A Coup plot was reportedly foiled in the Gambia in the evening of Tuesday 21 st March, which also continued in the early hours of the following Wednesday.

According to reports, Lt. Col. Ndure Cham, who is alleged to be the leader of the coup plotters, is still at large. The reports indicate that the PRO Buja Darboe, Maj. Sam Pierre Mendy and Maj. Abdou Jah are among those so far arrested and that they are helping the intelligence Agents with their investigations.

President Yahya A.A.J. Jammeh, who was on a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, was forced to make an emergency landing at the Banjul International on Tuesday on hearing the information of the coup.

However, a press release issued by the office of the President of the Republic of The Gambia disclosed that the alleged coup leader was last seen driving a Renault Megane (KM 7171 A) within the vicinity of Brufut.

‘The general public is further warned that any attempt to assist the fugitive is tantamount to aiding and abetting, which is a punishable offence. While thanking them in anticipation for their cooperation and patriotism, the general public is hereby assured that there is no cause for alarm as the situation is firmly under control. They can go about their normal business as usual', the release noted.

The release added that about twenty-seven people have been arrested and detained including Politicians, Former and Present Security officers and civilians and a businessman.

Those detained include Tamsir Jasseh, former Immigration Director; Musa Mboob, present immigration Director; Abdoulie Kujabi, former NIA Director; Daba Marena, former NIA Director; Karamo Balajo, Senior NIA officer; Lamin Gassama, Security Manager at the Banjul International Airport; Rtd. Maj. Abdoulie Conteh, former mayor Kanifing Municipality (KMC); Alieu Jobe, Gambia's Accountant general; MC Cham, a Veteran politician; Ramzia Diab, former Nominated MP and Raif Diab, a businessman.

“Given the current admirable rate of rapid development with which our country is moving, coupled with a stabilized economy, it is evident that these bed bugs and fleas made such an unpatriotic act for no reason other than sheer greed, inordinate and selfish desire for power and possible outside influence”, the Gambia President Yayah Jammeh said in a statement, shortly after his return to Banjul.

With the Gambia set to host the African Union Summit in the next couple of months, President Jammeh said the coup plotters wanted to send the wrong signal to the international community that the country is not stable, but expressed optimism that the situation is now firmly under control.