US reopens Gambia embassy after guards return

The US Embassy in Banjul reopened for normal operations today after the Gambian government redeployed police guards it withdrew last week.
The mission closed for all but essential services on Thursday after the protection force was withdrawn and Washington said it had "raised concern" with the Gambia over the matter.
It was not clear why President Yahya Jammeh's government had taken this step, but Washington has criticised its rights record.
Yesterday the embassy announced on its Facebook page that it would resume normal operations on Monday. On Monday members of the elite Police Intervention Unit were seen guarding the mission.

A State Department official in Washington confirmed to AFP "that that operations are back to normal and the guards have returned to their posts."
The Gambian and US authorities have however not explained the circumstances leading to the redeployment of the police guards.
The spat comes amid controversy over Gambia's arrest and prosecution of a US citizen who was detained while visiting relatives in the country.