The authorities in the West African state of Gambia have arrested a number of army officers suspected of plotting to overthrow President Yahya Jammeh. Reports say several other officers, including the army chief of staff, Ndure Cham, have fled The Gambia.
President Jammeh cut short a visit to Mauritania and returned home late on Tuesday evening. The capital, Banjul, is reported to be calm, with security forces deployed on the streets. Journalists reported troop movements in the early hours of the morning. President Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup and won a second term in 2001. He seeks re-election this year.
There have been a number of high-profile army sackings in the past year or so. Late last year, Gambian police arrested three leading opposition figures in what the government said was part of a probe into a national security threat. ... BBC News
Grapevine has it that Captain Peter Singhateh ( The guy who allegedly murdered Ousman Koro Ceesay) is amongst those arrested. I have no independent way of knowing or verifying what is going on in the Gambia. But my gut feeling is that this is another one of those wags the dog scenarios. The economy is tanking and the opposition is revving up its attacks on the ineptitude government. What do a dictator do? Round up a few soldiers and accuse them of planning a coup. It is not like this is the first time that has happen since this mad man took over our once peaceful country.
Update:
Peter Singhateh has been promoted to deputy chief of staff according to information relayed on Radio Gambia. So the initial rumor of his (Peter's) arrest was just that...a rumor.
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