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Yahya Abdul Jammeh
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Yahya Abdul Jammeh

president of The Gambia
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Quick Summary

Yahya Jammeh came to power in The Gambia through a bloodless coup in July 1994, ousting President Dawda Jawara. Jammeh, initially a captain, led the coup citing corruption and mismanagement. He later retired from the military and was elected president in 1996, heading the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party, which dominated the National Assembly following a new constitution approved that year.1

Jammeh's rule became increasingly authoritarian, with restrictions on media freedom and documented human rights abuses. Despite this, he was reelected in 2001 and 2006. In 2016, he lost the presidential election to Adama Barrow but initially refused to concede. This led to a political standoff, with ECOWAS troops intervening, ultimately compelling Jammeh to step down in January 2017 after 22 years in power.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
  1. The Gambia - 1994 coup, 1996 presidential election, and new constitution
  2. The Gambia - Jammeh’s rule: rising discontent, attempted coups, and human rights complaints
  3. The Gambia - 2016 presidential election, Jammeh’s standoff, and ECOWAS intervention
  4. Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara

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