BANJUL, Gambia, Dec. 31 (UPI) — Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh returned from a trip abroad early Wednesday amid reports of an attempted coup.
“Rest assured that the Enemies of the People have been defeated,” the president said in a statement.
The coup was allegedly launched by former state house commander, Lt. Col. Lamin Sanneh, early Tuesday and targeted the presidential palace in Banjul and a military post at the Denton Bridge. The attackers reportedly entered The Gambia through neighboring Senegal.
According to government-controlled local media, “Two of the attackers killed during the shootout are residents of the United States,” including Sanneh, who fled The Gambia in 2012 and sought asylum in the U.S. Freedom Newspaper reported that a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves was among four of the attackers who were killed.
The U.S. Department of State issued a statement that it was aware of the reported coup. “We strongly condemn any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means. We regret the loss of life and call on all parties to refrain from further violence.”
US aware of reports of coup attempt in The #Gambia. We strongly condemn any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means.— DOS African Affairs (@StateAfrica) December 31, 2014
The Gambian government initially denied there had been a coup attempt. Jammeh, however, later denounced Sanneh, whom he described as a “disgraced” former soldier, and the “attempt to overthrow its legitimate government.”
Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, has said he plans to rule the country for “a billion years.”
There was speculation that the alleged coup could be used by Jammeh to tighten his grip over the government and military.
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