How Rebels shattered the Innocence and Peace of a Nation – One Family’s Story of Survival
In A Week Of Hell, Papa Faal narrates his family’s experience in their death defying struggle to survive as one of Koukoie Samba Sanyang’s hostages, in the 1981 abortive coup in The Gambia. Papa Faal is the grandson of renown Brikama businessman, Alhagie Sheriffo Jawara, and the great-nephew of President Sir Dawda K. Jawara. Papa and his family survived the murderous intents of Koukoie and his rebels; and in this book, he recounts his emotional, thrilling and suspenseful experience in how they did it. They were the lucky ones; some 500 fellow citizens paid the ultimate price for Koukoie’s reckless and murderous rampage.
Thanks to the valiant Senegalese Liberation forces and loyal Gambian security officers, Papa is here today to share his thrilling story. Papa takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride as he and his family were betrayed and forsaken by neighbors and supposed friends. After Koukoie and his rebels placed a ransom on his family’s head, they fled into hiding only to be turned in by “friends’. Papa was initiated into manhood overnight. The rebels hunted Papa and his siblings down like wild animals in the countryside and cornfields, and fired on them with rampant disregard. Papa and family end up at Seyfo (chief) Sanjally Bojang’s compound in the village Kembujeh where they were eventually rescued by the Senegalese Liberation forces seven days later. The story ends with the Liberation of the country, the triumphant return of President Jawara, and the trials of the captured rebels, collaborators and their kidnapers.
The story is set in the vibrant town of Brikama in the Western Division of the Gambia. Brikama was and still is a cultural melting pot; a regional economic hub, and as it would turn out later in the story, a strategic and military chokepoint or flashpoint. Papa takes us on a nostalgic tour of his innocent childhood under his late father and later, his grandfather and mother. We get a glimpse of what life was like in the 1970s and 1980s, but also get a sense of the dark clouds of coups and wars as they gathered over West Africa. On the fateful day of July 30, 1981, we were woken up to the usual high sounding revolutionary rhetoric over the radio airwaves, as Koukoie announced the overthrow of the democratic government of President Jawara , while the President vacationed in London. President Jawara attended the wedding of Lady Diana and Prince during that vacation.
Papa describes the initial impulsive and drunken response of some in the public. As Papa walked the streets of Brikama to gauge public reaction and monitor events, it became clear that his family was targetedby vindictive and vengeful mobs. His family was in disarray as they fled in all directions to save their own lives. The coup quickly degenerated into uncontrolled chaos and carnage as mobs went on rampage, looting raping and burning. Papa’s own family driver and worker turned them in to the rebels as Koukoie placed a ransom on their heads. By this time President Jawara was on his way to Dakar, to invoke the 1965 Mutual Defense Agreement with President Diouf. Koukoie was rattled by President Jawara’s determination to return, and the psychological battle of the century ensued over the airwaves. Koukoie dragged hostages to Radio Gambia and made them read statementsunder coercion, threatening the president’s family and other dignitaries of cruel death. Meanwhile, Papa and his family were eventually captured in hiding in cornfields as they ran for cover. By thattime, the Senegalese forces were engaging the rebels in a fierce battle. The roads to Bakau field force depot were the hostages were held of cutoff by the Senegalese military. The rebels took Papa and his family to Seyfo Sanjally Bojang, who was then family friend but was a regular at Radio Gambia, making incendiary and treasonous proclamations against President Jawara. Sanjally himself was later humbled and faced with stark violence after his family was attacked and robbed while he was away.Papa and his family were relatively safe at Sanjally’s property, except for the one moment when they almost were killed by the Senegalese firepower after the overzealous gatekeeper, Ebrima, provoked the military convoy. Sanjally protected Papa and his family in the latter stages of the coup.
Papa also sheds more light, gives an insight into the seeming treasonous proclamations and pronouncements, over Radio Gambia, by Sanjally Bojang. He reveals a human, softer and cunning side of Sanjally that many never saw, a side and kindness that saved his family, in many ways.
In the end, the perpetrators of the abortive coup were brought to justice and jailed. Seven rebels were sentenced to treason. Mustapha Danso became the first Gambia since independence to be executed. Although Koukoie Samba Sanjang remain at large.
It has been 31 years since the abortive coup d’état and the nation has fully reconciled. In fact, some of the coup plotters are walking the streets today scot-free. In the spirit of reconciliation, some family and individual names have been intentionally changed in the book to protect their identity.
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