(JollofNews) – A Gambian activist who was jailed in the United States for his involvement in the December 2014 ill-fated plot to overthrow the former Gambian regime of Yahya Jammeh has been released.
Banka Manneh, a US resident who was chairman of the Gambia Civil Society Associations, regained his freedom early this week after completing a six month jail term.
Mr Manneh, was sentenced in May 2016 by a court in Minnesota for aiding and abetting in preparation of the failed coup but surrendered to prison authorities in August. He will now be subjected to a three-year probation.
Three other US-based Cherno Njie, Papa Faal, Banka Manneh and Alagie Saidy Barrow were also convicted by the same court after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act and conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The men are the first to be prosecuted in 35 years by US authorities for violating the country’s Neutrality Act.
The coup saga in the Gambia unfolded during the early hours of December 30, 2014 when a group of men entered the small West African nation to carry out the coup attempt, with the expectation that others in the country would join and assist them.
But as they attempted to storm the State House they were met with heavy gunfire from security forces, squashing the coup, and killing at least four assailants.
Investigations by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its partners on Joint Terrorism Task Forces in multiple field offices later revealed that prior to departing for the Gambia, between August and October 2014, the conspirators purchased multiple firearms, including M4 semi-automatic rifles, and shipped them to the Gambia for use in the coup attempt. Members of the conspiracy also acquired night-vision goggles, body armor, ammunition, black military style uniform pants, boots, and other personal equipment.
It is estimated that over US$200,000 was spent on ammunition.
The FBI added that on 30th December 2014, a number of the co-conspirators from the US and Europe, met in the woods near the State House in Banjul, which is the home of the Gambian president, and split into two assault teams.
However, when one of the assault teams approached the State House and fired a shot into the air, the team began taking heavy fire from the guard towers.
Although numerous conspirators on the assault teams were killed or injured during the failed attempt to take control of the government building, some of the conspirators were able to flee the Gambia and ultimately returned to the US where they were arrested and charged.
Prosecutors added that while Banka Manneh did not travel to the Gambia, searches on his computer, phone and other documents that were seized after FBI agents raided his house revealed that he “participated in conference calls and exchanged planning documents with the other members of the conspiracy,” and “purchased two pistols and one rifle to equip co-conspirators participating in the coup.”
Investigations revealed that Mr Manneh was designated to serve as the international spokesman for the group. He also busied himself with post-coup planning a prepared a document titled “Transition Into the Third Republic”, which outlined a two-year interim period before elections would be held.
Mr Manneh also travelled to Senegal and Brussels, Belgium to lobby European Union officials to levy sanctions against the Gambia.
Any single life counts,,no make sense kill innocent people for the power,, Very careful, we have to be careful of what we did, if you participate in a coup d’etat where there are political deaths will be paid in front of allah swt .allah said life for life, ie you can not keep laughing if your hands are stained blood ,,
You are a bloody disgruntled bitter hearted being and authentic hypocrite. I bet I have seen potential murderers who will kill from afar and from within without blood on their hands and all such people I came across talk like your bloody hastag PEACE. You are a creeping shadow left of the caged beast Jammeh but Gambia surely will be exorcised of your evil spirit.
Rest in Peace the fallen of the 30 dec. state house attack. Welcome home Banka Manneh. God bless you all out there. My connviction is that your imprisonments are not fair to the majority of Gambians.
We welcome you with open arms Banka.
Keep up your usual fighting spirit, hold your head up high, keep smiling and never forget that, in spite of all adversities, LIFE GOES ON!!
There you are comrade Banka; you have potentially serve the liberation of Gambia out of TERROR & EVIL mechanisation of the EVIL kanilai KILLER FIEFDOM…
Any Decent Gambian willing to sacrifice to your extents, will do just that…
We all have, & WILL always do ANYTHING for Gambia NO MATTER the repercussions & prepared for ANY prices whatsoever; we aren’t any threat to “Western security” &/ to any other persons of peaceful coexistence…
It’s an endeavour well FOUGHT & WON deservingly…
God bless the Gambia for humanity advancement; Ameen…