It’s the first time the new government of the west African country has put a figure on the amount it believes Jammeh plundered from state coffers before leaving for exile in Equatorial Guinea in January after 22 years in power.

“President Yahya Jammeh personally or under his instructions directed the unlawful withdrawal of at least $50 million,” Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou said, describing withdrawals from The Gambia’s central bank and linked with state-owned Gamtel between 2013 and 2017.

“We have today obtained a court order freezing or placing a temporary hold on the known assets in the country of former President Yahya Jammeh and companies directly associated with him,” Tambadou added.

READ MORE: Remembering The Gambia’s notorious Mile 2 Prison

The court order concerns 88 bank accounts in Jammeh’s name or those of his associates, Tambadou told journalists, along with 14 companies linked with the former strongman.

Jammeh ran everything from bakeries to farms during his tenure and was regularly accused of taking over successful businesses for his own gain.

Monday’s order was designed to prevent Jammeh “liquidating or dissipating assets”, the minister added, confirming the order applied only to the former leader’s assets in The Gambia.

Last Tuesday Gambian police said three cousins of the former president would face theft charges after selling off his cattle, raising suspicions that his contacts still in the country were under scrutiny.

“These discoveries are just a tip of the iceberg,” Tambadou told a news conference.

Interior Minister Mai Fatty accused Jammeh of taking $11m after leaving in January, adding that he also took luxury cars piled on to a Chadian cargo plane, but the claim was not backed up by the rest of the cabinet.

The Gambia’s longtime opposition United Democratic Party won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections in April, easily defeating Jammeh’s party which has been cast into the electoral wilderness by his departure.

That came after the stunning ousting of Jammeh by President Adama Barrow in a December presidential election, a result which the defeated leader fought for weeks until the threat of a regional military intervention.

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate dozens of forced disappearances under Jammeh’s rule, with victims clamouring for justice.

The Gambia’s National Assembly was long derided for acting as a rubber stamp for Jammeh’s decisions, but hopes are high for a revitalised chamber with a raft of fresh faces elected.

–

Source: Aljazeera

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The international bodies indicated they will be working with the government of The Gambia to ensure that it respects the rights of former President Jammeh, as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6bFekizfamU1iUUNgQ91LjfXnVqotSft”]Mr. Jammeh left the country in the wake of elections that ousted him after 22 years in power. He was defeated in December’s election by now-President of the state, Adama Barrow, but went on to challenge the results.

But two days after President Barrow was sworn in, Mr Jammeh left on a plane reportedly bound for Guinea. This among other things is expected to calm tensions to enable the new President return to the country from Senegal to take charge.

In a series of declarations, ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN, said they “will work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of The Gambia and a former head of state.”

The three bodies also urged the government of The Gambia to take all the necessary measures to assure and ensure that there is no witch-hunt of former regime members and supporters former President Jammeh.

“ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to working with the Government of The Gambia to prevent the seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to former President Jammeh or his family, and those of his Cabinet members, government officials and Party supporters, as guaranteed under the Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia,” the declarations also added.

They also made mentions of countries that could potentially offer hospitality to Mr. Jammeh noting that, they “will work to ensure that host countries that offer ‘African hospitality’ to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.”

In this light, ECOWAS will also halt any military operations in The Gambia whilst continuing to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.

Find below the declarations, numbering 14, made by ECOWAS, the AU and the UN

JOINT DECLARATION BY THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES, THE AFRICAN UNION AND THE UNITED NATIONS

ON

THE POLITICAL SITUATION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA

ON

JANUARY 21, 2017

1. Following the Decision of the Summit of the ECOWAS Authority taken on 17th December 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria, Mediation efforts, including visits to Banjul, were undertaken by the Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Mediator, HE President Muhammadu Buhari and Co-Mediator on The Gambia, HE former President John Dramani Mahama, along with HE President Ernest Bai Koroma to mediate on the political impasse with Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh,
2. Following further mediation efforts by HE President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and HE President Alpha Conde of the Republic of Guinea Conakry with HE Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, the former President of the Republic of The Gambia, and in consultation with the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the Chairperson of the AU Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, this declaration is made with the purpose of reaching a peaceful resolution to the political situation in The Gambia.
3. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commend the goodwill and statesmanship of His Excellency former President Jammeh, who with the greater interest of the Gambian people in mind, and in order to preserve the peace, stability and security of The Gambia and maintain its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the dignity of the Gambian people, has decided to facilitate an immediate peaceful and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.
4. In furtherance of this, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it assures and ensures the dignity, respect, security and rights of HE former President Jammeh, as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
5. Further, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it fully guarantees, assures and ensures the dignity, security, safety and rights of former President Jammeh’s immediate family, cabinet members, government officials, Security Officials and party supporters and loyalists.
6. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that no legislative measures are taken by it that would be inconsistent with the previous two paragraphs.
7. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN urge the Government of The Gambia to take all necessary measures to assure and ensure that there is no intimidation, harassment and/or witch-hunting of former regime members and supporters, in conformity with the Constitution and other laws of The Gambia.
8. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to prevent the seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to former President Jammeh or his family and those of his Cabinet members, government officials and Party supporters, as guaranteed under the Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
9. In order to avoid any recriminations, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia on national reconciliation to cement social, cultural and national cohesion.
10. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN underscore strongly the important role of the Gambian Defence and Security Forces in the maintenance of peace and stability of The Gambia and commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it takes all appropriate measures to support the maintenance of the integrity of the [Defence and] Security Forces and guard against all measures that can create division and a breakdown of order.
11. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work to ensure that host countries that offer “African hospitality” to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.
12. In order to assist a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power and the establishment of a new government, HE former President Jammeh will temporarily leave The Gambia on 21 January 2017, without any prejudice to his rights as a citizen, a former President and a Political Party Leader.
13. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of the Gambia and a former head of state.
14. Pursuant to this declaration, ECOWAS will halt any military operations in The Gambia and will continue to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.

Done this 21st day of January, 2017 in Banjul, The Gambia.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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In an announcement on state TV, he said it was “not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed”.

The statement followed hours of talks between Mr Jammeh and West African mediators. He gave no details of what deal might have been struck.

Mr Jammeh has led the country for 22 years but was defeated in December’s election by Adama Barrow.

Mr Barrow has been in neighbouring Senegal for days and was inaugurated as president in the Gambian embassy there on Thursday.

Troops from several West African nations, including Senegal, have been deployed in The Gambia, threatening to drive Mr Jammeh out of office if he did not agree to go.

Mr Jammeh’s decision to quit came after talks with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania.

“I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians,” he said.

“I promise before Allah and the entire nation that all the issues we currently face will be resolved peacefully.”

Shortly before the TV address, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said that a deal had been struck and that Mr Jammeh would leave the country. He gave no further details.

Mr Jammeh was given an ultimatum to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed troops, which expired at 16:00 GMT on Friday.

The deadline was set by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional grouping backed by the United Nations.

The first signs of a breakthrough came on Friday when a senior aide to the new president told the BBC’s Umaru Fofana that Mr Jammeh had agreed to step down.

Mr Jammeh had at first accepted defeat in the election but then reversed his position and said he would not step down.

He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process.

The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow’s win.

Mr Jammeh had vowed to stay in office until new elections were held.

–

Source: BBC

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Writing on Twitter on Friday, Adama Barrow said Jammeh would also leave the country.

“I would like to inform you that Yahya Jammeh has agreed to step down. He is scheduled to depart Gambia today. #NewGambia,” he tweeted.

I would like to inform you that Yaya Jammeh agreed to relinquish power and leave the country.

— Adama Barrow (@BarrowOfficial1) January 20, 2017

Barrow was sworn-in at Gambia’s embassy in Dakar in neighbouring Senegal, on Thursday.

Red carpets were on Friday reportedly laid out at the airport in Gambia’s capital in what appeared to be preparations for a speech by Jammeh and a departure.

Also on Friday, Gambia’s chief of defence forces Ousmane Badjie pledged his allegiance to the country’s new president, a major shift as mediation continued to persuade defeated Jammeh to cede power.

Jammeh had rejected Barrow’s December 1 election win, despite significant pressure from regional powers and the UN, sparking a major crisis.

–

Source: Aljazeera

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According to him, Jammeh’s stay in the Gambia under his presidency, will make governance very difficult.

Speaking to Aljazeera after his inauguration, Mr. Barrow said under the circumstances, Jammeh cannot be allowed to stay in The Gambia.

“Under the circumstances, we cannot allow him [Jammeh] stay in The Gambia. It will make our job difficult. That is why all our negotiations is towards he leaving The Gambia.”

He added that, although he wishes Jammeh should not be allowed to stay in the country, he could return at a later time.

“We can let him come back; but as at now, the political climate does not allow that.”

In his message to Yahya Jammeh, Mr Barrow said, “We are the children of the same generation, myself and Yahya Jammeh. And we have made history together, so I’ll advise him to accept everything in good fate and give peace a chance. It is about democracy”

‘Jammeh asks for extension of ultimatum’

ECOWAS had extended an ultimatum it issued to Mr. Jammeh to step down to 1600GMT from 1200GMT.

This was upon the request of Mr. Jammeh, who is currently meeting with the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, and President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania.

The talks appear to be the last possible attempt by the subregional body to strike a deal with the former leader before it introduces its military troops.

ECOWAS troops had been on standby on the border of the Gambia since Wednesday, but moved into the country on Thursday when the UN Security Council approved of ECOWAS’ military actions in the West African country.

‘Barrow sworn in as President’

President Adama Barrow was sworn into office at the Gambian Embassy in Senegal after Jammeh’s refusal to step down forced him to leave the country for Dakar.

His inauguration was witnessed by representatives of the ECOWAS, AU and the UN as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Guinea’s President Alpha Conde and Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived in the Gambian capital Banjul on Friday for last-ditch talks with Jammeh, witnesses said. It was not clear whether Jammeh intended to step down.

A regional military force that crossed the border in support of his democratically elected successor, Adama Barrow, was awaiting orders on Friday. MarcelAlain de Souza, chair of the west African union Ecowas, said troops would force Jammeh out if he refused to leave the country.

The west African troops entered the Gambia on Thursday night, hours after Barrow was forced to hold his inauguration as president in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. De Souza said the west African force, which includes tanks, has so far met no resistance.

Source: Reuters

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It comes shortly after Mr Barrow took the oath of office at The Gambia’s embassy in the capital of Senegal.

He has been recognised internationally. But strongman Yahya Jammeh has refused to quit and is backed by parliament.

West African leaders have threatened to remove Mr Jammeh by force. The UN has backed their support for Mr Barrow.

The 15-member Security Council stressed on Thursday that this should be pursued “by political means first”.

Senegalese army spokesman Col Abdou Ndiaye was quoted by news agencies as saying the country’s troops entered The Gambia on Thursday afternoon.

Nigeria said earlier in the day that its “armed reconnaissance air force are over Gambia”, AFP reports.

“They have the capacity to strike,” Nigerian Air Force spokesman Ayodele Famuyiwa told the news agency.

After the swearing in ceremony, Adama Barrow ordered Gambian soldiers to remain in their barracks

West African military forces have made it clear they are ready to enforce a transfer of power in the country, a popular beach destination among European holidaymakers.

Mr Barrow took oath at the Gambian embassy in Dakar.

In his inauguration speech, he ordered all members of The Gambia’s armed forces to remain in their barracks.

“Those found illegally holding arms will be considered rebels,” he warned.

Western ambassadors to Senegal, the UN envoy for West Africa and officials from the regional bloc Ecowas (Economic Community of West African States) attended the ceremony, while hundreds of Gambian expatriates gathered outside the compound.

Meanwhile, Mr Jammeh’s term in office has been extended for three months by a two-thirds majority in parliament. Some experts say he still has a legitimate claim to be called the country’s president.

Gambian Information Minister Sidie Njie told the BBC on Thursday that Mr Jammeh would not leave his office.

–

Source: BBC

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Mr. Barrow has been living in Senegal for the past few days following political crisis in The Gambia, because Yahya Jammeh who lost in the country’s election to Barrow on December 1, 2016, has refused to step down despite conceding defeat.

Mr. Barrow in his inaugural speech said, “This is a victory for the Gambian nation. Power belongs to the people in The Gambia. This is a day no Gambian will ever forget; first time since The Gambia became independent that it’s changed a government through the ballot box,” Barrow said.

He thus called on the international community to help force out Mr. Jammeh.

“My right as the winner to be sworn in and assume the office President is constitutionally guaranteed and irreversible. I hereby make a special appeal to ECOWAS, AU and the UN, particularly the Security Council to support the government and the people of The Gambia in enforcing their will and restore their sovereignty and constitutional legitimacy.”

Several efforts by ECOWAS leaders to have Mr. Jammeh step down have been fruitless.

[contextly_sidebar id=”CNBa0WB1h9mdRzSDdvJGi8GHxGPzgNrj”]Meanwhile, Mr. Barrow was sworn into office by the head of the Gambian Bar Association.

Several dignitaries from ECOWAS and AU were at the function.

Background

Mr. Jammeh had said there were irregularities in the election held on December  1 2016, and that some of his supporters were turned away from polling stations.

He also complained about some errors made by the Electoral Commission.

The Commission accepted that, some of the results it initially published contained errors, but said Mr. Barrow had still won. Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held.

He had The Gambian Parliament extend his tenure by 90 days and further declared a state of emergency.

ECOWAS however sent troops to the country to enforce rule of law in The Gambia.

Barrow will struggle if military ousts Jammeh – MFWA

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) had earlier observed that The Gambia’s president-elect Adama Barrow will struggle to govern, if embattled President Yahya Jammeh is forcefully ejected by military assembled by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to the foundation, a lot of lives might also be lost.

Mr. Jammeh, whose mandate per the Gambia’s constitution should have ended at midnight on Wednesday, had that mandate extended by Parliament by 90 days.

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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A statement issued on Thursday, January 19, said the decision takes effect immediately.

Botswana becomes the first country to officially denounce Mr. Jammeh as President of the Gambia.

The statement issued by the government said its decision was because Yahya Jammeh has refused to hand over power in obedience of the will of the Gambian people, who democratically voted real estate mogul, Adama Barrow, as their new President.

“Following Mr. Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to hand over power to the President-elect Adama Barrow, in accordance with the expressed will of the Gambian people, the Government of Botswana announces that it will no longer recognize Mr. Jammeh as the President of Gambia, together with his Government,” the statement said.

It added that, Jammeh’s posture undermined the ongoing efforts to promote democracy in Africa.

It further called on the international community to exert pressure on Mr. Jammeh to relinquish power and ensure a smooth transition to the new government.

 Read the full statement below:

RE: THE GAMBIA – BOTSWANA NO LONGER RECOGNISES MR. JAMMEH

PRESS RELEASE Gaborone, 19th January 2017: Following Mr. Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to hand over power to the President-elect Adama Barrow, in accordance with the expressed will of the Gambian people, the Government of Botswana announces that it will no longer recognise Mr. Jammeh as the President of Gambia, together with his Government. This decision which takes effect immediately is consistent with Botswana’s position as articulated through the Press Release of 16th December 2016.

Mr. Jammeh’s decision not to respect the will of the Gambian people undermines the ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. This is also in direct contravention of the spirit and aspirations of the African Union Constitutive Act.

The Government of Botswana therefore continues to appeal to the international community to do all within its power to exert pressure on Mr. Jammeh to hand over power in order to ensure a smooth transition.

Jammeh tenure expires

Jammeh’s tenure which expired at midnight on Wednesday, was earlier extended by 90 days by Gambia’s Parliament.

A state of emergency has also been declared in the country.

Barrow stays in Senegal

President-elect Adama Barrow has been living in Senegal for the past few days, following a request by West African leaders after a summit in Mali.

Several talks between Jammeh, ECOWAS and AU leaders in a bid to have him step down have failed.

ECOWAS troops head to Gambia

ECOWAS troops from Nigeria, Ghana, and neighboring countries, have however been deployed troops to The Gambia, to ensure that the rule of law prevails in that country.

Ghana and Nigeria have so far deployed 205 and 200 military personnel respectively.

Why is Mr. Jammeh refusing to leave office?

The Gambia regularly held elections, which he won until last year. Mr Jammeh had said there were irregularities in the election process, including the turning away of some of his supporters from polling stations, and errors made by the Electoral Commission.

The Commission accepted that some of the results it initially published contained errors, but said Mr. Barrow had still won. Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held.

Retaining power would have ensured he was not prosecuted in The Gambia for alleged abuses committed during his rule. The US state department urged Mr. Jammeh to peacefully transfer power to Mr Barrow on Thursday.

“Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect The Gambian people from potential chaos,” spokesman John Kirby said.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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Senegal gave him a midnight GMT deadline to quit and Nigeria has sent an air force unit to Senegal in support of the possible intervention.

Wednesday was meant to be his last day in office but parliament has granted him three more months in the post.

It effectively stops successor Adama Barrow being sworn in on Thursday.

His shock victory in the 1 December election plunged The Gambia into crisis.

West African countries are seeking UN backing to intervene militarily to eject Mr Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1994.

Meanwhile, thousands of UK and Dutch tourists are being evacuated from the tiny West African state, which is popular with European holidaymakers because of its beaches.

Why is Senegal taking the lead?

Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States, has mandated Senegal, which almost surrounds The Gambia, to spearhead military intervention, but only as a last resort and with the backing of the UN Security Council.

The Gambia’s entire armed forces is made up of only about 2,500 troops, making it difficult to see how they can defeat a regional force if it moves in, says BBC Africa Monitoring security correspondent Tomi Oladipo.

Mr Jammeh has declared a 90-day state of emergency, saying “any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement of violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace” were banned.

Security forces, he said, had been instructed to “maintain absolute peace, law and order”.

Could there be a refugee crisis?

At least 26,000 Gambians, mostly women and children, had crossed into Senegal by Monday evening amid fears that violence could erupt, the UN refugee agency said, citing Senegalese government figures.

“The flow has increased sharply since then,” regional spokeswoman Helene Caux was quoted by Reuters as saying.

ravel firm Thomas Cook said it would fly back to the UK, over the next 48 hours, 985 customers from package holidays after the Foreign Office advised “against all but essential travel to The Gambia due to ongoing political uncertainty and potential military intervention following the presidential elections”.

About 1,600 Dutch citizens are also being flown home after similar advice from their government.

Tourism has become the fastest-growing sector of The Gambia’s economy, and the country, which has a population of about two million, was marketed to holidaymakers as “the smiling coast of West Africa”.

But many of its citizens are poor and complain of political repression. Some, including the goalkeeper of the national women’s football team, have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe in the hope of a better life.

Why is Mr Jammeh refusing to leave office?

The Gambia regularly held elections, which he won until last year.

Mr Jammeh has said there were irregularities in the election process, including the turning away of some of his supporters from polling stations, and errors made by the electoral commission.

The commission accepted that some of the results it initially published contained errors, but said Mr Barrow had still won.

Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held.

Retaining power would also ensure he was not prosecuted in The Gambia for alleged abuses committed during his rule.

The US state department urged Mr Jammeh to peacefully transfer power to Mr Barrow on Thursday.

“Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect The Gambian people from potential chaos,” spokesman John Kirby said.

–

Source: BBC

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