The Editor of the Point Newspaper in The Gambia has described the situation in the Gambia as a “scary calm”.
Osman Kadbo said “everybody is indoors and it is difficult situation now”.
Speaking from the capital, Banjul, Osman told Accra-based Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa hosted by Bright Asempa on Thursday, “We are all afraid and we are waiting to see what will happen from today.”
The Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is refusing to step down despite the threat of military intervention by neighbouring states.
Adama Barrow, who beat him in elections last month, is due to be inaugurated as the new president on Thursday, but Mr Jammeh has ignored all overtures as well as ECOWAS deadline to step down.
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz failed to break the deadlock at last-minute talks with Mr Jammeh.
Meanwhile, West African military forces are on standby to enforce a transfer of power.
Osman noted that “we are expecting the President to be sworn in today but that is not likely to happen because everybody is indoors.”
“We have assigned reporters to cover the event but no one knows where it is taking place. Initially, it was to take place at the Independence Avenue where it can contain thousands of people but nothing is happening there”, the Editor added.
On the issue that most citizens and foreigners have left, and keep moving out of the country, Osman said “the climate is not conducive for any activities so a lot of people have left the country. Some nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and others have also left”.
He added that “last night at between 7pm to 10pm, there were announcements on TV and radio in both English and local languages that they came to assure the people that there will be peace so the people should go on with their activities. It was last night but it has caused a lot of fear in the people and they are indoors now”.
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