Tag Archives: Adama Barrow

Regional

Gambia: Three people charged over coup plot

Maravi Post Reporter

Gambian police prosecutors have charged two civilians and a police officer in connection with last month’s alleged coup plot.

Prosecutors accused the suspects of conspiring and failing to report information on the planned overthrow of President Adama Barrow in October and December 2022 within the capital, Banjul, and other places in the country.

They were also accused of being informed by the alleged ringleader of a plan to overthrow President Barrow, which they failed to report to the relevant authorities.

They were charged with concealment of treason and conspiracy to commit a felony. They all deny the charges.

Last week the Gambian government confirmed the foiled coup attempt. Four soldiers were arrested at the time and three alleged accomplices were said to be on the run.

– –

But extra arrests were made days including a second-lieutenant of the Gambian infantry, and a captain from the military intelligence and security unit.

Seven people including two officers and five soldiers have so far been arrested in connection with the alleged plot.

Last week, a national security adviser said civilians were involved with their role being to finance the alleged foiled coup.

Germany detains Gambian driver of Jammeh’s ‘hit-squad unit’

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia makes more arrests over foiled coup attempt

Maravi Post Reporter

Gambian officials have made two extra arrests in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Adama Barrow.

Two Gambian military officers were arrested over the weekend, Gambia’s government spokesperson said on Monday.

Last week the Gambian government confirmed the foiled coup attempt. Four soldiers were arrested at the time and three alleged accomplices were said to be on the run.

“Two more soldiers linked to the alleged foiled coup plot were arrested over the weekend and are helping investigators unearth allegations of plans to overthrow the Government,” Ebrima Sankareh, the government’s spokesman said in a statement.

He said a second-lieutenant of the Gambian infantry, and a captain from the military intelligence and security unit were arrested on Saturday and Sunday respectively, while the search for other alleged plotters was ongoing.

– –

Seven people including two officers and five soldiers have so far been arrested in connection with the alleged plot.

The Gambia is a largely peaceful country in West Africa which is popular with holidaymakers because of its beaches and wildlife.

Mr. Barrow defeated long-serving President Yahya Jammeh in a shock election victory in December 2016.

Mr Jammeh was forced into exile in Equatorial Guinea, though he remains an influential figure in The Gambia, one of Africa’s smallest countries.

Gambia: Commission uncovered ex-President’s alleged crimes

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia arrests four soldiers over foiled coup attempt

Maravi Post Reporter

The Gambian government has confirmed a foiled coup attempt in the country.

Four soldiers had been arrested and three alleged accomplices were on the run.

It is unclear who exactly was behind Tuesday’s attempt to overthrow President Adama Barrow, who won a second term election last year.

The Gambia is a largely peaceful country in West Africa which is popular with holidaymakers because of its beaches and wildlife.

Mr. Barrow defeated long-serving President Yahya Jammeh in a shock election victory in December 2016.

– –

Mr Jammeh was forced into exile in Equatorial Guinea, though he remains an influential figure in The Gambia, one of Africa’s smallest countries.

The Gambia’s capital, Banjul, is peaceful, with life going on as normal.

No gun shots have been heard, and there is no sign that loyalist forces have been deployed to secure strategic sites.

The government statement, however, said that military reservists had been put on stand-by. “The situation is under total control,” it added.

“Based on intelligence reports… some soldiers of the Gambian army were plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government,” the government said on Wednesday.

When reports of a coup attempt first surfaced on Tuesday, the army denied it, saying it had only carried out a “military drill.”

Niger makes several arrests after foiled coup attempt

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia: Former spy chief and four others sentenced to death

Maravi Post Reporter
– –

A former intelligence chief, Yankuba Badjie, and four other security agents have been sentenced to death by a local court.

The local court judge sentenced the five to death for the killing in 2016 of a political activist in the final days of brutal rule under former President Yahya Jammeh.

Yankuba Badjie was officially charged in 2017 with the death of a top political figure, Ebrima Solo Sandeng.

Badjie and 8 others at the time faced two counts of conspiracy to commit felony and murder.

Sandeng was a leading figure in the opposition United Democratic Party who was arrested during anti-government protests.

– –

He died in detention shortly after his arrest for participating in a protest demanding electoral reforms ahead of last December’s presidential polls.

The April 14, 2016 protest led to the arrest of some five members of the UDF after police dispersed the crowd. The arrested activists were taken to Mile 2 Prison and later to the National Intelligence Agency for interrogation.

Sandeng’s death sparked fresh protests leading to the ousting of Yahya Jammeh who lost the December 2016 elections to then opposition coalition candidate, Adama Barrow.

Solo Sandeng dedicated many years of his life to politics in Gambia and was previously arrested in 2013 for his political activities.

– –

Jammeh fled Gambia in 2017 to Equatorial Guinea, where he remains in exile.

Gambia: Jammeh’s ally sentenced to death by hanging

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia’s Truth Commission recommends prosecution of Jammeh

Maravi Post Reporter

– –

The former president of The Gambia Yahya Jammeh has been recommended for prosecution before an international tribunal.

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRCC) made the recommendation in a report released on Friday, December 24, 2021.

The commission was tasked to investigate allegations of abuses and other atrocities committed under the Jammeh regime which lasted for 22 years.

Details of the report from the commission released in the capital, Banjul is now been made public after it was submitted weeks ago to the government.

Hundreds of witnesses offered testimonies about death squads, rape and witch hunts under Jammeh between 2019 and 2021.

– –

Yahya Jammeh was linked to numerous grave crimes while in office. Human Rights Watch said in May this year that these revelations “should be followed by criminal accountability.”

Victims and former government officials who testified at the hearings, tied Jammeh to the killing and torture of political opponents, the murder of about 59 migrants from Ghana and other West African countries, and “witch hunts” in which hundreds of people were arbitrarily detained, among other crimes.

They also alleged that Jammeh raped and sexually assaulted women brought to him and personally ran a sham treatment program that forced HIV-positive Gambians to give up their medicine and put themselves under Jammeh’s personal care.

“Witnesses with firsthand knowledge have implicated Yahya Jammeh in murder, torture, rape and other terrible crimes,” said Reed Brody, senior counsel at Human Rights Watch who works with Jammeh’s victims.

– –

For many human rights activists the recommendation on Jammeh for him to be prosecuted should spark moves towards bringing justice to victims of abuses under his regime.

But some are not very confident that the government under Adama Barrow will follow through on the report’s recommendations after he struck an alliance with Jammeh’s party too win this month’s presidential election.

President Barrow has six months to respond to the TRRC report. He has promised justice, but also urged victims to be patient.

Gambia: Commission uncovered ex-President’s alleged crimes

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia: Police tear gas opposition supporters protesting poll results

Maravi Post Reporter

Opposition supporters in The Gambia were dispersed with tear gas as they protest Saturday’s presidential election results.

The protesters had gathered outside the residence of opposition leader Ousainou Darboe.

Darboe is rejecting the election results after the electoral commission declared incumbent President, Adama Barrow as winner.

Barrow obtained around 53% of the vote against 28% for Darboe, the main opposition contender.

Before the police clashed with the opposition supporters, the veteran politician had appealed to supporters to avoid violence and follow legal procedures to proof their claim of electoral irregularities.

– –

Mr Darboe said his team is collecting evidence in order to pursue the matter in court should that become necessary.

Gambia's Darboe
Mr Darboe questioned the conduct of the poll. Photo Credit: Getty Images

The African Union election observers and other observers had said the election was conducted in a fair and transparent manner largely.

Ousainou Darboe, and two other candidates, Mama Kandeh and Essa Mbye Faal shortly before the final results were declared had said they would not accept the results.

– –

But one of them – Essa Mbaye Fall – has now congratulated Adama Barrow on his re-election.

Almost one million registered voters took part in Saturday’s election, the first since the exit of ex-leader Yahya Jammeh.

Adama Barrow came to power when he defeated Jammeh in 2016 as an opposition leader and decided to seek re-election despite promising not to do so.

President Barrow told his supporters during a victory speech in the capital Banjul, that there ought to be a unity between the country’s political factions.

“I call on all Gambians, irrespective of your political divide, to put aside our political and other differences and come together as one people to work towards the development of our country,” he said.

Gambia: Incumbent Adama Barrow wins presidential election

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia: Incumbent Adama Barrow wins presidential election

Maravi Post Reporter
– –

The incumbent president of The Gambia Adama Barrow has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election.

He thus retains power with results from all the districts now in across the country.

The independent electoral commission on Sunday evening declared President Barrow winner, defeating his main challenger Ousainou Darboe.

Mr. Barrow had won over 54% of votes but three opposition candidates have rejected the partial results, citing an unusual delay in tallying the votes.

Veteran politician Ousainou Darboe, and two other candidates, Mama Kandeh and Essa Mbye Faal said on Sunday that they would not accept the results.

– –

In a statement they expressed their concern “concern that there had been an inordinate delay in the announcement of results.”

“A number of issues have been raised by our party agents and representatives at the polling stations,” their statement said.

Almost one million registered voters took part in Saturday’s election, the first since the exit of ex-leader Yahya Jammeh.

Adama Barrow came to power when he defeated Jammeh in 2016 as an opposition leader and decided to seek re-election despite promising not to do so.

– –

President Barrow became unpopular among some section of the Gambia population after reneging on this initial promise to only serve as a transitional leader for three years.

But he can now contest for the presidency as many times as he desires after a bill to limit presidential terms to two failed to pass last year.

President Barrow was a former security guard in London and has struggled to pull Gambia out of economic difficulties, a situation worsened by COVID-19.

Congo’s Nguesso to rule beyond 40 years after re-election victory

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia: Adama Barrow to face five others in presidential poll

Maravi Post Reporter
– –

Gambia’s President Adama Barrow is set to face five other candidates in next month’s presidential election due on December 4.

It will be the first time Gambians will be voting for a president without ex-leader Yahya Jammeh contesting.

The last time he contested, he refused to concede defeat after losing to current President Adama Barrow.

Jammeh however was forced to go into exile after external pressure for him to concede defeat and exit power.

Other candidates for next month’s polls include Barrow’s former political mentor Ousainou Darboe, 73, and Essa Mbye Faal, the man who served as chief counsel of Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.

– –

Also running is Mama Kandeh, who came third in the 2016 polls that Barrow won.

The election commission of Gambia however rejected fifteen other candidates for failing to meet the commission’s standards.

President Barrow became unpopular among some section of the Gambia population after reneging on his initial promise to only serve as a transitional leader for three years.

He can now contest for the presidency as many times as he desires after a bill to limit presidential terms to two failed to pass last year.

– –

President Barrow was a former security guard in London and has struggled to pull Gambia out of economic difficulties, a situation worsened by COVID-19.

Jammeh’s party defies him, maintains alliance with Barrow’s party

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia rejects its own citizens deported from Germany

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment

– –

Gambia’s government has refused to accept its own citizens deported from Germany.

Over 2,000 Gambians who migrated to European countries such as Germany have overstayed their asylum visas.

They are now expected to be repatriated to their country but the Gambian government is refusing to let them in.

The first batch of Gambian migrants who have exhausted their asylum appeals was to arrive in Gambia’s capital, Banjul on September 1.

But a Gambian official from Foreign Ministry told reporters that the government will not take in the deportees.

– –

Gambia has cited security concerns and the inability to reintegrate those being deported as reasons for its decision.

But a Ugandan expert in international law, Gawaya Tegulle told DW that Gambia’s action is unlawful.

“The action per se by the government of the Gambia has no place under international law. It is illegal before we start even to list the demerits of the circumstances surrounding the decision,” Tegulle said.

– –

An African policy analyst, Emmanuel Bensah also told DW that Gambia is right to be considering several factors, including the pandemic, before taking in the migrants.

“The Gambia’s president cannot be sure of the COVID-19 status of those who are being deported. In addition, the Gambia is a small country, and the health system has not been coping so well with COVID-19,” Bensah said.

He also revealed that the arrival of migrants could be an added burden for the country.

“The other thing is that the Gambian government since 2017 has become quite unpopular. The euphoria connected with Barrow winning the presidency when ECOWAS intervened to get rid of [former President Yahya] Jammeh has died down,” Bensah said.

In retaliation the European Union is said to be planning to tighten visa requirements for Gambian nationals.

There are almost 7,000 Gambians without residence rights in Germany alone.

In 2019 the United States of America imposed visa restrictions on Ghana after it failed to issue traveling documents to its citizens awaiting deportation.

The American government said Ghana was not complying with international obligations “regarding issuance of travel documents.”

The visa restrictions imposed on Ghana was however lifted in 2020 after an agreement was reached to return some 7,000 deportees said to be guilty of immigration offences, including abusing the terms of their visas.

Germany detains Gambian driver of Jammeh’s ‘hit-squad unit’

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Gambia: Ex-president Jammeh vows to return from exile

Maravi Post Reporter

Former President of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh who has been in exile since 2017 in the Equatorial Guinea has vowed to return to the country.

He is heard in a latest audio telling a member of his Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party of his intention to come back from exile.

In February this year there was tension in the Gambia among citizens over Yahya Jammeh‘s reported return from exile.

Several media reports suggested at the time that Jammeh has been spotted in Guinea heading to The Gambia.

The reports also indicated that his supporters had started cleaning his Kanilai home and farm in anticipation of his return.

– –

But in a strongly worded statement, the Gambia Government said the misleading reports have caused tension in the West African country.

“Significantly, these baseless reports have provoked anxiety and tension among members of the public.

Equally, the misinformation has given rise to acts of deception particularly, among supporters of the former President, who have been terribly misled to believe in these fairy tales over the purported imminent return of former President Yahya Jammeh” the statement said.

Gambia: How Yahya Jammeh orchestrated his imminent return from exile

– –

In the latest audio which had Jammeh speak to a party official, he said “It’s only the almighty Allah that can say only Yahya Jammeh’s dead body can come to Gambia. But by the grace of Allah, I am coming back.”

The former president in his conversation also lamented what he calls the lack of leadership by his successor President Adama Barrow.

He blamed President Barrow for the insecurity in the country amidst reports of increased cases of armed robberies and homicides.

“Allah is showing us that we deviated and abandoned our religion and religious leaders are afraid of telling the truth. Now people are dying worse than rats. Even frogs were safer under my government,” Jammeh said.

The former president assured that things will return to normalcy once he returns home but did not give details about his imminent return from exile.

Gambia’s government has assured citizens that ex-President Jammeh’s asylum in Equatorial Guinea is an ECOWAS/AU arrangement.

Under these arranged diplomatic circumstances, the host country is obligated to ensure that the former President remains in Equatorial Guinea until agreed and decided otherwise by the parties in consultation with The Gambia Government.

A statement from the government in February said Yahya Jammeh remains in Equatorial Guinea and rumours of his recent flight to Guinea Conakry as well as his planned return to The Gambia are meritless tales being peddled by detractors.

Source: Africa Feeds