News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

How Texas man took on Gambia government and failed

Posted: 13 May 2016 02:29 AM PDT

A US businessman, who failed in his attempt to overthrow the government of Gambia and install himself as president, has been sentenced to a year in prison.

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Saint Paul - A Texas businessman convicted of plotting to violate the US Neutrality Act in a failed 2014 bid to overthrow the government of Gambia and install himself as president of the tiny African nation was sentenced on Thursday to a year in prison.

Two other US citizens of Gambian descent who pleaded guilty with the coup plot leader, Cherno Njie, 58, received six-month prison terms, and a third was sentenced to time already served, federal prosecutors said.

The below-guideline sentences, more lenient than those recommended by federal prosecutors, were handed down by US District Judge Richard Kyle in Minnesota, where the case originated.

Ben Petok, a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office for Minnesota, declined to comment on the rationale for the relatively light punishment levelled against the four men.

But prosecutors' sentencing memoranda stated the defendants “were motivated by a fervent desire to overthrow a regime (they) believed to be inhumane and oppressive,” noting the US government “has long been critical” of Gambia's human rights record.

The previous US military service of Njie's co-conspirators - Papa Faal, 47, of Minnesota, Alagie Barrow, 43, of Tennessee, and Banke Manneh, 43, of Georgia - also were factors in their sentencing, Petok said. Faal, who saw combat in the US Army in Afghanistan, received the lightest sentence.

Nevertheless, the four men “violated US laws that exist to protect the foreign policy of our country and all Americans both at home and abroad,” US Attorney Andrew Luger said.

The current leader of Gambia, President Yahya Jammeh, seized power in a coup 20 years ago and wields tight control over the impoverished West African country of 1.8 million people.

Njie, a Texas housing developer, was the mastermind and chief financial backer of plotters who attacked the presidential palace on December 30, 2014, hoping to topple Jammeh's government while he was out of the country. They had planned to install Njie as interim president, court documents say.

According to court records, the coup bid failed when palace guards opened fire on the attackers, killing three of them, and the remaining raiders fled. Njie and Faal escaped to neighbouring Senegal before returning to the United States.

Each of the four men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act and a firearms conspiracy offense stemming from attempts to smuggle weapons to Gambia.

Reuters

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Zuma wraps up Uganda visit

Posted: 13 May 2016 12:03 AM PDT

Presidents Jacob Zuma and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have reaffirmed bilateral ties between their countries.

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Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma concluded “his successful working visit” to the Republic of Uganda where he attended the inauguration ceremony of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kampala, the Presidency said.

Zuma joined other African leaders who attended the ceremony on Thursday. “As South Africa we congratulate President Museveni and the people of Uganda for a successful Presidential inauguration ceremony. Uganda continues to play a critical role in Africa, particularly in the East Africa Community block where the country is recognised for its good work in conflict resolution processes,” said Zuma.

The Presidency said in a statement that Museveni and Zuma met briefly immediately after the ceremony. They reaffirmed bilateral relations between the two countries and also discussed political and security situation in the Republic of Burundi, as well as the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

During the meeting, Museveni briefed Zuma on the progress made in the mediation process in the Republic of Burundi, where he was appointed as a mediator by the East Africa Community. Zuma was also appointed to lead an African Union High-Level Delegation of Heads of State and Government established to facilitate peace talks and help restore peace and stability Burundi. Museveni and Zuma further agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between Uganda and South Africa, which the Presidency said “enjoy cordial bilateral relations that were cemented during South Africa's liberation struggle period”. So far South Africa and Uganda have 20 signed bilateral agreements in place. “At an economical level, there are approximately 70 South African companies currently operating in Uganda.

In 2015, South African exports to Uganda amounted to R1.7-billion while South African imports totalled R98-million,” said the Presidency. Zuma was accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

African News Agency

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UN, Dlamini-Zuma condemn Darfur attacks

Posted: 13 May 2016 12:00 AM PDT

Following a deadly attack on a refugee camp, AU chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and UN head Ban Ki-moon called for parties to resolve their disputes through dialogue.

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Kampala - African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have jointly condemned Monday's attacks by armed groups on an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp and the shooting at a nearby market in Sortoni, North Darfur.

“The attacks resulted in the killing of five people, including two children and the wounding of several individuals, including a peacekeeper from Ethiopia serving with the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID),” said a statement issued by Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson in New York on Thursday.

The two officials expressed their serious concern over the recent escalation of tensions between nomadic and IDP communities in the area, and called on them to refrain from acts of violence and resolve their disputes through dialogue. “They urge the Sudanese authorities to investigate and promptly and bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice,” said the statement. The continued implementation of UNAMID's mandate was deemed imperative to maintaining security and to protect civilians across Darfur, including those displaced as a result of the most recent fighting in Jebel Marra between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid.

Ban Ki-moon and Dlamini-Zuma urged all conflict parties to resume negotiations without further delay, under the auspices of the AU High Level Implementation Panel for Sudan and South Sudan (AUHIP), with a view to achieving a comprehensive political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict.

African News Agency

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