NOTE:
 Jammeh
lost the December 1st 2016 presidential election
to Adama Barrow from the opposition coalition.
He subsequently left the Gambia for Equatorial Guinea
on the 21st January 2017 in apparent exile. |
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Background Information:
The former President of
Gambia, who belongs to the Jola tribe,
is Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh. He also
had the title of the Commander In Chief of The Armed Forces,
Secretary of State For Defence and the Chief Custodian of
the Constitution of The Gambia.
Biography:
 Yahya
Jammeh was born on the 25th May, 1965 in Kanilai Village which
is in the Foni Kansala District, Western Region. His mother's
name is Aja Fatou Ashombi Bojang and he is married to the
Gambia's First Lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh. She was born
in Rabat, Morocco, on the 5th October 1977 to the Guinean
Soumah family.
He received his early education at Kanilai Primary School, Saint
Edwards Primary School in Bwiam, and Gambia High School in
Banjul. In
1983 he passed the General Certificate of Education (GCE 0' Level)
with Credits in Geography, English, French, Biology and Physics. Also
obtained passes in Chemistry and Oral English.
 The
following year ex-President Jammeh joined what was then the
Gambia National Gendarmerie in 1984 and later moved to The
Gambia National Army and was commissioned in 1989. He attended
the Military Police Officers Basic Course (MPOBC) at For McClellan,
Alabama, in the United States of America and in 1994 obtained
a Diploma in Military science.
Jammeh served under various military units in The Gambia National
Army. From 1984-1986 he was in the Special Intervention Unit,
1986-1989 the Gendarmerie Training School (Escort Training
Instructor); 1989-1990 Presidential Guards (in charge of Presidential
Escort); 1991 served as Officer commanding in the Mobile Gendarmerie
and in 1992 was Officer Command The Gambia National Army Military
Police, up till 22nd July 1994 when the Gambia National Army
toppled Sir Dawda Jawara and his PPP administration in a bloodless
coup.
At the time the Jawara regime was toppled, Jammeh was a
Lieutenant. In 1994, Jammeh was promoted to the rank of
Captain and in 1996 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. President
Jammeh retired from the army in 1996.
Jammeh saw Gambia through the two years transitional period
leading to the restoration of Constitutional and Civilian
Government. In 1996 he was elected as the Chief Executive
of the Second Republic on the 27th September, 1996.
Titles, Honours &
Decorations:
•
1993: He was made an Honorary Citizen of the State of Georgia.
• 1994: appointed honorary Lt. Col. ADC of the Alabama State Militia.
•
1995: Decorated by Libya with the Grand
Commander of the Order of Al-Fatah.
•
1996: He was decorated by the Chinese President with the insignia
of the Order of the Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon of the Republic
of China.
•
1997, during the 12th Conference of Heads of State and Government of
CILSS held in Banjul, he was elected Chairman, CILSS Heads of State.
President Jammeh was also awarded "The 1997 Pan-African Humanitarian
Award" by the Pan-African Foundation and the World Council of Culture
based in London, UK.
•
1997: nominated Man of The Year by the American Biographical Institute
in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
• 1998: Awarded The Gold Record of Achievement for 1997 by The
American Biographical Institute in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
•
1998: Appointed Honorary Admiral, Alabama State Navy by the Governor
of The State of Alabama.
• 1998: Awarded the Grand Order of
Bravery by the Libyan Leader Colonel Muammar Gadaffi.
• 1998:
Awarded the Islamic Worldwide "Grand Prix" by The Cheikhna Cheikh Saad
Bouh Foundation of Dakar, Senegal.
• 1999: Awarded the Doctor of
Civil Laws Degree from St. Mary's University, Halifax, Canada.
•
1999: Appointed Deputy Governor of American Biographical Institute
Research Association (ABIRA) North Carolina, United Stated of America.
•
1999: Awarded the 2000 Millennium Medal of Honour from the American
Biographical Institute of the United States of America.
• 1999:
Nominated Outstanding People of The 20th Century by the International
Biographical Institute, Cambridge, England.
• 1999: Nominated
1999 Platinum Record for Exceptional Performance by the American
Biographical Institute, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
• 1999:
Awarded the World Lifetime Achievement Award by the American
Biographical Institute, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
• 1999:
Decorated with Libya's Highest Honour The African Medal by Libyan
leader Colonel Muammar Gadaffi.
• 2000: Decorated with Orders of
The Distinction of Liberia.
• 2001: President Jammeh was decorated with Grand Croix dans l'Ordre National du Lion.
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