Mass exodus due to risk of war in Gambia
Residents and holidaymakers are making a fast exit from Gambia following the president's announcement of a 90-day state of emergency in his latest attempt to remain in power amidst a risk of military intervention. The country has become a political battleground following presidential elections in December with its present leader, Yahya Jammeh, unwilling to hand over power to the winner of the polls, Adama Barrow. Parliament has condemned what it calls the "unlawful and malicious interference" of the African Union and Senegal in its affairs and extended Yahya Jammeh's term by 90 days. The situation is fast deteriorating with a real fear this could lead to war.
Thousands of UK holidaymakers are set to be flown home from The Gambia due to growing political unrest.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is warning against "all non-essential travel" to the west African nation due to potential military intervention following presidential elections on 1 December.

With fears the main international airport could be shut at short notice, holiday company Thomas Cook will lay on additional flights from the capital Banjul today to bring 985 package trip customers home.

Thomas Cook said a flight scheduled from Manchester will leave the UK without passengers and bring the first group of tourists home. A further four flights have been arranged from Banjul back to the UK later - two flying to Manchester and two to Gatwick.

An additional 2,500 "flight-only" customers will then be contacted and offered the earliest possible flights back to the UK.

Image: Mr Jammeh is now contesting the result

Paul Hutchins, director of flight operations for Thomas Cook, told Sky News: "Their safety and their security is our number one priority, and therefore it is very important that we assure them that should they wish to come home then we are in a position to repatriate them.

"We stick very closely to what the Government advises... and therefore it is our responsibility to ensure that they are safe and we bring them home."

The action comes after Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency after refusing to hand power to opposition leader Adama Barrow, who won last month's election.

Mr Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged Mr Barrow as the winner but later said the ballot count was flawed and lodged a complaint with the country's Supreme Court.

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State television said the state of emergency would prevent a power vacuum while the court rules on Mr Jammeh's petition challenging the election result.

Regional leaders have threatened to intervene with military force if Mr Jammeh does not step down by a deadline later this week and a senior Nigerian army source said it and other West African states were preparing a military force.

Image: Gambia has become a popular destination for UK tourists. Pic: University of Brighton

The Association of British Travel Agents estimates there are around 2,000 people on holiday with its members in The Gambia and more will have travelled there independently.

British tourists on package holidays in the country were told to contact their tour operator to arrange return flights and independent travellers should contact their airlines.

An FCO spokesman said: "The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul International Airport being closed at short notice."

Dutch travel agencies are also scrambling to get their citizens out of the country, with travel firm TUI Nederland telling the AFP news agency that it would repatriate "about 800" clients.