Gambia's Former President Stole Almost $1bn Before Fleeing The Country

Former President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh

The Guardian: Gambian ex-president ‘stole almost $1bn before fleeing country’

Yahya Jammeh accused of orchestrating huge theft of government funds.

Yahya Jammeh, the former president of the Gambia, orchestrated the theft of almost $1bn (£760m) from his country before his flight into exile two years ago, investigative reporters have alleged.

The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) said it had reviewed thousands of leaked documents that detailed how government funds had been looted over 22 years.

Jammeh, a former military officer who seized power in a coup in 1994, fled into exile in early 2017 after losing an election.

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WNU Editor: Another sad example of corruption in Africa.

Gambia's Defeated President Leaves The Country After Looting The Treasury

Washington Post: Gambia’s defeated president finally gave up power — and took luxury cars and millions of dollars with him

NAIROBI — As the plane carrying Gambia's disgraced former president prepared to depart the small West African country on Saturday, onlookers caught a last glimpse of Yahya Jammeh's face through the window. He had been forced from the country that he ruled for more than two decades. But, bizarrely, Jammeh was smiling.

According to Gambian officials, he had one big reason to be happy. Before leaving the country he had managed to steal millions of dollars from the government's coffers. He had loaded a cargo plane full of luxury cars and sent it abroad.

At a news conference Sunday, Mai Ahmad Fatty, a special adviser to new president Adama Barrow, told journalists that in a two week period Jammeh had stolen $11.4 million.

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More News On The Political Crisis In Gambia

Yahya Jammeh: Other leaders accused of looting the coffers -- BBC
'No money in the coffers' in Gambia says new President Adama Barrow -- DW
Gambia's central bank accounts "intact", says president's spokesman -- Reuters
Nostalgia kicks in for Gambians in Jammeh's home town -- AFP
Gambia president Adama Barrow intends to be back in country within a week -- CNN
Gambia's New President, Still in Senegal, Names Female VP -- AP
Gambia: President Barrow wants West African troops to stay until security is restored -- International Business Times
New Gambian Leader Wants Truth Commission on Jammeh Years -- VOA
Gambia: A lesson for African dictators -- Solomon Ayele, Al Jazeera

Ex-President Yahya Jammeh Leaves The Gambia

Reuters: West African troops near Gambia's capital after Jammeh flees

West African troops were seen approaching Gambia's capital, Banjul, on Sunday, several witnesses said, as they sought to secure the country and allow new President Adama Barrow to take office after its former ruler fled overnight.

Yahya Jammeh, who led Gambia for 22 years but refused to accept defeat in a December election, flew out of Banjul late on Saturday en route to Equatorial Guinea as the regional force was poised to remove him.

Several witnesses in Barra, a town on the opposite bank of the Gambia River from Banjul, saw scores of soldiers massing near a ferry terminal.

"I saw a lot of them. Too many to count," said Pamadou Joof, 26, who operates a pirogue, a type of small boat. "They had vehicles and a lot of guns."

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More News On Former President Yahya Jammeh leaves The Gambia

Ex-President Yahya Jammeh leaves The Gambia after losing election -- BBC
Gambia: Defeated leader Jammeh leaves country after election loss -- CNN
Yahya Jammeh leaves the Gambia after 22 years of rule -- The Guardian
Gambia: Former leader flies out of Banjul airport with President of Guinea -- The Independent
Gambia awaits new leader, but exiled one has right to return -- AP
Jammeh Cedes Power, Flies into Exile -- VOA
The Gambia awaits new era of democracy under Adama Barrow -- The Guardian/AP
Gambia: A lesson for African dictators -- Solomon Ayele Dersso, Al Jazeera

Reports: Senegal Has Invaded Gambia To Force President Yahya Jammeh To Step Down

Washington Post: Senegalese troops enter Gambia to force longtime leader to step down, reports say

NAIROBI — Senegalese troops entered Gambia on Thursday in a bid to force the West African country’s longtime leader to step down after an election loss, news services reported, and the successor chosen by voters last month took the oath of office in exile.

“We have entered Gambia,” Senegalese army Col. Abdou Ndiaye wrote in a text message to the Reuters news agency. There were no other immediate details of the reported incursion.

Earlier Thursday, Gambia, a tiny country known for its large number of migrants fleeing to Europe and a coastline that draws scores of British sunbathers, gained a new distinction: as a nation with two presidents.

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WNU Editor: If this video is authentic (see link here), the Senegalese army is moving into Gambia with force.

More News On Reports That Senegal Has Invaded Gambia

Gambia crisis: Senegal troops enter to back new president -- BBC
Senegal troops move into Gambia as new president sworn in -- AFP
Senegal: Troops enter Gambia in effort to get Jammeh to go -- AP
Troops enter the Gambia after Adama Barrow is inaugurated in Senegal -- The Guardian
Gambian President-Elect Is Sworn In as Foreign Troops Enter Country -- WSJ
Gambia's New President Is Sworn In as Troops Enter the Country -- New York Times
Senegal army enters Gambia in support of Barrow: reports -- DW
Nigerian air force overflies The Gambia -- The Guardian (Nigeria)

Gambia's President Refuses To Relinquish Power

NYT: Gambia Shudders as Defeated Leader Tightens Grip Before Inauguration

BANJUL, Gambia — President Yahya Jammeh once predicted that his rule could last a billion years.

Now, the fate of his nation is hanging on one more anxiety-filled day.

After acknowledging defeat in an election last month, Mr. Jammeh abruptly changed his mind, refusing to step aside for the inauguration of the new president scheduled for Thursday and threatening to drag the nation into a bloody standoff.

Mr. Jammeh, who has long been criticized for human rights abuses and grandiose claims like being able to cure AIDS with little more than prayer and a banana, has insisted on a do-over election. He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, warning the nation not to engage in any “acts of disobedience.”

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More News On The Crisis In Gambia

Gambia parliament extends President Jammeh’s term amid political crisis -- France 24
Gambia MPs extend President Jammeh's term -- Al Jazeera
The Gambia's Yahya Jammeh's term extended by parliament -- BBC
Gambia leader’s term extended as tourists are evacuated -- AP
Gambia's Jammeh can stay in office for three months: national assembly -- Reuters
Gambia Declares State Of Emergency As Leader Refuses To Cede Power -- NPR
Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh declares state of emergency -- DW
Gambian president declares state of emergency before opponent sworn in -- The Guardian
Gambia's Yahya Jammeh declares state of emergency -- Al Jazeera
Gambia political crisis: What happens next? -- BBC

U.S. Charges Two American Citizens For Plotting To Overthrow The Gambian Government

Al Jazeera: US charges two men over Gambia coup bid

More News On The U.S. Charging Two American Citizens For Plotting To Overthrow The Gambian Government

American citizens charged after failed attempt to overthrow Gambian dictator in violent coup -- Daily Mail/Reuters/AP
US charges over Gambia 'coup plot' against Yahya Jammeh -- BBC
U.S. charges two men in connection with failed Gambia coup -- Reuters
Americans charged in botched Gambia coup -- CNN
Two men charged in US over Gambia coup attempt -- France 24
2 Americans Charged in Failed Coup Attempt In Gambia -- ABC News
Two US citizens accused of plotting to overthrow Gambian government -- RT
Two U.S. citizens charged after trying to overthrow Gambian government -- Mashable