The government of Gambia disclosed on Wednesday that four soldiers have been arrested in connection with an attempted military coup on Tuesday seeking to overthrow the administration of President Adama Barrow.
According to the Gambian authorities, “Based on intelligence reports that some soldiers of the Gambian army were plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Adama Barrow, the Armed Forces in a swift military operation yesterday, arrested 4 soldiers linked to this alleged coup plot”.
Gambian Armed Forces High Command also stated that the apprehended coup plotters were helping in investigations to capture 3 other alleged accomplices, who are currently on the run.
This is not the first time the small West African country is experiencing a coup d’état.
In 1994, Captain Yahya Jammeh led a bloodless coup ousting President Dawda Jawara who was the country’s president since its independence in 1970.
Jammeh led a brutal 22-year dictatorship until he was defeated by Adama Barrow in the 2016 presidential elections but Jammeh refused to hand over power until the intervention of neighboring countries.
