By Lamin Njie
Security officers appeared before former President Yahya Jammeh seeking his blessing to assassinate individuals during the 2016 political impasse, former information minister Seedy Njie has said.
Jammeh stunningly lost the 2016 presidential election and a one month political impasse that followed pushed the country to the brink of war.
Seedy Njie was tapped as information minister in the last humiliating days of Jammeh’s rule, following the resignation of Sheriff Bojang. He was in the role for nine days.
Njie told Paradise TV in an exclusive interview security officers came before Jammeh and asked him to give his blessing for the assassination and arrest of individuals.
“People have approached him, security officials and other people for them to arrest other people, to assassinate other people or even fight but Jammeh refused,” Njie told the outlet.
Former President Jammeh ruled The Gambia for 22 years, a rule that was marked by gross human rights violations and corruption. He was seeking for a fifth term in office when he surprisingly lost to newcomer Adama Barrow in the 1 December 2016 presidential election.
Initially, Mr Jammeh accept defeat but change his mind five days later which triggered a standoff. Ecowas countries then intervened by sending troops to ensure he leaves office. Jammeh now lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
