With a breakout of violence becoming imminent, thousands of Gambian Christians, particular followers of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, were observed fleeing on Tuesday from the capital, Banjul, and the commercial city of Serrekunda to areas close to the border with Senegal.
The mass departure of Gambians from their homes was apparently sparked by fear of violence after President Yahya Jammeh refused to step down though he lost the December 1, 2016, election to the opposition candidate, President-elect Adama Barrow.
“We are leaving for the border town of Geroboro for our protection and the Church has opened a place for all members to stay safely,” Pastor Oni Christopher Taiwo said.
Meanwhile, a number of ministers in Jammeh’s administration have tendered resignation notices. They include Justice Minister Mama Singhateh, Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Abdou Kolley and Pa Ousman Jarju, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Water, Forestry, and Wildlife.
Others are Foreign Minister MacDouall-Gaye, Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment minister Abdou Jobe, and Tourism minister Benjamin Roberts who was reappointed on Monday as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs but turned down the offer.
Resignations from the government of Jammeh started last week with 12 ambassadors who were followed by Minister of Information Sheriff Bojang and Minister for Youth and Sports Alieu K. Jammeh.
