Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News
Showing posts with label Gambia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gambia. Show all posts

Sunday, January 22, 2017

The Gambia 'missing millions' after Jammeh flies into exile


  • Jan 23, 2017  04H:16  GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME
    •  
  • From the sectionAfrica
Media captionHundreds of people celebrated in Banjul as West African troops entered the presidential compound
by Rashida Adjani and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Banjul
More than $11m (£8.8m) is missing from The Gambia's state coffers following the departure of long-time leader Yahya Jammeh, an adviser to President Adama Barrow has said.
Mai Ahmad Fatty said financial experts were trying to evaluate the exact loss.
Luxury cars and other items were seen being loaded on to a Chadian cargo plane on the night Mr Jammeh left the country.
Mr Jammeh flew into exile on Saturday, ending his 22 years in power.
He had refused to accept election results but finally left after mediation by regional leaders and the threat of military intervention.
Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh arrives at the airport before flying into exile from Gambia, January 21, 201Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionMr Jammeh flew out of The Gambia on Saturday after long talks with regional leaders
President Barrow remains in neighbouring Senegal and it is not clear when he will return.
However, West African troops have entered the Gambian capital, Banjul, on Sunday to prepare for his arrival.
Cheering crowds gathered outside the State House to watch soldiers secure the building.

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The Senegalese general leading the joint force from five African nations said they were controlling "strategic points to ensure the safety of the population and facilitate... Mr Barrow's assumption of his role".
Mr Fatty told reporters in the Senegalese capital Dakar that The Gambia was in financial distress.
"The coffers are virtually empty," he said. "It has been confirmed by technicians in the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia."
Gambia's President Adama Barrow is seen in Dakar, Senegal January 20, 2017Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionAdama Barrow, centre, says he intends to investigate allegations of human rights abuses during Mr Jammeh's time in office
He said Mr Jammeh had made off with more than $11m in the past two weeks alone. The BBC is unable to independently verify the claims.
Mr Fatty said officials at The Gambia's main airport had been told not to let any of Mr Jammeh's belongings leave the country.
Reports said some of the former leader's goods were in Guinea where Mr Jammeh had stopped on his journey into exile.
Mr Jammeh is reported to now be in Equatorial Guinea, although authorities there have not confirmed it.
The former leader had initially accepted Mr Barrow's election win on 1 December, but later alleged "irregularities" and called for a fresh vote.
The move was internationally condemned and the UN-backed Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) issued an ultimatum for him to quit or be removed by force.
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Saturday, January 21, 2017

BREAKING: Ex-President Yahya Jammeh leaves The Gambia after losing election


  • Jan 21, 2017  22H:49  GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME
    •  
  • From the sectionAfrica
Former president Yaya Jammeh the Gambia's leader for 22 years, looks through the window from the plane as he leaves the country on 21 January 2017 in Banjul airporImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionMr Jammeh, who ruled for 22 years, is believed to be initially travelling to Guinea
by Rashida Adjani and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Banjul
Gambia's former President Yahya Jammeh has left the country in the wake of elections that ousted him after 22 years in power.
Mr Jammeh was defeated in December's election by Adama Barrow but he went on to challenge the results.
But two days after Mr Barrow was sworn in, Mr Jammeh left on a plane reportedly bound for Guinea.
Mr Barrow told the BBC that he would be returning to his homeland "sooner than later".
In an interview with the BBC on Saturday, he said said he wanted to create a truth and reconciliation committee to investigate allegations of human rights abuses during Mr Jammeh's time in office.
Media captionPresident Adama Barrow: 'We have got to know the truth'
Mr Barrow has been in neighbouring Senegal for days and was inaugurated as president in the Gambian embassy there on Thursday.
Troops from several West African nations, including neighbouring Senegal, had been deployed in The Gambia, threatening to drive Mr Jammeh out of office if he did not agree to go.
Mr Jammeh's decision to quit came after talks with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania.
Guinea's President Alpha Conde is with Mr Jammeh and his wife on the plane that left Banjul late on Saturday.
In an address on state television, Mr Jammeh, who had once said he would rule The Gambia for a billion years, said he would stand down and that it was "not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed".

The scene at Banjul airport, by BBC Africa correspondent Alastair Leithead

Yahya Jammeh arrived at the airport amid a large convoy of vehicles and throngs of cheering supporters.
He stood on a small platform to hear ceremonial music performed by a military band and then walked down a long red carpet surrounded by dignitaries.
He climbed the steps to the plane, turned and kissed and waved a Koran at those assembled.
After 22 years in power, he left bound for Guinea where it's believed he will stay before going on to another country.
Soldiers, supporters and dignitaries were emotional as he left - many of them crying. Many others in The Gambia are glad to see the end of what they considered a dictatorship, where there was little respect for human rights or freedom of speech
The details of the arrangements made - or promises offered to persuade Mr Jammeh to give up power peacefully are not yet known, but there was the real threat of military action from regional states.
He's the first president to peacefully hand over power in The Gambia since independence from Britain in 1965.
Former president Yaya Jammeh (C,up), the Gambia's leader for 22 years, waves from the plane as he leaves the country on 21 January 2017 in BanjulImage copyrightAFP
"I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians," he said.
Mr Jammeh was given an ultimatum to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed troops, which expired at 16:00 GMT on Friday.
People celebrate in the streets with Gambian flags as they hear of the imminent departure of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh in Banjul on January 21, 2017Image copyrightAFP
Image captionCelebrations have begun in Banjul
Gambian refugees return to Banjul, Gambia, 21 January 2017Image copyrightEPA
Image captionThousands had fled to neighbouring Senegal fearing violence - but large groups began to return to The Gambia on Saturday
People celebrate in the streets after hearing of the confirmed departure of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh in Banjul on January 21, 2017Image copyrightAFP
Image captionMany Gambians saw Mr Jammeh as a ruthless dictator
The deadline was set by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional grouping backed by the United Nations.
The group has sent a strong message to the region, and all of Africa, that they stand ready to protect democracy and are willing to send troops to enforce fair election results, says the BBC's West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy.
Mr Jammeh had at first accepted defeat in the election but then reversed his position.
He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process.

Yahya Jammeh: At a glance

Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionAbuses alleged to have occurred under Mr Jammeh could now be investigated
  • Born in May 1965
  • Seized power in a coup in 1994
  • In 2013, he vowed to stay in power for "a billion years" if God wills
  • He also ordered the execution of criminals and political opponents on death row
  • Claimed in 2007 he could cure Aids and infertility with herbal concoctions
  • Warned in 2008 that gay people would be beheaded
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