Ex-Gendarme tips-off path to Jammeh's 1994 coup
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Press Jagne, Sara Janha & Chongan named in amalgamation debacle
By An Ex-Genarme officer
Dear Editor,
Thank you for the space to contribute my quota towards a better Gambia for all Gambians and residents of The Gambia.
Anything going on in The Gambia today whether good or bad, the architects are Former President Jawara, former secretary-general Sara Janha and former Inspector-Generalof Police Press Jagne. Because the trio succeded in dismantling the Gendarmerie without any just reason. The only Force in the country at the time the Army feared in case of any move to overthrow the government. They knew this during their first mutiny by the peace-keepers who returned from Liberia. The current president was among the Gendarmerie contigent that surpressed the mutiny. I remembered when the Senegambia Confederation broke down and the Senegalese security forces were leaving, the last Senegalese Gendarmerie Commander Col. Sulayman Sarr told the former president that he should never allow the Gendarmerie to go. He knew the threat of the Army without the Gendarmerie.
POWER STRUGGLE
When the Senegalese were leaving, former Army commander Col. Ndow Njie was temporarily in charge of the Gendarmerie and the younger brother ( by blood) Capt. Modou Njie took charge of the Presidential Guards. But the Senegalese recomended Capt. Sheriff Mbye to take-over the Gendarmerie. That does not go well with Col. Ndow Njie. For him, Capt. Modou Njie was the most senior among the three captains the Gendarmerie had. They were Captains Modou Njie, Sheriff Mbye and Ebrima Chogan. Then instead of Mbye, col. Ndow Njie recomended a Captain from the Army to take charge of the Gendarmerie with no knowledge at all about Gendarmerie functions or police duties. That turned out to be Capt. Press Jagne. With Col. Njie's backing and the trust the President had for Col. Njie, Press Jagne was selected above Sheriff Mbye. Press was very smart. Knowing that he has absolutely no knowledge of either Gendarmerie or Police duties or the personnel and officers of the Gendarmerie not knowing him, may not want him at the top flight of the Gendarmerie, he arraigned himself properly and quickly to adapted to the system. He moved all the senior officers from their respective positions to other posts. Then he brought Captain Senghore from the Army to take charge of the Finance. Now an infight started between Press Jagne and Sheriff Mbye. Because Mbye used to be Finance Officer during the tenure of the Senegalese and when he was moved to the Mobile Gendarmerie as the OC and Second Lieutnant Bajo(the present Ambassador to Iran) as his second, Mbye was not at all happy to be moved from his former post just to be replaced by an Army Officer. From then, Mbye did not care about his new post. He used to come in the mornings and ask Bajo whether there were any problems then he would drove away, without even bothering to enter the office. By this time Bajinka had not joined the Gendarmerie yet and the present Army Commander L.T Tamba and former Junta member late Capt. Hydara were Lance Coporals at the Kombo Station under Capt. Chogan.
ARRIVAL OF THE TURKISH GENDARMERIE TRAINING TEAM
Few months later, the Turkish Gendarmerie Training Team arrived to cover the vacuum the Senegalese left behind. They were incharge of the training of the new in-takes. As an experienced Gendarmerie Officer, the commander of the Turkish Team does not like the comportment of the Army. He used to complain that the government was training the Army to take over the country. During their first ever selection of new in-takes, a letter came from the Vice President's Office with a list of names to be selected, but the Turkish Commander did not at all entertain such. He said anybody who wants to join the Gendarmerie, must come in person and do all the physical fitness prosedures and the exams. If you pass, fine but if you fail, you wou;ld not be enrolled. That was the batch former Major Bajinka and convict Capt. Bunja Darboe were enrolled in.
THE AMALGAMATION OF THE GENDARMERIE AND THE POLICE
This idea was brought by Press Jagne. It was designed at the state house by Jagne and Janha. But the amalgation Act mentioned that it should be accepted by the officers and personnel of the Gendarmerie. But Press Jagne knowing that the act wouldn't be accepted even by the officers to work with the Police. He had meetings with the officers only and he faced a stiff opposition from almost all the officers. From there he never convened a meeting again. He knew how to play his cards. He promised Captains Njie and Chogan positions. Then the two captains joined his boat. So the remaining officers were either loyal to Press or Chogan expect a FEW of them such as Major Mbye, Capt. Ndure, Lt. Marong, Lt. Jammeh(now president), and Lt. Bassen. I remembered a time when Lt. Bassen told Press that he was selling us. These five officers were defiantly opposed to the amalgamation but they could not do anything about it because Press Jagne had the backing of the Secretary General Janha. Then the amalgamation took place and only the Military Police wing of the Gendarmerie commanded by Lt. Jammeh (now president) were authomactically transfered to the Army together with Lt. Marong who insisted to the last point that he could never work with the Police. Now the Gendarmerie was gone and replaced by the Tactical Support Group (TSG) of the Police. According to the Amalgamation Act, even the rank and file should be asked whether they would would like to work with the Police or not. If no, they should be moved to the Army. Press knew that nobody wanted to work with the police, and thus, this (option) was not done. Press Jagne moved to the Police Headquarters as Inspector General of Police together with the TSG. Then Major Modou Njie took charge of the TSG. This lasted for a month when he was transfered to the Ministry of Interior building in an empty office with only a table and a chair. Major Mbye took over from Njie as the Officer in charge of the TSG. Immediately Major Mbye took over, he declared the amalgamation null and void. He reinstated the Gendarmerie and collected the Pajero vehicle from Press Jagne because it belonged to the Commander of the Gendarmerie. Everybody was joyous about Mbye's move but it did not last long. Press Jagne ran to the State House to meet Sara Janha about Mbye's the matter. Press and Mbye are both Banjlians but Press was more close to the Banjul-Mafia. Mbye was immediately moved to the same Interior building without any portifolio like Njie. Then Major Chogan took charge of the TSG. Press griped things tight under his command and promoted Chogan and backdated it, so that he (Chongan) could senior Mbye to be in charge of Operations of Police till the July 22 when things fell apart. This was why many became more suspicious when the former NSS(now NIA) accused the vice president Sekou Sabally and Press Jagne of having tried to overthrow the Jawara regime. Why wasPress so anxious to merge the two Forces?
As ex.Lt. Kejaw Touray mentioned in his piece that immediately after the amalgamation, the two amories in the Fajara Barracks were emptied. All the heavy weaponries were transfered to the Army. It was a complete disarmament. Kejaw also mentioned that when the mutineers invaded the Fajara Barracks, everybody ran like cowards. Anyway I disagree with him on the word "Cowards". When there are no weapons in the amories to defend yourself, what do you do with bare hands? The dissolution of the Gendarmerie was a big plus for the mutineers because the late capt. Hydara led former no.2 man of the junta capt. S.B Sabally to attack the Fajara Barracks and Lt. Jammeh (now president) led Lt. Singateh to capture the State House. I was in the Barracks when it came under attack. Formally on Fridays, there was little work done. The whole day was marred by sports. Personnel didn't put on uniforms - only in sports-kits. When the Training School was captured, now they were heading towards the guard-room where offices and stores are located. When that happened, we locked all stores and went outside the camp. I even saw when Lt. Sabally was on the verge of shooting ASP. Salieu Mbye but the late capt. Hydara shouted at Sabally to stop. Then he (Hydara) went and talked to ASP Mbye. Why? because they knew and they had worked together in the Gendarmerie, and they had promotions together.
Both Jammeh and the late Hydara spent less than a year in the Army. Jammeh even went before Hydara. When the amalgamation occured, Hydara was in Turkey on a course. When he came back, he started complaining about the merging of the two Forces but not openly. Whenever he came to collect his ration supplies, the amalgamation was always the topic. When he secretly laid his hand on the Act, he applied to moved to the Army. But the application was suppressed by the Administration so as to discourage others to follow suit. He was later allowed to go to the Army.
Why did Jammeh allow Bajo back in the country and then appointed him as commissioner of the Western Division? Because they were batch-mates and had their promotions together in the Gendarmerie. Imagine if it were Sabally or Singateh as chairman of the junta, Bajo wouldn't have had the guts to return from Dakar where he was with former President Jawara. When Jammeh was annouced as chairman and Hydara as Interior Minister, we all hoped that the Gendarmerie would be re-instituted because both men were against the amalgamation, but things did not happen like that.
The Gendarmerie was the most loyal and disciplined force The Gambia has ever had and will never have again. The Senegalese instituted real military discipline in the Gendarmerie with well trained Officers and NCO's and professionalism in Military and Police duties.
CONCLUSION
Mr. Mbai, I know of one thing, that is we had efficient officers in the Gendarmerie. And it was the most discipline Force in the country. Although Press Jagne made a terrible mistake to merge the two Forces, what his intensions were, only God and himself knew but he was the most efficient IG the Gambia ever had and, maybe, will never have. He brought discipline in the police and almost stamped out corruption ( time was not enough).
About Yaya Jammeh, I know him very well. He is a principled man and he does not bow for anybody despite your rank. He also take care of personnel under his command. He does not impose outside influence to people under him. I am really saddened with the abuses, tortures, killings and disappearances and also the economic downturn. Nobody is perfect, but I think if it is so, he should try and rectify mistakes.
I like reading your paper and Foroya. I don't read the Daily Obsever. It is just pure pro-government. Why I like your paper is that it digs out everything. I like your critizism because it makes the government more responsible. Pa, I wish you good luck and may ALLAH help you continue your nice work.
Wish u all a superb RAMADAN, AMEN.