Fugitive former navy chief of G/Bissau returns home from exile in Gambia

Bissau govt threatens to arrest him

By Staff Reporter  Jattabendos Banjul

The fugitive Guinea Bissau army navy chief who was given sanctuary by Yahya Jammeh, after he was accused of an attempted coup against slain president, Joao Bernardo Nino Vieira, and fled his country, has returned home.

Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchute reportedly returned home through the sea, a route he seems very familiar with, having been allegedly involved in drug trafficking throughout his stay at the head of the country's navy. His relationship with the government of Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, another highly suspected dealer in drug, has since been tied to the business the admiral is well known for. 

Yahya Jammeh provided him full protection, housing him in a very a expensive villa in Gambia, where the rogue navy head is believed to have continued coordination of his illegal drug dealing activities while he remained a fugitive for a crime he refused to answer to in his country. Meanwhile, the government in Guinea Bissau has announced that they will arrest the fugitive former navy chief who has since been confirmed of having taken refuge at the UN headquarters in Bissau.

"It is with surprise that the government has learned of the clandestine return by sea of Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchute, from refuge in Gambia," a statement released by the Bissau Guinean government on Monday said.

Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchute is also facing a number of other serious allegations relating to drug trade, a phenomenon that has contributed towards years of unrest in his country. And according to reports from various other sources, he is also under investigations by the country's judiciary for last March 2009 bomb attack that killed the country's former armed forces chief, General Batista Tagme Na Waie, which subsequently led to the bizarre murder of former head of state, Nino Viera. But the admiral denies all these allegations, although he reportedly expressed relief at the demise of General Batista, whom he said was responsible for his [Admiral Bubo Na Tchute]'s problems. The Bissau government said they will take him to court to answer for his crimes.

''He will be arrested so that he can answer before justice the charges against him," the government's statement said, stressing that it will "apply the law to ensure political stability and social peace."

The Gambia government has never made any open statement regarding the fugitive admiral's stay in the country, nor have they ever tried to deny it. But Yahya Jammeh who is himself a product of a military coup, has surprisingly grown intolerant towards coups. He has so far survived a number of attempt on his increasingly unpopular both at home and abroad. He remains unforgiving to the government in neighbouring Senegal, which he lashes at any given opportunity for having allegedly harboured the leader of a coup that almost saw him kicked out of office in March of 2006.

Many people, both military and civilians, were arrested, jailed or exposed to extrajudicial execution.

Yahya Jammeh penetrated the Bissau Guinean government by presenting himself as a mediator during the years of unrest that almost wrecked Guinea Bissau apart, while at the same time exploiting the country's drug trafficking potential. Many reports have linked the highly rewarding drug trafficking business in Guinea Bissau to the growing Al Qaeda influence there. And it is believed that   Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchute's departure has been masterminded by his supporters like Yahya Jammeh, so that they could take advantage of prevailing situation on the ground.

ENDS: 12/28/09  Pix: Source: AFP