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Al Hadji Yahya Jammeh, Gambian President. (Reuters / Lucas Jackson)
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Two American citizens from The
Gambia were formally charged by federal prosecutors in the United States on
Monday for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government of their home
country.
According to the US Department of
Justice, Cherno Njie of Texas and Papa Faal of Minnesota participated together
in “an unsuccessful attempted coup against the government of The Gambia”
late last year, RT.com reports.
Prosecutors allege that Njie, 57,
plotted with Faal, 46, to overthrow the West African nation’s leadership, and
traveled to The Gambia last month in hopes of accomplishing as much with the
aid of an arsenal of weapons and an armed group of around 12 individuals. Their
efforts were foiled, however, and they returned to the US and were later
arrested.
“The group’s
plan for the coup was purportedly to restore democracy to The Gambia and to
improve the lives of its people. They hoped they would be able to take over the
country without having to kill any Gambians. They also expected to be join by
up to 160 members of the local Gambian military who supposedly agreed to
participate in the coup,” Justice Dept.
investigators allege in the complaint unsealed this week.
“These defendants
stand accused of conspiring to carry out the violent overthrow of a foreign
government, in violation of US law,” Attorney
General Eric Holder said in a statement
on Monday. “The United States strongly condemns such conspiracies. With
these serious charges, the United States is committed to holding them fully
responsible for their actions.”
The Justice Dept. describes Njie as
a Texas businessman by way of The Gambia who was the main financier of the
failed coup; according to prosecutors, he and Faal, a dual US/Gambian citizen
believed to have also served in the US Air Force and Army, conspired with
upwards of a dozen others to take down the Gambian government.
“Prior to
departing for The Gambia, between August and October 2014, Faal and other
co-conspirators purchased multiple firearms, including M4 semi-automatic
rifles, and shipped them to The Gambia for use in the coup attempt. Members of
the conspiracy also acquired night-vision goggles, body armor, ammunition,
black military style uniform pants, boots and other personal equipment,” the DOJ alleges.
Despite being well equipped,
however, prosecutors say that the attempt to overthrow the Gambian government
fell flat when one of the co-conspirators, on Dec. 30, fired a shot outside of
the State House in Banjul where the Gambian President Yahya Jammeh lives and
was met with heavy fire.
“Although
numerous conspirators on the assault teams were killed or injured during the
failed attempt to take control of the government building, Faal was able to
flee the scene and he ultimately returned to the US., Njie also returned to the
US,” Monday’s statement reads in part.
Faal entered the US Embassy in
Senegal the day after the failed coup, reads a portion of the official
complaint, and was interviewed by the FBI both there and at an airport outside
of Washington, DC upon his return on January 1.
Both men have been charged with one
count each of conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act and conspiracy to
possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Neutrality Act
carries a maximum sentence of three years and prohibits US citizens from
knowingly taking part in “any military or naval expedition or enterprise to
be carried on from thence against the territory or domination of any foreign
prince or state, or of any colony, district or people with whom the United
States is at peace.”
Previously, the US State Dept. acknowledged the
attempted coup, saying late last year, “We strongly condemn any attempt to
seize power through extra-constitutional means,” and, “We regret the
loss of life and call on all parties to refrain from further violence.”
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