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By Justice Sam And MB Ceesay, Banjul.

While Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh receives millions of dollars from the Liberian and Sierra Leonean “BLOOD DIAMONS” or conflict diamonds as it is widely refereed to, on the other hand, the two manor-river countries suffered untold atrocities  from the said  arms shipment  from Banjul to the war ravaged West African countries. These arms were airlifted by the President’s personal jet the new millennium airline. The airline was under the direct supervision of Baba K Jobe and some relatives of the President, whose names are preserved for security reasons. The Gambian leader benefited from the conflict diamonds and was partly responsible for the demise of thousands of Sierra Leonean and Liberians during the period of the war, the leaked intelligence report hinted.

It was in July of 1996, when Charles Taylor and President Jammeh reached a deal to traffic conflict diamonds through The Gambia, which were destined for Antwerp Belgium.  A sizable amount of arms and ammunition were airlifted from the Port of The Gambia to Liberia and Sierra Leone in exchange for blood diamonds. These arms came from Libya at the material time.

Parts of the funds derived from the blood diamonds trade found its way into overseas accounts. Jammeh is a signatory to one of the accounts, currently being trailed by the Freedom Newspaper. The said account was opened in a foreign country by the President.

 Jammeh gave a power of attorney to a close relative of his to negotiate and enter diamond transactions with a Belgian based diamond dealer company. These diamonds were smuggled into Belgium without its border and Immigration officials noticing  its illegal transportation. The President’s plane was never exposed to serious security checks due to the  so called VP protocols given to Heads of State. The unsuspecting Immigration agents  just let the plane land and its officials walked in with the conflict diamonds into their country.

Official sources said all the blood diamonds passes through the Belgian airspace, while Jammeh was in constant touch with his sale agents in Antwerp. “ His plane trafficked the conflict diamonds into Belgium. We have documented the arrival and departure time of his plane. There are witnesses here, who are prepared to testify against the President if the United Nations deems it necessary to pursue the case. One of the reasons he sacked Maimuna Taal,  was because she was privy to the blood diamond deal. This lady knew the clandestine activities of the President’s plane at the time. That plane has since been grounded. The UN should include Jammeh on the list of officials linked to the Sierra Leonean and Liberian crisis. We at the Civil Aviation are living witnesses to the President’s callous activities against the people of West Africa. This crime committed by the President should not go unpunished.” Said an aviation official.

The official says the leader of the RUF rebel faction Foday Sonko was Jammeh’s personal friend. “ Foday’s fighters were housed by the President. They come here to supply him with blood diamonds. We have recorded the arrival of  RUF rebel fighters into the country. These fighters supplied him with blood diamonds each time they visited Banjul. He is enjoying blood money. The UN should probe him.” He said.

According to official sources, Baba Jobe was not the principal actor in the said blood diamond deal. “ Baba facilitated the shipment of the arms to Liberia and Sierra Leone, but he never took part in the sale of the “Blood Diamonds.” These diamonds were sold by the President through a relative of his. Over 50,000 blood diamond stones were trafficked from Banjul to Antwerp in one of the operations. The total amount diamonds sold in Belgium is unaccountable. The figure is too huge. The President uses some part of the proceeds realized from the blood diamonds to build a house for his wife in Morocco. This house worth over $2Million  dollars. He also owns estates in the country and other movable properties.” Alleges aide of the President.

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