Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh has
replaced justice minister Basiru Mahoney in
the second cabinet reshuffle since soldiers
attempted to seize power in the tiny West
African state late last month while Jammeh
was out of the country.
State television gave no reason in its
announcement late on Thursday for the
removal of Mahoney and his replacement by
Aboubacar Senghore, former minister for
higher education, research, science and
technology.
Jammeh also replaced Kalilou Bayo, secretary
general and minister for presidential affairs
and the civil service, with Lamin Nyabally.
Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup,
has accused foreign-based dissidents of
fomenting the coup bid. Security forces have
made arrests but few details have been
released, stoking fears in a country regularly
accused of human rights violations.
Jammeh replaced the ministers for foreign
affairs, information and transport earlier this
week, also without giving a reason.
Meanwhile, a US man accused in the failed
coup has been denied release as his case is
pending.
Papa Faal, 46, is accused of conspiring to
violate the Neutrality Act.
Prosecutors accuse Faal, a US citizen of
Gambian descent, of buying rifles in the US
state of Minnesota that were shipped to the
West African country in an unsuccessful plot
to overthrow President Jammeh.
Faal's attorney Andrew Mohring asked the US
District Court in Minneapolis on Thursday to
free his client while the case is pending, citing
his military service, community volunteerism
and support from the community.
But Magistrate Judge Franklin Noel denied the
request, calling Faal a flight risk with siblings
in Europe and community support that could
facilitate his escape, the Star Tribune
reported.
Source: Al Jazeera.
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