The Gambian government’s initial statement regarding the attempted coup read, “Contrary to rumors being circulated, peace and calm continue to prevail in the Gambia, and the government would like to urge the general public and all businesses to carry on with their normal activities as usual.”
57-year-old Texas businessman Cherno Njie, an American citizen of Gambian origin, was charged with leading a group of 10-15 members in the attempted coup. The members, living in the U.S., UK, and Germany, used the States as their headquarters, and Mr. Njie as their main financier.
As they were few in numbers, the members of the coup attempt counted on disloyalty among Gambian military members. Supposedly, they had received support from up to 160 Gambian soldiers who had agreed to support the coup. Instead, they were met with intense resistance from government guards.
Armed with semi-automatic rifles and high vision goggles, the coup members are alleged to have bought their weapons from gun shops across America. According to FBI Agent Nicholas Marshall, “Most, if not all of the members of the group, had served in The Gambian or US military, and were avid shooters.”
Source: BBC.com
Much of the information regarding the attempted coup came from Papa Faal, another Texas businessman and co-conpsirator in the coup plot. After the failed attempt, he handed himself into authorities and gave details of the attempt to the FBI.
In their official statement, the State Department of the U.S. said, “We strongly condemn any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means.” The U.S. has in the past, however, been a strong critic of President Jammeh with regard to human rights violations. There is no evidence to suggest that American officials had any part in the coup plot.
The initial coup plot was to target President Jammeh on the road and block the presidential convoy and ambush the vehicle. After learning that the president would be traveling abroad, they changed to plan to an attack on the presidential palace instead.
As the main funder of the coup attempt, Njie would have been installed as the leader of The Gambia should they have been successful. As the initial plan had to be changed, Njie stayed in a safe house during the attempt on the palace so he would be ready to assume the presidency upon the coup’s success.
The coup members split into two missions – Alpha and Bravo – to attack the front and back of the palace simultaneously. Rather than finding government soldiers unwilling to die for Jammeh, the guards fought back, and the majority of Alpha team members, who had attempted to breach the front door of the palace by vehicle, were killed.
Njie was able to fly back to the United States on January 3 via Senegal, while Faal traveled to the U.S. embassy in Senegal after several attempts to enter the country. At the embassy, he was questioned on the coup plot, leading to both his arrest and that of Njie.
Though they have not yet been asked to plead at this time, both Njie and Faal are being tried in American courts for conspiring to overthrow Jammeh. They are also being charged with conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act, which makes it illegal for American citizens to take up arms against a friendly nation.
After the attempted coup, President Jammeh removed Basiru Mahoney from his position, naming instead Mama Fatima Singhateh as Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Jammeh has also accused foreign-based dissidents of organizing the coup attempt, and security forces have made several arrests within The Gambia, though have not released many details.
