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The Gambia's ex-ruler Yahya Jammeh plundered the state coffers in his final weeks in power, stealing millions of dollars and shipping out luxury vehicles by cargo plane, according to an aide to new president Adama Barrow.
Jammeh, who ruled the small West African country for 22 years, flew into exile late on Saturday [Jan 21] to Equatorial Guinea.
He had refused to concede defeat in a December 1 election but eventually relinquished power after a delegation of West African leaders convinced him to step down, even as troops from neighbouring countries entered The Gambia.
[...] But amid growing controversy over the assurances offered to Jammeh to guarantee his departure, Barrow adviser Mai Fatty said the new administration had discovered that millions of dollars had recently been stolen.
[...] "Over two weeks, over 500m dalasi ($11 million) were withdrawn" by Jammeh, he said. "As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress."
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 27 2017, @10:56AM
Over two weeks, over 500m dalasi ($11 million) were withdrawn
the government of The Gambia is in financial distress.
That's only 11 million dollars, not billions. Gambia has 1.8 million people, if 11 million dollars going missing causes financial distress it means the Gov was already in financial distress.
It's like saying you're in financial distress because someone stole 6 dollars from your bank account.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 27 2017, @12:42PM
In some places, $6 is a week or two's income. There's definitely been times in my life when losing a week's pay would have put me in the shit.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 27 2017, @05:35PM