Dog Kills Son of Gambian President-Elect

Adama Barrow was unable to attend funeral due to political unrest
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 17, 2017 5:24 PM CST
Dog Kills Son of Gambian President-Elect
Gambian President-elect Adama Barrow was unable to attend his young son's funeral over concerns for his safety amid political unrest.   (AP Photo/Jerome Delay file)

Due to political turmoil in his country, the president-elect of Gambia was unable to attend his young son's funeral, the BBC reports. Eight-year-old Habibu Barrow was bitten by a dog Sunday and died on the way to the hospital. According to SMBC News, Habibu's death led to an "outpouring of sorrow" in Gambia. But Adama Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, couldn't return to Gambia for the funeral over concerns for his safety.

Barrow was elected president last year, ending Yahya Jammeh's 22 years of rule, International Business Times reports. But Jammeh is refusing to accept the result of the election. He's asked the Gambian supreme court to stop Barrow's inauguration, scheduled for Thursday, and military and security officers have been arrested, according to the Guardian. Military action in the country is possible, and thousands of citizens are fleeing the country, fearing war is imminent. Regardless, Barrow says Thursday's inauguration will go on as scheduled. (More Gambia stories.)

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