Gambia's Barrow Names VP, Could Go After Jammeh Plunder

BANJUL, Gambia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2017 ) - Gambian President Adama Barrow's team announced Monday his vice-president would be a woman who has vowed to prosecute former leader Yahya Jammeh and take back assets she says were stolen from the nation.

The alleged plunder of some #11 million by Jammeh as he clung on to power in recent weeks has left the tiny African country in financial difficulty, a Barrow aide said. Barrow, who was sworn in as the new head of state on January 19 at his country's embassy in neighbouring Senegal, has put off his return over fears for his safety.

As the nation waits, Barrow's second-in-command was named as Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, who became a controversial figure after telling The Guardian newspaper Jammeh would be prosecuted for crimes committed by his regime.

Jammeh initially conceded defeat after the December 1 election, but the mercurial strongman announced he no longer recognised the result after Jallow-Tambajang's comments, and after the election commission issued revised results which made Barrow's win narrower, although still clear.