As tension continues to rise following whether Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh will step down this January for the President-elect, Amana Barrow to to be sworn-in as the country’s new President, the US embassy in the Gambia has advised US citizens living in Gambia to leave the country.

US President Barack Obama 

Jeffrey Smith, a Gambia-focused analyst, says the advice was given during a town hall-style meeting with the ambassador earlier today Friday.

For what it’s worth: At an arranged town hall today, US embassy in #Gambia reportedly told citizens to leave the country as soon as possible

— Jeffrey Smith (@Smith_JeffreyT) 6 January 2017

Jammeh’s continued refusal to step down for Barrow after he was defeated in the December 1 election has put the country in a tense state. Some analysts are of the view that the country is headed for a constitutional crisis especially as Jammeh has vowed to fight any external aggression.  This was sequel to the West African body, ECOWAS’s avowal to ensure that Jammeh does not scuttle the peaceful transition in the country.

Recall also that the Gambian army boss had equally come out to declare total loyalty to Jammeh, a development which further heightened the  tension in the country as many have viewed such team-up as a further signal that Jammeh is planning to use the country’s military might to stay further in power.