PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Gambia: Gov’t revokes ex-President Jammeh’s passport
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – The Gambian government has revoked diplomatic passports of former President Yahya Jammeh, his family members and cronies, PANA confirmed Thursday.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, a total of 271 diplomatic and service passports held by former ministers, ambassadors, relatives of former President Jammeh and his Indian scholar friend, Dr. Zakir Naik, and wife have all been revoked.
Saikou Ceesay, the ministry’s communications officer, told journalists in Banjul that the government had earlier urged all the people holding diplomatic and service passports issued by the former government to return them.
“Those in The Gambia complied and surrendered their passports but those who fled the country in the aftermath of the political impasse didn’t return their passports.”
Mr. Ceesay disclosed that his ministry had informed countries around the globe about the illegal possession of diplomatic and service passports by former President Jammeh, his functionaries, friends and family members.
“Whoever attempts to use the diplomatic and service passports outside The Gambia will be arrested,” he remarked.
The foreign affairs ministry had compiled a list of names of all those in possession of the passports.
-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 3Aug2017
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, a total of 271 diplomatic and service passports held by former ministers, ambassadors, relatives of former President Jammeh and his Indian scholar friend, Dr. Zakir Naik, and wife have all been revoked.
Saikou Ceesay, the ministry’s communications officer, told journalists in Banjul that the government had earlier urged all the people holding diplomatic and service passports issued by the former government to return them.
“Those in The Gambia complied and surrendered their passports but those who fled the country in the aftermath of the political impasse didn’t return their passports.”
Mr. Ceesay disclosed that his ministry had informed countries around the globe about the illegal possession of diplomatic and service passports by former President Jammeh, his functionaries, friends and family members.
“Whoever attempts to use the diplomatic and service passports outside The Gambia will be arrested,” he remarked.
The foreign affairs ministry had compiled a list of names of all those in possession of the passports.
-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 3Aug2017
