Gambia’s former dictator Yahya Jammeh while negotiating with ECOWAS to transition power peacefully allegedly withdrew over D500 Million Gambian Dalasis ($12.5 Million Dollars ) from the nation’s coffers. Mr. Jammeh is alleged to have forcefully demanded these funds from the Central Bank of the Gambia to entice his security forces and or hire other mercenaries to defend him from ECOWAS regional invading force. This alleged looting was hinted by this paper few days ago but the story never attracted attention from the New government or the local media.
In an interview with a Senegalese television station TFM on January 22nd, the New President of the Gambia Adama Barrow confirmed the story during the interviewing indicating that there are no funds left in government coffers to run government business. The government of the Gambia has been on a stand still since December 5th when the then incumbent President Jammeh rescinded his acceptance of the election results thus creating a political Quagmire.
Mr. Jammeh while working hard to extend his autocratic rule for another three months to wait for the decision of the court was also busy putting together alternative plans to ensure that he takes away as much resources as possible. The former Gambian dictator has ruled the Gambia for two decades treating everything that belongs to the government as his personal property. He claimed that the country belongs to him and could therefore order government resources to be spend in any how he saw fit. Former government officials have claimed that it was not unusual for Jammeh to order the Central Bank to withdraw millions of Dalasis to diver it into his personal use. His brother who ran away from the country in 2015 had startling revelation of the level of extravagance the country’s leader was handling with the nation’s finances.
In addition to the alleged D 500 Million, the Gambian dictator also attempted to transport over a dozen expensive vehicles that he has purchased while occupying the office of the president. Some of those vehicles were specialty customized and are worth over half a million dollars each. These vehicles are properties of the State and they belongs to the office of the President. But Mr. Jammeh arranged those vehicles to transport them to his new destination which he alleged is part of the agreement with ECOWAS which has since then been disputed by the New President. Jammeh was able to load three vehicles and was reportedly going to come back and collect the rest. As we go to press the remaining vehicles are stranded at the airport ready for transportation.
Gambians across the world have reacted angrily to the seeing the former president not only looting monetary resources but also transporting vehicles and other personal properties belong to the government of the Gambia. Many people have called on the new administration to launch an investigation of Jammeh’s alleged looting of national resources. President Adama Barrow has promised to form an independent panel to investigate what had happened during Jammeh’s 22 years of rule and he will act base on the outcome of those investigations. The former President has taken refuge in the tiny West African oil rich nation of Equatorial Guinea. Why Jammeh choose Equatorial Guinea as his new home is not clear. The new government in the meantime is faced with unprecedented challenges of being able to meet basic needs of running the government. The UN, EU, ECOWAS and AU might have to come to the rescue of the nation to give the new government a good start.
Report file by Demba Baldeh