The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yahya Jammeh

  • Jammeh allegedly flies $11 million, exotic cars into exile

    Jammeh allegedly flies $11 million, exotic cars into exile

    The former ruler of the Gambian, Yahya Jammeh has been accused of stealing $11million (500m dalasi) in the past weeks before going into exile.

    Jammeh was accused of flying out luxury cars by Mai Fatty, the Adviser to the New President, Adama Barrow in a cargo aircraft provided by the President of Chad, Mr. Idris Deby.

    The seven exotic cars, include Rolls Royce and Sports Utility Vehicles for the exclusive use of Jammeh, who is now in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, shortly after a brief stop-over in Conakry, Guinea.

    The private jet headed to Malabo where Jammeh will, in the meantime, spend his post-office life as the guest of another sit-tight dictator, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

  • Jammeh’s departure from The Gambia temporary – ECOWAS, AU, UN

    Jammeh’s departure from The Gambia temporary – ECOWAS, AU, UN

    The ECOWAS, African Union and UN have said they would work with the new Gambian government to ensure that former President Jammeh was at liberty to return to the country when he wanted.
    The former president left Banjul on Saturday to go into exile after he was pressurised by the ECOWAS to rescind his earlier decision not to accept the outcome of Dec. 1 presidential election, which saw him losing to the opposition candidate, Adama Bbarrow.
    Jammeh’s return would be in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen and a former head of state, they stated in a joint declaration in Banjul.
    They commended the “goodwill and statesmanship” of the former president for facilitating “an immediate peaceful and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution”.
    They also commended him for his interest in the Gambian people and preserving the peace, stability and security in the country.
    The declaration stated that Jammeh’s departure from The Gambia on Saturday was temporary adding that it was in order to assist a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power and the establishment of a new government.
    The blocs noted that his leaving was without any prejudice to his rights as a citizen, a former president and a political party leader.
    They further assured that host countries that would offer “African hospitality” to the former president and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.
    They also committed to work with the current government to prevent the seizure of assets and property lawfully belonging to Jammeh or his family and those of his cabinet members, government officials and party supporters.
    “Further, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it fully guarantees, assures and ensures the dignity, security, safety and rights of former President Jammeh’s immediate family, cabinet members, government officials, Security Officials and party supporters and loyalists.
    “ECOWAS, the AU and the UN urge the Government of The Gambia to take all necessary measures to assure and ensure that there is no intimidation, harassment and/or witch-hunting of former regime members and supporters, in conformity with the Constitution and other laws of The Gambia,” they stated.
    The regional organisations said they would work with the government on national reconciliation to “avoid any recriminations”.
    They also assured that they would take all measures to support the maintenance of the integrity of the security forces and guard against all measures that would create division and a breakdown of order.
    “Pursuant to this declaration, ECOWAS will halt any military operations in The Gambia and will continue to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.”
    Meanwhile, President Adama Barrow has said he would return to The Gambia on Monday.
    Barrow confirmed this on his twitter handle, @adama_barrow, on Sunday.
    He said: “I will be returning to my homeland, the Republic of The Gambia tomorrow. #Gambia.”
    Barrow, who took the oath of office in the Gambian Embassy in Senegal on Thursday, has assured citizens who fled that “they now have the liberty to return home”.
    He succeeded Yahya Jammeh, who lost in the Dec. 1 presidential election and refused to vacate office when his 22-year rule expired midnight on Thursday. (NAN)

  • I’m returning to The Gambia, says Barrow

    I’m returning to The Gambia, says Barrow

    President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow on Saturday said he was returning to his country following Yahya Jammeh’s announcement to step down as president.

    Barrow on his twitter handle, @adama_barrow, said “As Yahya Jammeh officially stepped down from office — I will be returning to my homeland, the Republic of The Gambia. #NewGambia.”

    Barrow also told the Associated Press in an interview on Saturday that he would enter Gambia once a security sweep had been completed.

    The new president also said that Jammeh would be leaving within hours on Saturday and told Gambians who had fled the country that they now had “the liberty to return home”.

    Barrow on Thursday took the oath of office as Gambia’s new president.

    He was sworn-in about 5p.m. Senegalese time at the Gambian High Commission in Dakar, Senegal.

    Barrow succeeded Yahya Jammeh, who lost in the Dec. 1 presidential election and refused to vacate office when his 22-year rule expired midnight on Thursday.

    West African mediators spent several hours in talks with him on Friday after military forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stopped actions to remove Jammeh by force to allow last-minute negotiations.

    Jammeh, however, on state TV on Saturday, announced that he would step down in the interest of the Gambian people adding that it was his duty to “preserve at every instant” their lives.

    He was also reported to have left the State House to join President Alpha Conda of Guinea to the airport, to begin a new life in exile. (NAN)

  • Jammeh leaves Banjul today, ECOWAS forces await briefing

    Jammeh leaves Banjul today, ECOWAS forces await briefing

    Gambia’s former president, Yahya Jammeh will now leave Banjul on Saturday with President Alpha Conde of Guinea, to begin a new life in exile.

    This followed Friday’s final peace move by Conde and Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

    The two West African leaders travelled to Banjul to persuade the long ruling Jammeh to leave peacefully before West African forces pounced on him.

    In a statement issued on state TV on Friday night, Jammeh announced that he was stepping down, a superfluous announcement as he was already no more the leader, having been denied recognition by the world.

    All indications are that Jammeh will be going into exile in Guinea.

    A senior adviser to new President Adama Barrow said talks to finalise the exile deal were holding up his exit.

    “I can assure you that he has agreed to leave,” Mai Ahmad Fatty, Barrow’s special advisor, said in Senegal’s capital Dakar. He could not say where Jammeh would go into exile.

    President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow had earlier confirmed Yahya Jammeh’s stepping down.

    Barrow, on his twitter handle on Friday, @adama_barrow said: “I would like to inform you that Yahya Jammeh has agreed to step down.

    “He is scheduled to depart Gambia today. #NewGambia.”

    Barrow on Thursday took the oath of office as Gambia’s new president.

    He was sworn-in about 5p.m. Senegalese time at the Gambian High Commission in Dakar, Senegal.

    Barrow succeeded Yahya Jammeh, who lost in the Dec. 1 presidential election and refused to vacate office when his term expired midnight on Thursday.

    Gambia’s Chief of Defence, Ousman Badjie, on Friday pledged loyalty to President Barrow.

    “West African troops that crossed from neighbouring Senegal into Gambia to help unseat Jammeh would be welcomed “with a cup of tea,’’ said Badjie.

    ECOWAS armies halted Operation Restore Democracy aimed at installing the country’s new president, Adama Barrow, on Thursday so regional leaders could make one last attempt to convince long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh to step aside.

    In Dakar, the Nigerian force Commander, Operation Restore Democracy, Air Commodore Tajudeen Yusuf, said the ECOWAS forces would not let down their guard, inspite of negotiations for the former Gambian president, Alhaji Yahaya Jammeh to leave office.

    He said the troops were awaiting briefing by the political leaders.

    Yusuf made the statement while briefing newsmen in Dakar, on Friday.

    “”Even if he quits we are not letting down our guard, our mandate is to restore peace in Gambia.

    “”We have been on standby, and the troops are still on a very high alert, depending on the outcome of political negotiations.

    “”We are not letting down our guard; our mandate is to restore democracy in Gambia,’’ Yusuf said.

    Yusuf added that the mandate given to them was to restore peace and nothing else.

    He promised to carry out his responsibilities professionally while waiting for further directive from the political masters.

    Jammeh, in power since a 1994 coup, initially conceded defeat to Barrow following a Dec. 1 election before back-tracking, saying the vote was flawed.. (NAN)

  • Jammeh bows to pressure, agrees to leave The Gambia

    Jammeh bows to pressure, agrees to leave The Gambia

    There are indications that defeated former President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh has finally agreed to step down.

    The country’s new president Adama Barrow in a tweet confirmed that Jammeh may depart Gambia today.

    “I would like to inform you that Yahya Jammeh has agreed to step down. He is scheduled to depart Gambia today. ” he stated in a tweet on Friday.

     

     

  • `No war’, Gambian Army Chief pledges

    Gambia’s Chief of Defence, Ousman Badgie, on Friday said there “is not going to be any war or any fighting’’ as talks to convince Yahya Jammeh to cease power continues.

    The Gambian Army Chief assured that the West African leaders would continue to make a final attempt to convince Yahya Jammeh to cease power.

    “It’s a political misunderstanding; it is going to be solved politically, not militarily.

    “Security is guaranteed 100 per cent,’’ the army chief adds, inviting thousands of Gambians who fled their country in fear of violence to return.

    “West African troops that crossed from neighbouring Senegal into Gambia to help unseat Jammeh would be welcomed “with a cup of tea,’’ said Badgie. (dpa/NAN)

  • Troops storm The Gambia as Barrow takes oath

    Troops storm The Gambia as Barrow takes oath

    The Gambia got a new President yesterday.

    Adama Barrow, who won the December 1, last year election, was inaugurated as president at an event in Dakar, Senegal, witnessed by top United Nations diplomats.

    But the defeated incumbent Yahya Jammeh stayed put at the presidential palace in Banjul, The Gambian capital.

    A few hours to the expiration of his legal term on Wednesday, he failed to utilise the opportunity provided by visiting Mauritanian president for him to stand down.

    West African leaders have so far failed to persuade Jammeh to quit. They have threatened to remove him by force.

    Senegalese troops yesterday entered The Gambia to ensure Adama Barrow assume power as the country’s president, a Senegalese army spokesman said.

    Senegalese army spokesman Col Abdou Ndiaye was quoted by news agencies as saying the country’s troops entered The Gambia yesterday afternoon.

    Nigeria said its “armed reconnaissance air force are over Gambia”, AFP reports.

    Jammeh lost the poll, according to the Gambian electoral commission. But he wants the results annulled, citing errors in the electoral process.

    Taking his oath, Barrow said: “I, Adama Barrow, do swear that I’ll well and truly prosecute the functions of the office of the president of the Republic of The Gambia. That I will preserve and defend the constitution.”

    President of the Gambian Bar Association, Sherrif Tambadou, administered the oath of office on the President.

    Barrow was relocated to Dakar by the ECOWAS Mediation Team led by  President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In his inauguration speech, he ordered all members of The Gambia’s armed forces to remain in their barracks.

    “Those found illegally holding arms will be considered rebels,” he warned.

    Western ambassadors to Senegal, the UN envoy for West Africa and top officials from the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) attended the ceremony. Hundreds of Gambian expatriates gathered outside the compound.

    Nigeria’s fighter jets were yesterday conducting “armed reconnaissance air force over Gambia.

    “They have the capacity to strike,” Nigerian Air Force spokesman Ayodele Famuyiwa told the French news agency AFP.

    The Nation’s source who is embedded with the Nigerian forces said the mood of the troops was upbeat.

    The troops are camped at Base Aeriene Amee De L’air Senegal where they are supporting other countries to plan logistics in case of a military action.

    The source said: “Troops deployed by other countries are stationed in different locations, particularly close to the border between Senegal and The Gambia for easy advancement in the event of any call for military action.

    “The morale of the troops is high with an expectation to quell any insurrection in Gambia while our air assets conducting surveillance over Gambia and neighbouring countries,” he said.

    In Banjul, it was eerily quiet. Most streets were deserted; shops, petrol stations and banks were closed. People were mostly staying indoors, uncertain about what might happen.

    In some areas, men were standing on the roadside, arms crossed or looking at their phones. Some told reporters they were waiting for President Jammeh to go and would take to the streets once Barrow was sworn in.

  • Jammeh gets final ultimatum to cede power

    West African leaders have given Yahya Jammeh a final opportunity to relinquish power after Senegalese troops entered The Gambia.

    Mr. Jammeh has been given until noon on Friday to leave office or be forced out by United Nations-backed regional forces, the BBC reports.

    Troops have been told to halt their advance until the deadline passes.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is acting in support of Adama Barrow, who was sworn in as the new Gambian president on Thursday.

    His legitimacy as president, after winning last month’s election, has been recognised internationally.

    Last-ditch mediation talks, led by Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, are due on Friday morning.

    Chairman of the ECOWAS commission, Marcel Alain de Souza, said that if the meeting with Mr. Conde proved unsuccessful, militarily action would follow.

    “If by midday, he [Mr. Jammeh] doesn’t agree to leave The Gambia under the banner of President Conde, we really will intervene militarily,” he said.

    ECOWAS said that its forces had encountered no resistance after entering The Gambia on Thursday.

  • UN backs Adama Barrow

    UN backs Adama Barrow

    The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to back Gambia’s new President, Adama Barrow and called for a peaceful transition of power.

    The resolution called on former president Yahya Jammeh “to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process,’’ and to transfer power to Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.

    The UN resolution called for support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) “in its commitment to ensuring the respect of the will of the people as expressed in the results of the December 1, 2016, elections.’’

    Barrow is the 3rd President of The Gambia.

    He was sworn in as President of The Gambia at a ceremony in the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, today, having won the presidential election of December 1, 2016.

  • Gambia: Botswana dumps Jammeh as President

    Gambia: Botswana dumps Jammeh as President

    The Government of Botswana has declared that it no longer recognises Yahya Jammeh as President of the Gambia as his tenure expires.

    This is contained in a press statement issued on Thursday, following the refusal of Jammeh to hand over power to the President-elect Adama Barrow, in accordance with the expressed will of the Gambian people in the December 1, 2016, Presidential election.

    This decision which takes effect immediately makes Botswana the first African country to withdraw its supports and identification of Jammeh as Gambian president.

    Botswana’s announcement on Thursday through its social media platforms (Twitter & Facebook) is in consistency with its position as articulated through the Press Release of December 16, 2016.

     

    In the statement, Botswana’s government said: “Mr Jammeh’s decision not to respect the will of the Gambian people undermines the ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. This is also in direct contravention of the spirit and aspirations of the African Union Constitutive Act.

    “The Government of Botswana, therefore, continues to appeal to the international community to do all within its power to exert pressure on Mr Jammeh to hand over power in order to ensure a smooth transition.”

    Although, Barrow’s inauguration is due to hold in a ceremony in The Gambia today, but Mr Jammeh has imposed a state of emergency and parliament has controversially extended his term by 90 days.

    Thus, Barrow, who insisted on his swearing in has said the ceremony will hold at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

     


    Statement on Facebook Reads:

    Botswana Statement on Jammeh

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