23 'Coup Plotters' Arrested

At least twenty-three alleged coup plotters have been arrested by the security forces after their attempt to toppled the regime of President Yahya Jammeh was foiled.

The arrested army officers included Major Sang Pierre Mendy, Captain Muhammed Jah, PRO Captain Bunja Darboe, Lt. Wassa Camara, Sgt. Abdoulie Sanyang, RSM Famara Jammeh, RSM Alpha Bah, Private Lamin Sonko.

Lt. Col. Vincent Jatta, a former Chief of Staff and Captain Savage were also reported to have been arrested, although this cannot be confirmed.

The civilians among the arrested men included Rtd. Major Abdoulie Conteh, former mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council; Samba Bah, former SoS for Interior; Daba Marena, former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency; Kemo Balajo, a senior officer at the NIA and Lamin Gassama, Chief security officer of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority.

The Government of The Gambia earlier on reportedly foiled an attempted coup by some army officers in the country on Tuesday night. The abotive coup was said to be at an advanced stage.

A press release from the Office of the President confirmed the said plot on Wednesday. Apart from the former Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel Ndure Cham, who was said to be on the run, the rest were under custody, helping the security in their investigations.

According to the release, Cham was last seen at Brufut on Tuesday night driving himself with a Renault vehicle- registration number KM 7171 A.

The public was asked to supply the whereabouts of Colonel Ndure Cham.

As a result, President Yahya Jammeh who had escaped several coup attempts in the past was said to have cut-short his trip to Mauritania.

The news of the attempted coup had generally shocked most Gambians. The streets remained calm but the subject became the talk of town.

Before the foiled coup was announced, there were heavy security presence in and around the capital Banjul on Tuesday night and early hours of Wednesday morning. Commuters to Banjul were subjected to thorough search in Denton Bridge where a column of vehicles got stranded.

Visitors to Gamtel Headquarters in Banjul complained of abnormal security presence. They reported that those without Identity Cards were refused entry to Gamtel complex.

Some parts of the capital reportedly experienced electricity blackout on Tuesday night.

The Gambia Government confirmed the appointment and promotion of Lang Tombong Tamba to the post of Chief of Defence Staff. Major Peter Singhateh who was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel was named the Deputy Chief of Defence Chief of Staff.

There were replacements in the National Intelligence Agency. While Mr. Harry Sambou was named the acting NIA Director, Ngorr Secka became the acting deputy director of the Agency.