and neighboring places. The picture below was taken at the Banjul-Barra terminal (Courtesy source withheld), with the “Kanilie Ferry” transporting people to Barra side. Due to the high cost of living in Senegal, Senegalese local radios are advocating for AID through their Law makers, in making sure burden is reduced on Senegalese who are currently hosting thousands of Gambian refugees. “It is very emotional,” said one person under anomity. Another person added, “I am here with my family until after the end of the month.” A souce within the corridors of power in Banjul reveal that Jammeh’s soldiers are dealing with situations of not being able to operate their weapons, as only one Faal in the high ranks is said to understand how to operate some of the weapons at his disposal.
A local Senegalese journalist, activist, and communication consultant based in Dakar (Senegal), Monsier Frederic Tendeng, said “From being a safe heaven for refugees coming from troubled countries in Africa, The Gambia is now feared by its own citizens. It is a very unfortunate situation for people fleeing the Gambia since many of them never believed to be in the precarious situation of the people they gave hospitality all over the years. I wish and pray that Yaya Jammeh steps down and avoid the misfortune of being a refugee to the very people who gave him everything all over these 22 years.”
Meanwhile competent source within the subregion revealed to Gainako that plans are set, Barrow who is currently in the Senegalese Capital Dakar, will be escorted and inaugurated in the Gambia on Thursday January 19th 2017. The source won’t say the method, who, and the timing of events and to whether they expect any reistance from Jammeh’s loyal forces in the Gambian military. Barrow is said to be in high spirit, though recently lost his seven-year old son to a dog bite.
Gainako will cover events live from the Gambia. Our duty is to serve citizens. We will be with Gambians through thick and thin.
1 Comment
Is so sad 1000th of people leavening there homes bz of one person let jammeh have some filling that this is not the way he suppose to pay back the Gambians Allah’s is greater than him