News Alert for Gambia

18 January 2017 - RPS Partnership

As the political, and with it potentially the security, situation deteriorates in the Gambia, travellers are being advised to leave the country, when they can.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office now advises against all but essential travel to The Gambia due to the deteriorating political situation and potential military intervention following the Presidential elections on 1 December.

There is ongoing political uncertainty with some risk of potential military intervention following the Presidential elections on 1 December 2016. The incumbent President, Yahya Jammeh, continues to contest the election results at the Supreme Court, while the President elect, Mr. Adama Barrow, has left the country.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stated it may intervene, including possible military action, if President Jammeh doesn’t step down on the scheduled handover date of 18/19 January 2017. Several countries are moving troops to the area on standby.

The situation has led to intransigence on the part of the sitting government, resulting in reports that it has started to take restrictive measures, including shutting down opposition radio stations and making politically motivated arrests.

The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul International Airport being closed at short notice.

Holidaymakers

RPS advises holiaymakers to contact your travel coordinator and leave the Gambia by commercial means when you have the opportunity. Anyone planning to travel to Gambia is advised not to do so and to contact the tour operator to go to another destination.

Remain in your hotel for the foreseeable future, as tension increases, keep in regular contact with your tour operator and airline and continue to monitor travel advice and social media updates in case tensions rise as the current political deadlock continues.

We advise you to avoid discussing politically sensitive topics in public. 

Working in Gambia and not wishing to leave

Ensure you have good supplies of food and water and that your vehicle is fully fuelled with spare fuel. Try to increase security on your home and ensure that you can survive in your home/work location for several days if you need to. Ensure you have good means of communications overseas as well as in Gambia. Ensure that you have a radio which is not dependent on the internet. The internet is sometimes swtiched off in times of crisis, as is the mobile phone network.

It is advised to keep your children at home and not to send them to school for the next few days. Try to limit movement around cities as tension mounts.

Checkpoints

There are a number of checkpoints operating in and around the capital. Expect your vehicle to be searched if you’re stopped by security forces. Stay calm and comply with all reasonable requests to check ID and look in your vehicle.

Contact [email protected] for more information and advice if you are in Gambia or planning to travel there and not sure what to do.

For British Nationals, download the attached leaflet which outlines the support that the British Government can provide for you. Subscribe to the FCO alerts by reading this advice HERE

Photo: googlemaps Gambia map with thanks