Yahya JammehGambia is in dire financial distress after former President Yahya Jammeh emptied state coffers before going into exile on Saturday night, an adviser to President Adama Barrow said on Sunday.
Mai Ahmad Fatty told reporters in Dakar, Senegal, that more than $11 million was missing from The Gambia’s state coffers following the departure of long time ruler.
The money, he said, was stolen within the past two weeks. He said financial experts were trying to evaluate the exact loss.
Reports said luxury cars and other items were seen being loaded on to a Chadian cargo plane on the night Mr Jammeh left the country.
Mr. Jammeh was defeated by Mr. Barrow during the December 1 election. He initially accepted his fate but rescinded days after citng irregularities.
The change of mind infuriated the regional West African body which threatened military action should he try yo cling yo power.
He tried all he could. He challenged the results in court but suffered setbacks. Finally, he declared a state of emergency and secured the backing of the National Assembly, which extended his term by three months.
But troops from ECOWAS began to move to overthrow him. On Saturday, he left, reportedly for Guinea.
Many rights activists have been calling for his arrest and prosecution for grave abuses, tortures and death while he was in office for 22 years after he came to power in a coup in 1994.