Refugees say will not return to Gambia until Jammeh leaves country

Gambia’s leader Yahya Jammeh’s statement on Saturday (January 21) that he would step down from power gave thousands of Gambian refugees in Senegal hope of going back to their homes.

Political turmoil in Gambia has driven about 45,000 people, mainly children, to flee into Senegal since January 1, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) said, citing figures from the Senegalese government.

Mariam, a mother of seven, crossed over on Friday (January 20) with her children to the border town of Karang.

“I have never experienced war. It has been peaceful and I have never heard even a gunshot. I was scared of how the situation was getting worse and that’s why I decided to leave,” Mariam said.

The Red Cross was seen on Friday handing out blankets, soap, and food rations to refugees who had crossed over to the Senegalese border town of Karang.

“I think the moment that he leaves, people will go back to their homes, but if Jammeh stays in the country, a lot of Gambians have fear to go back to their country,” said Hatib Njie, a student at Gambian capital of Banjul, one of the refugees in Karang.

UNHCR said in a statement that even more people would leave the country if the current situation was not resolved peacefully soon. Senegalese authorities had prepared aid for 100,000 arrivals, it said.

Jammeh made no mention of whether he would go into exile but said he was leaving power in the national interest after prayer and was proud to have served the Gambian people and grateful there was no bloodshed during the political impasse.

Gambia’s leader’s statement was made in the face of pressure from West African armies that entered his country to remove him after he refused to concede an election defeat to President Adama Barrow.

His decision ends a political impasse and will likely be welcomed by democracy advocates and viewed as a triumph for African diplomacy.

It also brings to a close a reign that began in 1994 when he seized power in a coup. Jammeh’s government established a reputation for torturing and killing perceived opponents to stifle dissent.