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.
|
Background Information:
The former President
of Gambia, who belongs to the Jola tribe, is Alhaji
Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh. He also
has 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. The Office
of the President is the Highest Executive Office in
The Gambia which means he has responsibility over other
government departments.
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 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. |
