Gambia, 1994 — military coup attempt

Event Summary

On 11 November 1994 a counter coup was attempted in the Gambia against the young military juntai of Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh, who had seized power just under four months earlier, in July 1994, by overthrowing the long serving democratic president Dawda Jawara. The plot came from within Jammeh's own Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council and army, driven by disgruntlement among soldiers who felt betrayed by unfulfilled promises and by rivalries within the junta; it was reportedly led by Lieutenant Basiru Barrow, an officer who had initially been favored to lead the council before losing out to Jammeh. Jammeh's junta struck first and with extreme brutality: forces from the State House command attacked the Yundum barracks, and around two dozen soldiers, including Barrow and others accused of plotting, were captured and executed at Yundum, Fajara, and Brikama.

The massacre, which Jammeh's government initially concealed, became one of the defining atrocities of his regime. Jammeh survived this and later plots, ruling the Gambia with an iron and abusive hand for twenty two years until he was finally forced from power after losing the 2016 election.