Gambia: The people who stood up to Yahya Jammeh - Talk to Al Jazeera

On January 21 2017, Yahya Jammeh boarded a plane at Banjul's international airport and left the country he had ruled for 22 years.
Jammeh had refused to accept defeat in the Gambian presidential elections the month before. West African heads of state set off on a month-long marathon negotiation, taking turns to get Jammeh to accept the results. Eventually, they gave him an ultimatum: step down or 7,000 soldiers from the region step in to take back control of the country.
On January 19, foreign troops marched in as the country's elected leader, Adama Barrow, was sworn in.
Jammeh took power in a bloodless coup in 1994, when he was a 29-year-old lieutenant.
"We have no plans to stay long. What we are here for is to set a just system and to put up structures so that what happened in the past 13 years will never happen again," he said at the time.
But soon, Jammeh had swapped his army uniform for a white traditional robe and adopted a more authoritarian tone.
He ruled the country with an iron fist - imprisoning critics and political opponents. Human rights organisations accused him and his security forces of torture and enforced disappearances.
We talk to the men and women who helped bring Yahya Jammeh's 22-year rule to an end.
More from Talk To Al Jazeera on:
KZbin - aje.io/ttajYT
Facebook - / talktoaj
Twitter - / talktoaljazeera
Website - www.aljazeera.com/talktojazeera/
- Subscribe to our channel: aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: / ajenglish
- Find us on Facebook: / aljazeera
- Check our website: www.aljazeera.com/

[@jaitehmomodoulamin3167]

What a fantastic daughter to his father, may Allah bless for sure!.

[@sirrobot4489]

Fantastic look into the trials and tribulations of people and hope inspiring as well. Excellent content.

[@Shashasamber3815]

The gambians asking jammeh to come back news off day I love it ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@abliesidibeh5035]

My dear sister your English language is very good

[@talijah007]

Whenever there is a military couple in Africa the leaders always say "We are not here to stay, we want to clean up the house and let democracy nestle in"...They would never leave until they are forced and they ended up make the house dirtier...

[@maygreen8758]

Fatoumata's English is very good. Well done girl..

[@julia85927]

may Green gambias national language is english ffs

[@armsfaye9221]

Definitely her English was well spoken.

[@Gassama-lh3rc]

@@armsfaye9221 i think in general Gambian English is more clear than other African countries at lease for me living in USA

[@bakarimhina4133]

Usually Yahaya Jameh He was not bad to the People of Gambia But He Wiped by The Power of Western Countries.

[@shuuncham6992]

I always cry when I see people supporting him still

[@ahmedtija2460]

He don't said he will but he said if he can rule the gambia for one billion years

[@gambiano6954]

Thank you very much Mr Njie. You were Brave. Thank you. Pls keep the honesty on

[@spicendecky2181]

May his soul rest peace and UDP should always remember him because he sacrified for UDP interest...

[@jaitehmomodoulamin3167]

Spice Ndecky well said dear!his sacrifice was not only for UDP but The Gambia in general.

[@abuzaid7973]

Fruitfull news

[@baboucarrgaye8547]

RESPECT

[@laminsarr7324]

I'm from Gambia

[@oneafrica3617]

Thanks a lot to all of you who make it one way or another to get the big ignorant Gangster .now let us be together as one The dronk man is gone and will never come back so stop dreaming, mr Njie is a real hero Gambians should honor him

[@ballabadgie6219]

Baba your Greatness shall always remain in this world

[@haddynyang2551]

Bravo mr njie may God bless you abundantly thank you

[@bakarygassama5035]

He don't know that anything is time.

[@GeneralHensaleey]

Jammeh was real legend

[@sharonjoseph-dixon8895]

People sadden by this monster??? The man that speaks to help his people the same man who killed and tortured, who stole and raped.. Why do men do this once there are finally in control of power over their people.. so many years of slavery, so many years of destruction. And the one man of color is as cruel as the slave masters... HOW DARE HE!!

[@fitawrarifitness6842]

How has Gambia improved since??

[@salifnjie]

Weldone girl

[@Alimmj]

My names Ali Mohamed im frome somalia i would like the leaders of africa democrtaise the instations of they nations for example is somalia and election of 2017 presedant farmaajo so africa must understand power isnt millary today !

[@tuforu4]

BUT UR CLANS ARE ALL FIGHING..

[@tuforu4]

RIGGED

[@jaitehmomodoulamin3167]

Mr Great Njie did his best

[@armsfaye9221]

Everyone has the right to support any leader weather is in the Gambia or any where else but no one or no leader for that matter has the right to treat your own people like this .Ya ya jammeh will face justice one day weather on this earth or hereafter.

[@Toyota415]

Hahaha. The Chairman of the electoral commission is an African sage in all his splendour. As we say, "The winetapper doesn't tell everything he saw from the treetop". Certain things are better left unsaid, but the wise man can make the right conclusion from available clues, which only the wise can read 👌🏿

[@famtellfampdois2885]

Amnesty International we need your help. The monster is still a threat to our dear Smiling Coast

[@thejaguarking1107]

Don't blame the Cuban nurses blame the crazy man.

[@dracula3393]

Now how's the GAMBIA today

[@iexploreghana4505]

Da Electoral Commission Guy did it all -

[@laminbojang4811]

Evil Jammeh remember to reap the bad seed you show! We will never forgive you Jammeh

[@samspade9276]

Is that a brimless cowboy hat my man is wearing?

[@ktuballymamadou4440]

We don't wanna see Adama Barrow

[@jabmalassie]

Guy sounds heartless and has dead eyes.

[@blokblok2009]

That is what is sad they had no way of networking and outsiders help them bad Gambia people to rise against their own people 😕

[@armsfaye9221]

@kosu1225 I agree sir .

[@haddingtoniangcp2464]

Alieu Njie does resemble Sheriff Dibba...

[@laminsarr7324]

I love my home so much I really miss my home God.......

[@sueveveveve247]

Very Sad

[@kuntakentatube3102]

Gambia was under British rule.

[@abuzaid7973]

Killer Jammeh

[@ousaineydanso3313]

Go forever evil Jammeh

[@worriorking3433]

Great job president jammeh....love from the bottom of my heart

[@worriorking3433]

Great leader Mr Jammeh

[@thethirdman2135]

Are you mad ?

[@alexsonko6081]

Big fool

[@modoulsonko4987]

Jammeh babilimansa 💯 percent we miss u