Kayjatta
The Gambia government has issued a press release announcing cessation of all diplomatic, economic and social relations with Iran. This drastic decision follows an impounding of a large shipment of illegal arms, by Nigerian intellegence, destined for the Gambia's Kanilai Farms, a company owned by President Jammeh.
Iran is currently reeling under a United Nations sanctions (over its covert nuclear activities) which barred the rogue nation from any trading of military weapons.
Recently, Iran has turned its attention to corrupt, unstable African countries such as the Gambia and Nigeria in order to circumvent U.N. sanctions. Members of Iran's Republican Guard are believed to have been providing security for the Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh who appears to be increasingly shielding himself from the Gambian security forces due to lack of trust and loyalty. It could be recalled that the last years of the former president Sir Dawda Jawara witnessed an increasing reliance on foreign troops, first the Senegalese and then the Nigerians, for internal security. He was inevitably toppled in a bloodless military coup by disgruntled junior army officers led by the current president Jammeh...
This illegal weapons scandal is only one of a series of international scandals that has rocked the Gambia recently. A few months ago, over a billion dollars worth of cocaine was uncovered (by British intellegence agents) in the country purpotedly belonging to a cartel involving Venezuelans and Mexicans, although some Gambian businessmen, police and army officers were reportedly implicated.
Up to now, the Gambia government is ironically mute over its decision to send Iran packing. The best thing however, for the Gambian officials to do right now is to come forward immediately and explain their position. Silence is not a solution...
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