Gainako has been gathering information all day regarding the status of the military attempt to topple the Jammeh regime in Gambia. Reliable information is that the Jammeh administration is involved in heavy propaganda to bury what has become a serious security blow to the Jammeh government. The government issued a statement through the National Radio and Television Services (GRTS) urging people “to go about their business”. The President issued his own statement from his undisclosed location outside of the country announcing what he called the “a thwarted coup attempt”. The statement reads:
“My fellow Gambians: At 1 o’clock this morning, forces loyal to Lamin Sanneh, the disgraced former Commanding Officer of the State Guards, invaded The Gambia from Senegal in an attempt to overthrow its legitimate government. A group of armed men attacked the presidential palace and the Denton bridge military post before being quickly repelled. Four of the insurgents were killed and four more captured.
Sanneh himse…lf sustained injuries and may have died in the attack. No Gambian feels the anguish of this heinous plot more deeply than I, against whom Sanneh adds the sin of betraying a friend to the ignominy of high treason. Rest assured that the Enemies of the People have been defeated, and I will be returning from my state visit to France immediately in order to oversee an investigation and ensure that the perpetrators of this plot face stern justice”. Al-Haji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh
In another report a Chadian Newspaper Newage reported that the embattled Gambian President has landed in the Capital Njamenah in an aircraft that bears the country’s colors. He was reportedly en-route to Banjul from Dubai. However, after almost 22 hours the President still has not landed in Gambia in fear that the situation is still not under control contrary to government statements.
Reliable information close to the Presidential delegation has it that the President is still at an undisclosed location and is uncertain when to return to the country. The President is weighing his options on whether to fly into Banjul or go through Guinea Bissau to enter into Gambia as Senegal is an unsafe option for him to land another source added.
The most damning report reaching gainako through one of our reporters is that a source close to the Senegalese authorities has indicated that the Macky Sall government has refuse to grant Jammeh access to land into Senegal or use its airspace. It is already noted that the distraught Jammeh is accusing Senegal of being the staging ground for this failed military operation. What this means is that this latest accusation will add significant distrust and tension between Senegalese government and the Gambia. The Gambia government has reportedly closed the border with Senegal in an effort to prevent anymore arm attackers coming from the border. This also means that hundreds of Senegalese and Gambian citizens who attend the Annual Macgal in Turba would not be able to cross the border for this annual religious celebration which attracts thousands of people across the sub region.
As we go to press this evening there are reports of gunfire being heard around the Gambia Ports Authority in the capital Banjul. It is not known whether the insurgents are still battling the Jammeh loyalists in Banjul. Political pundits have it that if Jammeh returns to the Gambia the people who are defending his regime will be the first casualties and that senior security officers especially the NIA, the CDS, the Inspector General of Police and commanders of the State guard would be the biggest casualties of the embattled leader who has vowed to “bury six feet deep” any citizens involved in destabilizing his iron fist regime. Whatever the situation is in Gambia Jammeh’s fear of returning to the country after almost 48 hours of military operations is indicative of his lack of control of the situation in the country. It is therefore credible to ascertain that power vacuum indeed exist in Gambia as the President is stranded outside in fear of what may.