(JollofNews) – The head of a West African force maintaining security in The Gambia told AFP Friday that army officials loyal to veteran former leader Yahya Jammeh were plotting against the new government.
West African troops were first sent to The Gambia in January to compel Jammeh to relinquish power to his elected successor Adama Barrow, but were retained at the new president’s request over fears for his safety.
Colonel Magatte Ndiaye, the head of a Senegalese contingent deployed by the the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), told AFP that rebel elements were intent on destabilising the country and working with exiled Jammeh-era top brass.
“High-ranking officials of the Gambia Armed Forces that have fled with the former president have maintained contact with hostile elements within The Gambia security forces still on active duty,” Ndiaye told AFP.
Members of Jammeh’s ultra-loyal death squad, known as the “Jungulars”, had succeeded in fleeing to neighbouring countries, he added, despite calls to bring them to justice.
“When you put the influence from outside and the operation from inside together, it shows that there are so many negative forces working to make this country ungovernable,” Ndiaye said.
Jammeh is currently living in exile in Equatorial Guinea as part of a deal to get him to leave the country peacefully following 22 years in power, and is believed to have taken several of his most important aides with him.
Senegal’s foreign minister described The Gambia as threatened by external forces in June, sparking speculation over the level of danger posed by groups such as the Jungulars intent on sowing discord in The Gambia.
Colonel Ndiaye said that while his troops were “succeeding in building that confidence between the Gambian people and their own security forces,” demonstrations were being planned that warranted their attention.
One protester was killed in a violent demonstration against the presence of the West African force near Jammeh’s home village of Kanilai in June, which Ndiaye described at the time as “self-defence” against a crowd of 600 people with hunting rifles, machetes, knives and stones.
It was only to be expected. So who’s advice can be trusted ?
Of course they would say that to keep their jobs, or would they not?
It is sad that the Gambia’s security is perceived to depends on West African Forces, but then, what is Jammeh, his era’s top-brass and the Jugunlars up to right now? Why did the ugly sleepyhead- drugged-killer-squad all took off on their heels and went in to hiding? Where is the sick cocaine soot-eyed Sana Manjang and all the rest of them rotten-head idiots?
Guess where they may be hiding: nearby bushes? surrounding countries? Bissau? Burkina? Conakry? Abidjan? Portugal? Serbia? Spain? Where are they??
This threat is real. Saliff Sadio is working with them This reminds me of Bob Marley, ‘He who fights and run away, lives to fight another way”
Observations:
1. If indeed Colonel Ndiaye had made the statement attributed to him regarding the Kaninlai demonstrators (being armed with hunting rifles, machetes, knives and stones), then it will be very difficult to believe whatever information is coming from his office, as these claims have been dismissed by independent eye witnesses and yet to be substantiated by those who make it.
2. Yaya Jammeh was part of, and inherited an Army, that was low in moral, corrupt in practice, riddled with dissatisfactions, misguided in mentality and bloated with an officer core that was highly inefficient, unsuitable for their roles and command no respect from the rank and file, all probably because they (the rank and file) knew how these people became officers: through nepotism and favouritism for the most part.
Jammeh, knowing what he inherited and having zero respect for the officers, went on to literally impose himself on the nation and over the years, built an army that suits his intention to create a dynasty in The Gambia, through the “carrot and stick” strategy: reward (with rank, materials and privileges) for compliance and punishment (with arrest and detention, humiliation through demotion/dismissal and bogus charges) for non compliance. And it worked.
Outwardly, Jammeh may look like a fool, but nothing could be more deceiving than looks. He was a calculating animal who knew exactly what he wanted and he often employs strategies to test and gauge the extent of his success to achieve his ideal army.
One former operative of the defunct NSS, who was stationed at the state house as an NIA agent, but later fled into exile (can’t remember his name) revealed a very interesting event at the state house one day, during a Freedom Radio interview.
It was a fall-in of sort, like a guard of honour or some kind inspection of the troops and Jammeh asked a very strange question afterwards. He asked the men whether they were loyal to him or to the country and according to the guy, all except a Junior soldier, said they were loyal to him. The junior soldier said he was loyal to the country.
After the event, when the men had fall-out, the young soldier was called into the commander’s office and reprimanded for saying what he said. They acknowledged to him that it was the right thing to say, but it was the wrong place to say it.
One does not need to be a psychologist to see what Jammeh’s mindset was at the time. He was testing and gauging to see how far he has created a pliant force. He knew exactly what he wanted and, was doing to the Armed Forces all those years.
I do not agree with calls to disband the GNA, but I think a complete overhaul is required. There are certainly good soldiers who did no harm, but as a whole, the institution is not fit for purpose and needs a complete rebuilding. From General Masanneh Kinteh to the last enlisted man/woman, no one should be spared.
Bax, please let’s not blame anything on political heritage now as Gambians crave for moving forward.
Lets get a bit real about it now;
Yaya Jammeh and his council of coupist told Gambians that they staged a coup because the Jawara government was corrupt and incompetent. For that reason, Gambians supported them with the hope that they are the promise. But no, indeed they proved to be those highway armed robber without a grit of respect for the human life and the rule of law, for them to end up driving the nation farther backwards into decadence, fear, hopelessness, frustration and savagery. Jammeh did everything to get himself ‘glued’ to power under such circumstances even when he had lost it in the ballots. Then the diehard resisting citizenry were left with no options but to call for international efforts to oust him, efforts that precisely apexed to a regional mandate in sending regional forces in the Gambia, for Mr. Ndiaye to prevail as the commander in chief of those forces. This is a scenario to be blamed on the criminality of ruthless citizens, Yaya Jammeh and his cohorts, who have had a country hijacked with a peaceful though imperfect political process, and trampled on it only to get themselves niched in tyranny for 22yrs at the detriment of innocent citizens. Therefore, if we all agree that the chief criminal, Yaya Jammeh and all found guilty to be cohorts in his crimes against the adorable Gambian humanity, will pay for their deeds, then I see no reason why even general Massaneh Kinteh should be spared if he falls in that category. With regards to rebuilding the army, perhaps we need very feasible ideas as to how the rebuilding should be done putting into consideration all the opposing ideas opting for the whole establishment to be scraped off the meagre national budgets.
Jack….
Believe me, I don’t play the blame game. I think that strategy is self defeating, but I do think it will be unreal if we want to divorce the present from the past, or fail to appreciate that the present will impact the future.
The Armed Forces will be an important player in our future, but how they play their role will depend on how we prepare them for that role. The ball is in our court. The ECOMIG will eventually leave, because their continued presence will be an indictment on us, as a nation.
I am definitely not blaming ECOMIG or any individual constituent of its force for the situation in our country, but I think it will be naive to think all have the same interest in The Gambia.
We need to be alive to any maneuvers: political, economic or security related, that seeks to take advantage of our situation to pursue individual or group interests.
The world of International politics is “brutal”, “dark” and “murky” and often, pursuing geopolitical interests supercedes everything else.
Can be Senegal plan to get 100% control on the Gambia as Gambia today has no secret on its own security system all in Senegalese hands witch can finally came with another Senegambia as we are now more closer to Paris than London x
3. Again, if it is true, as reported, that Colonel Ndiaye has indicated that his men are working to build confidence between our Armed Forces and our population, then I will be very worried, as I do not trust the professionalism and/or independence of all the various national forces making up the ECOMIG Force.
Nigeria is a no no, being the most corrupt army ever and Senegal is too subservient to French interest and influence, if not outright control. I don’t know much about Ghana or any other ECOMIG contingent in The Gambia, but I would still reject them all for the same reasons.
If President Barrow is up to the task of rebuilding our Armed Forces, particularly the GNA, the likeliest trouble makers, perhaps he should look towards the UK, the US or even Israel for technical support and material assistance. After all, the GNA enjoyed its golden years under the BATT regime (British Army Training Team). Under our current circumstances and given our history with the empire, it would not be hard to persuade the UK to assume a more proactive role in our rebuilding efforts, especially with an old rival (France) sniffing around a potential oil/gas exporter. One thing is certain: this present army needs to go for our own security and nation’s stability.
4. Any hint of a security threat has to be taken seriously and this one is no different. However, the manner that this security threat was handled raises eye brows and leaves a lot of questions to be asked? From the reaction of our authorities, it seemed they were neither made aware of this threat, nor its nature, before it was made public by the Senegalese and French authorities, and if indeed the Senegalese are aware of the presence of these dissident Jammeh loyalists within their borders, what are they doing about it? Have they informed the Gambia Government about it? Have they been monitoring these dissidents and if yes, what is their level of preparedness, as an invasion takes a lot planning. Who will supply the weapons and how they get to the dissidents?
The Barrow Administration must establish the credibility of this threat first, and depending on their findings, embark on taking steps that neutralise it or prevent it taking place.
Yaya Jammeh is given political asylum, most probably, with conditions and the government must embark on a diplomatic offensive to hold the Equitorial Guinea authorities and all those countries where these disdidents are hiding, to their responsibilities under international law, whilst the military aspect to dealing with this threat is formulated and implemented.
In this world of competing geo-political interests for economic and strategic resource domination, we must be wary of Any attempts to “drag” Gambia into the sphere of influence of French colonial interest in sub-saharan Africa. I am not saying that’s what is happening but we must not be complacent.
Bax what?? Oh please please please, write off Israel. We have already gone through enough hardship. Israel have the intelligence and everything you may want to call it but it is meant for them. Bro, do your own thing or land yourself in a bottomless pit.
One thing I have to tell those stupid soliders who think Yay Jammed will comeback to rule the Gambia again, is they are digging their own graves. ECOWAS will kill anyone who try to over throw the current government.
To Yaya Jammed himself he should think of his own life because anything ECOWAS found fishy they will arrest and hand him over to the ICC. No more military coup will be accepted by ECOWAS .Again the ECOWAS will kill any group or individuals who try to destabilize any government within its region.Beware you are all being monitored
The reports that a good number of soldiers described as Jammeh loyalists may have deserted the army should be thoroughly investigated by the government to establish, not only the truth of these claims, but also the nationality of these soldiers, through scrutinising the documents they presented to be enlisted and interrogating those who signed attestation documents to vouch for citizenship of those who did not produce birth certificates or any national documents.
It may very well be that these “deserting” soldiers are non citizens, probably Senegalese from the Cassamance, who have gone home because they know that they will be found out and removed from the army.
So, rather than posing a threat of invasion, which will be mission suicide under the current circumstances, these “deserters” may actually have gone home to resume their normal lives in their own countries. Our government should not just accept this piece of information as authentic at face value. The manner of revelation does not warrant it.
Incredible position Bax; (it could be) just like in Libya where Sudanese, Malian &/ other nationalities (were) enlisted before in Gaddafi’s army to sustain the crumbling Jamahiriya revolution later in stage; the desserts too can be assessed through documentations & times of (on) documents used, etc, etc; to assess the overalls in the potential reality of the actual threats as to precautionary & reactionary safeguards…
Digital evidences available to some of us doesn’t show any machinery weapons on the demonstrators captured on camera, except for sticks, etc & the (600) amount estimated (on demonstrators) was an overstatement in my opinion; though I for one, don’t rule out nor underestimate the potential threats such can ferment under the evident mfdc rebel syndola activities with landmines & more yet to be countered…
However, the government is expected to be responsible for the overall safety & sacrosanctity of human lives; the demonstrations & induced demonstrators were set in play as evidence came to suggest but some of them mightn’t necessarily be adequately informed/aware on the implications of their actions; where, I believe, the riot civil force (police) should have deployed on the ground to well contain the demonstrations, independent of the ECOMIG soldiers direct reactions; this would’ve saved the live lost; the victims & families deserve investigations, justice & redress &/ compensations, etc etc, necessary…
In the same vein, anyone hallucinating on, can continue on slumber in suicide endeavours IF any think they will be able to set Gambia on fire…
Let’s find out the truth about the desertions & those into hidings; & get the MURDEROUS kanilai killer devil to face the courts in Gambia &/ anywhere else in the world…
I admittedly feel constrained to join this debate of tremendous national importance in this period of transition. Having said that, I must add that I indeed feel vindicated not least by Bax’s admission that it is foolhardy for us as a nation, not least having regard to the genesis of the current standing army, to maintain an army that has had a person with scant respect for human life/rights as its commander-in-chief in a democratic dispensation. No, the institution is clearly not fit for purpose! Hence, it must be disbanded sooner rather than later and replaced preferably by a professional and modern non-standing army one along the lines of Switzerland and some of those states who currently have such a structure on the ground. Of course some of the officers of the current army could easily be redeployed in it depending on merit lest we threw the baby away with the bathwater.
In this regard some of Bax’s suggestions should be taken seriously lest we end up being a sub-French colony or compromising on our sovereignty unacceptably. Our current defense allies from other ECOWAS member-states do have their own domestic challenges too. It is now that we should take advantage of their presence on Gambian soil in collaboration with external allies to effect the requisite changes within the security forces in the country. So, let’s strike while the iron is hot!
Equatorial Guinea is far from The Gambia in distance yes. But to ECOWAS and the UN it’s just a blink of an eye. This is a reminder for Yaya Jamneh and those stupid soliders incase if they forget. You can’t rule forever. Enought is Enought
I think it’s all down to The Gambian people not Ecowas; When Jammeh staged an illegal coup in 1994>>The soldiers with” no difference” were quickly welcomed by the people. Indeed it was rumoured that Jammeh wanted Edward Singeteh to be President, but a tearful Edward refused. Then Jammeh was persuaded to apply to the people to be President successfully and over the years he betrayed his fellow conspirators. Then there were countless coup attempts that numbered over 17. All were betrayed and all were mercilessly put down. When the students were murdered on April 10th 2000>>the officiary wanted to conduct a full investigation with those responsible to face charges. This was suppressed. From this point, true law and order as prescribed by The Constitution dissipated to order.
Meanwhile protest was transferred to international shores, lead by The Freedom Newspaper and followed by others. I for one thought the online brigade of heroes would die through starvation of its need. But I was wrong. The need for online government accountability remains even more necessary. The new government started off by making all the right sounds, leading the public to believe those responsible for murder and torture and wrongful imprisonment would be brought to account. There was a popular move to Freeze Jammeh’s assets and bank accounts. The news currently is that all of these movements supported by the people have stalled. What is also disturbing is to find the promised reform of The Constitution has never materialised. Hence the government is using the same narrow and greatly curtailed Constitutional Law to detain and harass and arrest, just as Jammeh and the APRC did. Though there is no evidence of physical torture, but some evidence of mental torture and people have been shot.
The question now remains, can Jammeh make a political comeback and would the Gambian public do what it always does and see the man and not the illegality. Despite all the efforts of the online media, it was never capable of education the Gambian at home, to follow the moral and legal path. It was capable of bringing to the attention of the International community of what was happening on the ground in Gambia. The efforts of Mai Fatty to highlight matters of concern to the attention of government onlookers, certainly assisted the decisions of Ecowas to intervene. The economic strategy of the Barrow regime, would appear to promote Tax, Borrow and Spend. History shows that governments who employ this strategy, fail. The capital projects attempted, are only to the benefit of the international nation providers. The cost is shouldered by the taxpayers, and the debt is serviced by the banks, at a healthy profitable interest rate>>> and the aspirations of the people need to be fulfilled by a change of government and direction.
Opinion.
For those of you who Don’t know about ECowas ,back in 1994 ECOWAS was just an Economic Committee Of West African States.The military interventions or negotiations in any of its member states affairs was not in their agenda.If the package was there Yaya Jamneh would not have been the president because ECowas would have had Sir Dawda back in the presidency. Thank Allah and the leaders who thought about the military intervention package. Had it not been this package only Allah knows where would been in the. Gambia today.
Gambian Loyal force GLF will ready to fight for this country if any of Jammeh supporters are trying attack this country. we will keep alert and to prevent bloodshed in this country. we have men and well train. we only see gambia. we are not politician.
Senegal has no reliable information or army capable of facing an insurrection if what the liar Mankeur N’Diaye turns out to be real. Senegal, which has the Casamance problem syndrome, plays on the nerves of small Gambia in which it has set up a regime whose president is a Senegalese (Barlow) who to a great fear of his predecessor, wants to extend his military presence in this In order to convince the Gambians of the veracity of its false statement, the Senegalese Minister made his interview in France to ensure a wide diffusion in Africa through RFI (official media of the Quai d’Orsay.
Ahmed Mohamed
From your name i can authoritatively say that you are a non Gambian and for that simple reason you should either stay on the side of facts or shut your lousy trap for god sake. President Barrow was democratically elected by the Gambian electorate in a free and fair election. It is insulting to claim that our government was set up by Senegal especially when that statement is coming from some ignorant semi literate outsider. President Barrow have no reason to fear his predecessor’s return as that will happen God willing in the near future to answer to the various crimes he committed against the Gambian people.
I know that many with such names as yourself know nothing about democracy hence all the wars, destruction, monarchs and dictatorships. We don’t need your false claims and hatred as we can deal with our sister country Senegal in true brotherhood and mutual understanding of the challenges we both face.
God bless our beloved nations.
Effectively, I am not Gambian but I know better than you the traders of the neighbor of The Gambia, Senegal who long sought to swallow this small country. For my part, I can
confirm with certainty that
You are Senegalese who is trying to sow the diversion between the Gambia and the other countries of the subregion. In addition, there is no more illiterate and more blind if you do not notice Barrow’s submission to Macky Sall and the bribes he receives
and its Entries, when at the free election of your Barow, It is debatable because it is what prevented to accept the remedies asked by Jammey. As for the allegations of disappearances or assassination, it is a classicisme opposition which falls within te framework of the proverb which wants to kill his dog the tax of rage.us
Ral language
Ahmed Mohamed
I am born and breed Gambian for your information and that means you are lying to your rotten teeth to claimed with certainty that i am a Senegalese. I am a proud African and know the history of these two great nations before the advent of the colonialist unlike you ignorant self who knows nothing except the concept of divide and rule, a concept used by the colonialist to sow the seeds of division in our continent of Africa and fools like you indoctrinated with this concept going around trying the same insidious tactics to inseminate false and misleading assertions to create confusion,mistrust and hatred between brothers and sisters of these great nations. The bond of fraternity between the people of these two great nations will flourish God willing till the end of time and no false accusations or machinations from you or any other degenerate can stop that.
I am afraid Ahmed but you should understand that this discourse is for people with brains, ideas, opinions not some ignoramus hateful idiot like you who doesn’t know what hubris is coming from his own mouth. Read what you wrote above and see whether anything will make sense to you. To accuse President Barrow of receiving bribes from Macky Sall without supplying any shred of evidence is unethical, un-islamic and morally reprehensible. Those named after our dear prophet should be people of morality not hateful liars like you.
God bless our beloved nation.
Your dirty words of irresponsibility characterized do not convince me that you are not one of the worst Senegalese who seek to help as long as possible the peaceful people of Gambia under the protection of the army of your country. Regarding the bribes of Barrow received him and his wife from Senegal, the press of the two countries debated widely, the gift of millions of CFA offered to bar by Macky Sall and that the Gambians had requested the return because no In conformity with its status as President, as well as the Gifts recently received from a Senegalese banker to whom Barrow gave the vehicles used by Yahya Jammeh which remain the property of the Gambian people even if the latter is no longer in power, to add to all this The length of time he spent at a hosted Gambia hotel, laundered and fed on behalf of a Lebanese citizen working in The Gambia. Finally, the bastard, the cunt and the ignorant is you because listening to your language answer the reader easily perceives that you have never had a training of value in your country Senegal. The training of which you can be proud is surely a training on the job of bad mechanic, waiter in a coffee or restaurant, house keeper or can be retired skirmishers in the French army.
ECOWAS=SÉNÉGAL=ARMÉE DE FROUSSARDS DE VOLEURS ET D’ASSASSIN QUI NE PEUT PAS PROTÉGER SON PAYS A PLUS FORTE RAISON LES AUTRES=ARMÉE MAL ÉQUIPÉE QUI FAIT LA POLITIQUE FRANÇAISE EN PRIORITÉ. LES RENSEIGNEMENTS DE L’ARMÉE SÉNÉGALAISE SONT NULS. RAPPELEZ-VOUS LE CONTINGENT DE MERCENAIRES DE L’ARMÉE SÉNÉGALAISE QUI A ÉTÉ ENVOYÉE POUR SOUTENIR LE KOWEÏT CONTRE L’IRAK, TOUS SES MEMBRES ONT ÉTÉ RETOURNES AU SÉNÉGAL DANS DES CERCUEILS SANS TIRER UNE SEULE CARTOUCHE. CECI PERMET AU GAMBIEN DE MESURER LA PUISSANCE DE CETTE ARMÉE D’INCOMPÉTENTS.