Breaking News:

By Justice Sam and MB Ceesay, Banjul

Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh benefited from the Sierra Leonean and Liberian blood diamond funds, a leaked intelligence report reveals today. Mr. Jammeh whose New Millennium plane was tasked with trafficking artillery weapons to the war ravaged manor-river war nations, was said to have given a power of attorney to one of his loved ones, named withheld for now,  to sell blood diamonds collected from Liberia and Sierra Leone in Antwerp Belgium, the Freedom Newspaper has been reliably informed by sources close to the corridors of power in Banjul.

As Liberians and Sierra Leonean taste freedom, after so many years of instability, marred by the maiming and killing of children, the elderly and women, Gambia’s President has been formally named as one of principal actors  fuelling the decade long war.

A close associate of The Gambian leader informs the Freedom Newspaper,  that contrary to the allegations brought against the jailed Majority Leader Baba Kajali Jobe, about his alleged involvement in the sale of blood diamonds,  the President Yahya Jammeh was his partner in crime. “ Baba Jobe happens to be the person entrusted with overseeing the President’s plane at the material time. These weapons were trafficked to Liberia and Sierra Leone, thanks to the President’s directives. Baba Jobe was privy to these armed trafficking, but he was never directly involved in the sale of the blood diamonds. A close relative of the President, was tasked with selling these diamonds in Antwerp. Over $10 Million dollars were realized from the illegal sale of the Liberian and Sierra Leonean blood diamonds. Liberians and Sierra Leonean should submit Jammeh’s name to the UN for indictment. He was part and parcel of the armed trafficking and blood diamond sale. The President had special ties with the RUF rebels and Charles Taylor as well. Many arms were trafficked to Sierra Leone by his plane. In fact, the said plane airlifted some Sierra Leonean and Liberia rebels into the country, who poised as refugees on arrival. Each time, his plane lands in these countries, a huge amount of blood diamonds are trafficked into The Gambia.” Said the State House official.

According to the United Nations “Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.”

The UN report also says “Rough diamond caches have often been used by rebel forces to finance arms purchases and other illegal activities. Neighboring and other countries can be used as trading and transit grounds for illicit diamonds. Once diamonds are brought to market, their origin is difficult to trace and once polished, they can no longer be identified.”

The Gambian leader was said to have amassed his sudden wealth from proceeds realized from blood diamonds. “ It’s unfortunate that the UN excluded him from the list of officials who fueled the Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil war. He was very instrumental in the trafficking of arms into these countries. There are witnesses here at the State House who are ready to testify against the President, should the UN deems it necessary to pursue any future investigations. His own relative was assigned to coordinate the sale of the blood diamonds. The pilots, associates and errand boys are here to shed light on the story. The President should not make no mistake to contest these allegations because there are people in Belgium, State House and overseas who are privy to this deal. The UN should send its officials in Belgium and The Gambia to investigate the President’s involvement in the blood diamond deal. He helps the rebels to maim and kill Liberians and Sierra Leonean.” Alleges the State House insider.

In his detailed and disturbing report on the sale of blood diamonds in the region, author Benjamin Hofstatter identified the following persons as being instrumental in the sale of blood diamonds in Liberia and Sierra Leone:

Indirectly Involved

Captain Blaise Compaore, president of Burkina Faso

Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, president of Gambia

Ukrainian arms dealers 

United Nations and UN peacekeepers

Diamond industry traders

Diamond customers worldwide

President Yahya Jammeh has been classified as a principal actor in the Liberian and Sierra Leonean decade long war. Official sources call on Jammeh to apologize to the people of the two nations, for he Jammeh has caused untold sufferings to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“ Despite taking a leading role in welcoming refugees from these nations, he was on the other hand hell bent on trafficking arms to Liberia and Sierra Leone. I work here at the State House and I know what I am talking about. The UN should do its home right. It was not only Baba Jobe who took part in this heinous crime. The President and some of his relatives were part of it.” Alleges the State House official.

Efforts to solicit reaction from the acting State House Press Secretary Hassoum Ceesay proved abortive, as he was said to be indisposed. Aviation sources confirmed that the President’s plane was frequenting Liberia and Sierra Leone during the period of the war. They said they cannot rule out allegations of diamond and armed trafficking. “ The President has his own people who were assigned to run the deal for him. Yes, arms and blood diamonds were trafficked by his plane.” Said the Aviation official.