2014 Gambian coup d'état attempt

2014 Gambian coup d'état attempt
Date30 December 2014
LocationBanjul, The Gambia
Result Government victory
Belligerents

The Gambia Gambian Government

 Faction of the Presidential Guard[1][2]
Commanders and leaders
President Yahya Jammeh Lt Colonel Lamin Sanneh (alleged)[3]
Casualties and losses
4 deaths, several wounded[3]

The 2014 Gambian coup d'état attempt broke out during the night of 30 December 2014, when gunfire erupted in the Gambian capital of Banjul.

Events

In an apparent bid to overthrow President Yahya Jammeh, yet unknown gunmen – some allegedly members of the country's Presidential Guard[1][2] – attacked the State House of the Gambia, the official presidential residence. The attackers, who were described by some local media as entering the country from neighbouring Senegal under the command of one Lt Colonel Lamin Sanneh,[3] engaged in heavy fire with government forces. Soldiers reportedly blocked several points of entry to the city,[4] and a full blackout of the state radio and television was likewise reported.[1]

Later during the day, the fighting was reported to have died off. Banks and other businesses remained closed, with state radio playing traditional music and mentioning nothing of the night's events. The government has yet to officially confirm the situation.[5] Local news sources have reported at least four deaths, with several injuries.[3]

The coup ultimately failed as the militants were unable to consolidate control. Jammeh returned the following day. Few details have been released since then, but Jammeh reshuffled his cabinet on January 10th.[6]

Background

At the time of the coup attempt President Yahya Jammeh was out of the country, with sources differing on whether he was in France or Dubai.[2] Jammeh, who himself came to power in the 1994 Gambian coup d'état, has experienced several attempted coups against his regime, and sometimes accused the United Kingdom and United States of being behind said attempts.[7] Previously in November 2014, Jammeh condemned the European Union for its response to increasingly harsh anti-LGBT discrimination under his government. The following month those same measures caused the United States to drop the Gambia from one of its trade programmes.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Gunfire Reported in Gambian Capital as President Away". New York Times. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Gambia rocked by shooting while Jammeh abroad". British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Jarju, P. K. (30 December 2014). "Gambia Deaths As 'Coup' Foiled". Jollof News. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Touray, Suwaibou (30 December 2014). "Gunshots Reported at President’s Residence in Gambia Capital". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Felix, Bate; Lewis, David (30 December 2014). "Soldiers lock down Gambia capital after overnight shooting". Reuters. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Gambia reshuffles cabinet after coup attempt
  7. ↑ Hirsch, Afua (9 October 2013). "The Gambia accuses UK and US of 'relentless efforts' to arrange a coup". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Saine, Pap; Flynn, Daniel (30 November 2014). "Gambia condemns EU pressure on anti-gay law, says to break ties". Reuters. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Lavers, Michael K. (24 December 2014). "Gambia dropped from U.S. trade program". Washington Blade. Retrieved 30 December 2014.