Gambia arrests five soldiers for alleged coup plot
The Gambian government has arrested five soldiers for an alleged coup plot, the government has announced.
The arrests made between Wednesday and Thursday followed intelligence reports received by the government that some Gambian army soldiers were plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Adama Barrow.
A statement from the president's office listed the names of the arrested soldiers as follows: Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera of the Gambia Navy as the alleged ringleader of the plot; Corporal Mbarra Touras; Corporal Ebrahima Sanno of the Military Police who is currently on study leave; Sergeant Gibril Darboe of the Gambian Navy and Corporal Baboucarr Njie.
According to the statement, the apprehended soldiers are currently assisting the Military Police in their investigations.
"The soldiers allegedly involved in the conspiracy being pursued or fugitive are: Warrant Officer Class 2 Jadama of the Gambian Navy and a Badjie of the Gambian Navy. The first names of Jadama and Badjie have not yet been established" , he said.
The government has urged citizens to go about their business as usual as investigations into the case continue and members of the public will be informed accordingly of any developments as the situation evolves.
Blows in Gambia
Although considered one of the most peaceful countries in Africa, coups are nothing new in The Gambia.
Before the emergence of Adama Barrow in 2016, the West African country was ruled for two decades by Yahya Jammeh who seized power in a 1994 coup and foiled several attempts to overthrow him before losing an election.
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On December 30, 2014, gunmen recruited by the putschists attacked the State House of the Gambia, the official presidential residence, engaging in heavy fire with government forces.
Soldiers blocked several entry points into the city and a complete blackout of state radio and television was put in place.
The coup was short-lived as the putschists failed to consolidate power; Mr. Jammeh returned the next day to continue leading the country.
Africa, home to around 1.4 billion people, roughly one-fifth of the world's population, has been rocked by more coups in the past two years than in the past five years previous ones, since 2015.
Between 2015 and 2019, there was only one success but across the continent.
By contrast, from 2019 to date, there have been at least seven successful coups on the African continent, most of them in West Africa.
Findings by Jonathan Powell and Clayton Thyne of the University of Central Florida and the University of Kentucky show that of 486 attempted or successful coups worldwide since 1950, almost half (214), most of all regions, have taken place. in Africa with 106 of them successful.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble in...
The Gambian government has arrested five soldiers for an alleged coup plot, the government has announced.
The arrests made between Wednesday and Thursday followed intelligence reports received by the government that some Gambian army soldiers were plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Adama Barrow.
A statement from the president's office listed the names of the arrested soldiers as follows: Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera of the Gambia Navy as the alleged ringleader of the plot; Corporal Mbarra Touras; Corporal Ebrahima Sanno of the Military Police who is currently on study leave; Sergeant Gibril Darboe of the Gambian Navy and Corporal Baboucarr Njie.
According to the statement, the apprehended soldiers are currently assisting the Military Police in their investigations.
"The soldiers allegedly involved in the conspiracy being pursued or fugitive are: Warrant Officer Class 2 Jadama of the Gambian Navy and a Badjie of the Gambian Navy. The first names of Jadama and Badjie have not yet been established" , he said.
The government has urged citizens to go about their business as usual as investigations into the case continue and members of the public will be informed accordingly of any developments as the situation evolves.
Blows in Gambia
Although considered one of the most peaceful countries in Africa, coups are nothing new in The Gambia.
Before the emergence of Adama Barrow in 2016, the West African country was ruled for two decades by Yahya Jammeh who seized power in a 1994 coup and foiled several attempts to overthrow him before losing an election.
READ ALSO:
On December 30, 2014, gunmen recruited by the putschists attacked the State House of the Gambia, the official presidential residence, engaging in heavy fire with government forces.
Soldiers blocked several entry points into the city and a complete blackout of state radio and television was put in place.
The coup was short-lived as the putschists failed to consolidate power; Mr. Jammeh returned the next day to continue leading the country.
Africa, home to around 1.4 billion people, roughly one-fifth of the world's population, has been rocked by more coups in the past two years than in the past five years previous ones, since 2015.
Between 2015 and 2019, there was only one success but across the continent.
By contrast, from 2019 to date, there have been at least seven successful coups on the African continent, most of them in West Africa.
Findings by Jonathan Powell and Clayton Thyne of the University of Central Florida and the University of Kentucky show that of 486 attempted or successful coups worldwide since 1950, almost half (214), most of all regions, have taken place. in Africa with 106 of them successful.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble in...What's Your Reaction?
