Senegalese troops entered the Gambia to press the president Yahya Jammeh to leave power.
Blade decided to fly home to their 115 Swedish travellers in the country:
“We have been locked up in the hotel the last few days, we have been so worried,” says Sara Dera, 26.
the Night between Tuesday and Wednesday came the news that Senegal sent troops to the border with the neighboring country of Gambia, Senegal completely surrounds the geographical. Even Nigeria to send troops and fighter jets.
the Reason: They’ll go in if president Yahya Jammeh, 51, who took power in a military coup in 1994, not less, despite the fact that he lost the presidential election in december.
“We are ready and awaiting orders,” said colonel Abdou Ndiaye, spokesman for Senegal’s defense on Wednesday.
– If no political solution is found, we go in, ” he continued.
the army chief: Love my men
the Gambia’s own defense amounts to only around 2 500 soldiers, and the gambianske the army chief Ousman Badije says according to the BBC:
” I’m not going to interfere with my soldiers in silly battles. I love my men.
At 19-30 on Thursday evening, american time, said a spokesman for Senegal’s army, they entered in the Gambia, according to several international media, including Sky News. Some battles, however, should not have broken out.
Admitted defeat and took it back
Yahya Jammeh has ruled the Gambia since 1994, when he gained power through a military coup. Since then he has recurring been criticized for violating human rights. In addition, he claimed to have found the cure for aids.
Yahya Jammeh lost to businessman and leader of the opposition, Adama Barrow in the presidential election. Initially, he admitted defeat, and then take back the recognition and argue that falfusk occurred. Then he has refused to leave power, despite the call from within the country and from neighbouring countries.
Earlier in the week announced the Jammeh state of emergency in the country, in order to prevent that the Barrow would be sworn in as president.
On Thursday, the Adama Barrow, however, sworn in as Gambia’s new president. The ceremony was held in neighbouring Senegal’s capital, Dakar, the Gambian embassy. The african union recognizes Barrow as president.
the foreign MINISTRY’s call to action: don’t Go to the Gambia
Gambia is a popular destination for swedes, and the company Ving has 115 Swedish travellers in the country. Due to the tense situation has a tour agency called on the Swedish tourists to stay indoors, and, as a result of the state of emergency, the streets and beaches become basically deserted.
the foreign office advises against non-essential travel to the Gambia, on the occasion of the “security situation”. At the same time Ving that they could not fly home to their travelers in advance.
One of the swedes who are in the Gambia is Sara Dera, 26. She is together with her friends in a hotel outside Banjul, the capital.
“We are at the hotel so we should be able to get in touch with the Ving,” she says.
Vings information: Operated home
Sara Dera says that it began to feel insecure on Tuesday. In connection with the announced Ving to the set that day’s flights to the country.
” We went out and ate, then sent Ving a text message that we should keep us at home. When we got to the hotel we found a note in the reception, where it became that we not got to be out between the hours of 19 and 07, to the president wanted it, ” she says.
The last few days have group after group of tourists, including britons, had to leave the hotel and the country. But the swedes were left.
Not until, on Thursday announced the Ving that they would fly home the swedes in advance.
"Hey, today’s handover of power has dragged on and what will happen remain uncertain. The MINISTRY for foreign affairs advise against still from non-essential travel to the Gambia and have asked us to urgently fly home to our guests. Therefore, we have decided that all our Vinggäster flown home in the morning, Friday 20 January," the Vings message.
“Locked-in at the hotel”
Sara Dera came on January 10 and would stay for two weeks, to 24. But now, they should therefore go home earlier.
” It feels good to come home, but I don’t believe it until I sit on the plane and it has lift. It may be that the president chooses to close all the borders so it does not come in the way, ” she says.
” We went on this trip to relax, now we have been locked up in the hotel the last few days, we have been so worried.
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