Yahya Jammeh's Secret World

by PK Jarju

In the wake of the July 22 military coup that brought Yahya Jammeh and the AFPRC/APRC regime to power, numerous commissions of inquiry were set up to probe the activities of ex-President Jawara, his ministers and associates.


The Junta among other things accused the PPP regime of rampant corruption and living a flamboyant lifestyle at the detriment of the Gambian people. And the commissions of inquiry were used as a venue to expose and humiliate ex-PPP officials.


At that time, Jammeh portrayed himself as a puritan and a patriot, who feels the pain and sufferings of the people. He condemns everything that had to do with Jawara and does things that the people have never seen Jawara do like joining in cleaning exercises, walking on foot from State House to the July 22 Square among others.


To Jammeh, Jawara was nothing but a thief and a criminal who mismanaged the Gambian economy and diverted millions of taxpayer’s money to fund his luxurious lifestyle. Jammeh was so angry with Jawara that he ordered the demolition of the borehole in Jawara's native village, Barajally, which was the only source of fresh water for the village.


Interestingly, there was nothing special about Barajally. No major developments have taken place in the village throughout Jawara's 30-year rule. The village was like any other rural Gambian village.


Jawara’s house in Bakau and his gardens in Yundum were all frozen by the Junta because they were allegedly acquired from taxpayer’s money.


At the time of taking over the reigns of power, Yahya Jammeh was not a wealthy man. In fact, he only had a few thousands of Dalasis in his Continent Bank account. But just after 14 years in power, Jammeh has become the richest Gambian.


Despite being paid a monthly salary of less than £1000, Jammeh is so much loaded that he does not even know how much money is stashed away in his bank accounts. He is living a luxurious lifestyle and has once even confessed that he is so loaded with money that not even his great grand children will be able to exhaust it. How did he acquire all these riches? Well you answer that question.

Since 1994, Jammeh has been building a vast empire in his native Kanilai, which is reported to be worth millions of Dalasis. Before 1994, Kanilai was a hamlet, previously unknown to many Gambians. In fact, it was only known by a few as a place for healing broken arms and limbs. And Jammeh's hobbies were honey hunting and farming.


But today, the village is transformed into a modern town with uninterrupted power supply, water, telephone, internet facilities, street lights, good road network, a safari camp, fire station, a well equipped hospital, a school for Mathematics and Science, an 8 square kilometre game park among others.


A large contingent of NIA officers, State Guard soldiers, police and CIDs are permanently based in Kanilai that monitors the activities of anyone who visits the place. Apart from the government owned GRTS and the Daily Observer, no other media houses are allowed entry. In other words, Kanilai is a no go area for local journalists.


However, I managed to get some information about President Jammeh’s secret world which I hope will interest the Gambian voters.


Life Style

Despite having his office in State House, Banjul, the Gambian leader spends less time in the capital. He spends most of his time in Kanilai, where he feels more relaxed.



For Jammeh, the saying there is no place like home isvery true asKanilai offers him the freedom to do stuff that he likes most. He smokes Piccadilly and is addicted to Chinese Green Tea, Attaya, which is brewed for him by State Guard soldiers. His favourite brewer is a female soldier from Kiang called Nyima Sanneh, whom he lavishes with money, when he is in a joyous mood.


Jammeh is responsible for the feeding and upkeep of the thousands of soldiers and people in Kanilai. Everyday whether Jammeh is in Kanilai or not, a bull and four sheep are slaughtered. Over a thousand bags of rice are consumed each month.


Friday and Saturday nights are for cultural dance except in the month of Ramadan. The dance which starts at 12am to 4am is held outside Jammeh's residence. Jammeh never misses the cultural dances as he is a great lover of cultural music. He sits on a sofa sometimes with his wife Zaineb and guests. The different cultural dancers compete among themselves before Jammeh, who rains money on them as if it grows on trees. The best dancer of the night goes home with a cash amount of D50, 000.


In the dry season, Jammeh also organises inter-village wrestling competitions and other cultural festivals during which he gives away huge amount of money to wrestlers and their supporters. These events attract thousands of people from across the country who are fed and sheltered by Jammeh.


Games Park

The Kanilai Games' Park has more animals than the Abuko Nature Reserve. The 8 square kilometre park has 300 species of birds, 8 wild dogs that feed on fresh meat, 265 crocodiles, 3 wilder beasts, 3 lions, many ostriches, falcons, peacocks, wolves, dears, antelopes, monkeys, bush pigs among others.



Most of these animals were bought from South Africa and transported to Banjul via chartered cargo planes. The planes according to our State House sources normally land at the Banjul International A

irport during ungodly hours of the night to prevent the public from seeing them. There are also over 25 camels, over 100 sheep and goats and over 150 heads of cattle.


Buildings

Since late 1994, Jammeh took ownership of vast hectares of land. Some of the land was inherited from his parents while the others were given to him by some families hoping to earn certain favours in return. But recently, families like the Colley Kunda family are complaining in low tones that some of their lands are being grabbed by Jammeh for farming and building.


Jammeh's private residence can be compared with any king's palace. It is a 100x100 and has an indoor swimming pool and a crocodile pond. Dears and other animals can be seen roaming about in the garden and Jammeh sometimes personally feeds them. The palace is sealed away from the public by a 12 foot fence. The palace has other facilities like a cabinet room where cabinet meetings are held, VIP room, where visiting diplomats are received etc.


Outside the palace, Jammeh built a large building called the Four House where he spend most of his leisure time treating people with HIV/Aids and other diseases.


There is also The Reservoir, a hotel like estate with over 10 buildings and many rooms. This is the residence of Jammeh's employees and farm helpers. There is also a secret detention camp and an army camp. Currently, a lot of construction work is on going and it’s been rumoured that many ministries might be move there if not the capital.


Farms

As a man who loves farming, Jammeh has so many farms. Every year he cultivates vast hectares of peanuts, rice, corn, millet, coos coos, water melon among others. There are also vegetable gardens.


Jammeh employs a small staff mainly his tribal people to work in the farm, who are paid a monthly salary. Also during the raining season, thousands of people from all parts of the country do voluntary work in the President's farms. The volunteers are well fed and sheltered by Jammeh, who gives them large sums of money when they finish work.


Some of the farm proceeds are said to be donated to the Jammeh Foundation for Peace.


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