Two renegade generals who followed ex-Gambia president Yahya Jammeh into exile pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a charge of desertion brough by the military.

General Umpa Mendy and General Ansumana Tamba sought refuge in Equatorial Guinea alongside Jammeh in January 2017 after his brutal 22-year rule came to an end.

They were arrested at the beginning of the year, shortly after they returned to Gambia.

At a court in Banjul, the pair pleaded not guilty to desertion. The charge can carry life imprisonment.

Mendy was in personal charge of protecting the former leader, while Tamba was the head of his presidential guard.

The former president's refusal to step down after losing an election the month before to unknown businessman Adama Barrow pushed neighbouring countries to the brink of a military intervention, until Jammeh conceded at the 11th hour.

The top brass left the country on board Jammeh's plane bound for Equatorial Guinea.

The generals' arrival caused controversy as airport staff waved them through without attempting to detain them for questioning.

Elements of The Gambia's armed forces are known to have maintained support for the former president and a number of soldiers are on trial on treason and mutiny charges for plotting to overthrow the country's newly elected government.

The country is still being secured by soldiers deployed by the ECOWAS regional grouping until reform of the security services is complete.

The court case is expected to continue later this month.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

In first for Tunisia, police and soldiers head to polls
Tunis (AFP) April 29, 2018
Police and soldiers went to the ballot box for the first time in Tunisia on Sunday, casting votes in municipal elections after the lifting of a longtime ban. Most Tunisians will vote on May 6 in the municipal polls - the first since the North African country's 2011 revolution - but members of the security forces cast their ballots a week earlier. "This is a historic day. For the first time we are exercising a right of citizenship," a police officer told AFP at a polling station in central Tuni ... read more