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Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (born 25 May 1965)[3] is the president of Gambia. As a young army officer, he took power in a July 1994 military coup and was elected as President in 1996; he was re-elected in 2001, 2006, and... moreYahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (born 25 May 1965)[3] is the president of Gambia. As a young army officer, he took power in a July 1994 military coup and was elected as President in 1996; he was re-elected in 2001, 2006, and 2011.
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President Jammeh received a secondary school education in the Gambia, joined the Gambian National Army in 1984, was commissioned a Lieutenant in 1989, and in 1992 became commander of the Gambian Military Police.[4] He received extensive military training in neighboring Senegal and at United States Army School of the Americas.[citation needed]
Rise to power
On 22 July 1994, a group of young officers in the Gambian National Army seized power from President Dawda Jawara in a military coup by taking control of key facilities in the capital city, Banjul.[5] The coup took place without bloodshed and met with very little resistance.[5] The group identified itself as the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC). Jammeh, who was 29 years old at the time, was the chairman of the AFPRC. The AFPRC then suspended the constitution, sealed the borders, and implemented a curfew. While Jammeh's new government justified the coup by decrying corruption and lack of democracy under the Jawara regime, army personnel had also been dissatisfied with their salaries, living conditions, and prospects for promotion.[5]
Elections
Jammeh founded the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction as his political party. He was elected as president in September 1996.[6] Foreign observers did not deem these elections free and fair.[6] He was re-elected on 18 October 2001 with about 53% of the vote; this election was generally deemed free and fair by observers,[7] despite some very serious shortcomings ranging from overt government intimidation of voters to technical innovations (such as raising the required deposit to stand for election by a factor of 25) to distort the process in favour of the incumbent regime.[8]
A coup attempt against Jammeh was reported to have been thwarted on 21 March 2006; Jammeh, who was in Mauritania at the time, quickly returned home. Army chief of staff Col. Ndure Cham, the alleged leader of the plot,[9] reportedly fled to neighboring Senegal, while other alleged conspirators were arrested[10] and were put on trial for treason.[11] In April 2007, ten former officers accused of involvement were convicted and given prison sentences; four of them were sentenced to life in prison.[12]
Jammeh ran for a third term in the presidential election held on 22 September 2006; the election was initially planned for October but was moved forward because of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.[citation needed] He was re-elected with 67.3% of the vote and was declared the winner of the election; the opposition candidate Ousainou Darboe finished second, as in 2001.[13]
In November 2011, Jammeh was again re-elected as president for a fourth term in office, reportedly having received 72% of the popular vote. less
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