This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/world/africa/banjul-gambia.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
United States Embassy in Gambia Confirms Coup Attempt U.S. Embassy Describes Coup Attempt In Gambia
(about 7 hours later)
DAKAR, Senegal — Gunfire erupted overnight in Banjul, the capital of the West African nation of Gambia, and residents awoke Tuesday to find government buildings and the main bridge into town sealed off by fidgety soldiers. DAKAR, Senegal — Gunfire erupted overnight in Banjul, the capital of the West African nation of Gambia, and residents awoke Tuesday to find government buildings and the main bridge into town sealed off by fidgety soldiers.
The United States Embassy confirmed an attempted coup, even as the Gambian government issued a vague statement that “peace and calm continue to prevail in the Gambia.” The United States Embassy reported an attempted coup, even as the Gambian government issued a vague statement that “peace and calm continue to prevail in the Gambia.”
Residents said that shooting began at around 1 a.m. near the seat of government. After day broke, most establishments in the island capital remained closed despite regular broadcasts on state-run radio urging businesses to open. Residents said that shooting began around 1 a.m. near the seat of government. After day broke, most establishments in the island capital remained closed despite regular broadcasts on state-run radio urging businesses to open.
Westerners living in Gambia, which juts like a stake into its larger neighbor, Senegal, awoke to emails from their embassies urging them to stay indoors.Westerners living in Gambia, which juts like a stake into its larger neighbor, Senegal, awoke to emails from their embassies urging them to stay indoors.
“It seems a coup attempt occurred last night,” Dan Whitman, a spokesman for the United States Embassy in Banjul, wrote in an email. “There has been no sign of transfer of political or military power.”“It seems a coup attempt occurred last night,” Dan Whitman, a spokesman for the United States Embassy in Banjul, wrote in an email. “There has been no sign of transfer of political or military power.”
Gambia’s president, Yahya Jammeh, seized power in a putsch 20 years ago. Since 1994, he has weathered several other attempted coups as his government has grown increasingly autocratic. He is known for his erratic behavior and bizarre pronouncements, including claiming that he had found a cure for AIDS. In 2007, he invited reporters to the presidential palace to show off the treatment, which involved rubbing an herbal mixture that smelled strongly of mint onto the skin of patients with H.I.V.Gambia’s president, Yahya Jammeh, seized power in a putsch 20 years ago. Since 1994, he has weathered several other attempted coups as his government has grown increasingly autocratic. He is known for his erratic behavior and bizarre pronouncements, including claiming that he had found a cure for AIDS. In 2007, he invited reporters to the presidential palace to show off the treatment, which involved rubbing an herbal mixture that smelled strongly of mint onto the skin of patients with H.I.V.
At the same time, Gambia has built a thriving tourism economy. International hotel chains have opened and now dot the country’s white-sand beaches, and European airlines were expected to increase direct flights to Banjul to cater to a growing number of package tours.At the same time, Gambia has built a thriving tourism economy. International hotel chains have opened and now dot the country’s white-sand beaches, and European airlines were expected to increase direct flights to Banjul to cater to a growing number of package tours.
The government’s statement on Tuesday neither confirmed nor denied an attempted coup.The government’s statement on Tuesday neither confirmed nor denied an attempted coup.
“Contrary to rumors being circulated, peace and calm continue to prevail in the Gambia, and the government would like to urge the general public and all businesses to carry on with their normal activities as usual,” a news release issued to the state-run broadcaster said.“Contrary to rumors being circulated, peace and calm continue to prevail in the Gambia, and the government would like to urge the general public and all businesses to carry on with their normal activities as usual,” a news release issued to the state-run broadcaster said.
Sheriff Bojang, the editor of The Standard, an independent newspaper, said that he could not enter Banjul on Tuesday morning “because the road was blocked by soldiers.”Sheriff Bojang, the editor of The Standard, an independent newspaper, said that he could not enter Banjul on Tuesday morning “because the road was blocked by soldiers.”
Reports over the weekend quoted state radio as saying that Mr. Jammeh was on a visit to France, but his precise whereabouts remained unknown. French officials were quoted as saying that there was no record of his arrival in France.Reports over the weekend quoted state radio as saying that Mr. Jammeh was on a visit to France, but his precise whereabouts remained unknown. French officials were quoted as saying that there was no record of his arrival in France.
Mr. Jammeh has faced increasing criticism from outside his country for running a repressive state. Amnesty International criticized the authorities this year for changing the Constitution to extend jail terms for some charges of homosexuality to life imprisonment. Mr. Jammeh has faced increasing criticism from outside his country for running a repressive state. Amnesty International criticized the authorities this year for changing the Constitution to increase penalties for some homosexuality charges to life in prison.
The changes came “at a time when the space for free speech in Gambia is rapidly shrinking,” Amnesty International said in a report in November. “Human rights defenders, journalists and political activists face harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and enforced disappearance,” the report added.The changes came “at a time when the space for free speech in Gambia is rapidly shrinking,” Amnesty International said in a report in November. “Human rights defenders, journalists and political activists face harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and enforced disappearance,” the report added.
But for business owners here, the attempted coup came as a shock. Bianca Griffith, a Colorado native who runs a sustainable water treatment company, said she had always viewed the country as peaceful and welcoming to foreign investors.But for business owners here, the attempted coup came as a shock. Bianca Griffith, a Colorado native who runs a sustainable water treatment company, said she had always viewed the country as peaceful and welcoming to foreign investors.
“Everybody got notices from their embassies about the attempted coup,” Ms. Griffith, 24, who’ also runs a tourist lodge south of Banjul, said by telephone. “And everybody wakes up and goes, ‘Oh my god.'” “Everybody got notices from their embassies about the attempted coup,” Ms. Griffith, 24, who also runs a tourist lodge south of Banjul, said by telephone. “And everybody wakes up and goes, ‘Oh, my god.’ ”
She added that the only tension she and others had noted was over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has harmed tourism even though Gambia has had no reported cases.She added that the only tension she and others had noted was over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has harmed tourism even though Gambia has had no reported cases.
“The biggest tension here has been Ebola — its economic ramifications — far more than anything political,” Ms. Griffith said.“The biggest tension here has been Ebola — its economic ramifications — far more than anything political,” Ms. Griffith said.