The numerous luxury cars and planes of Former President Yahya Jammeh are currently being sold to solve the country’s mounting debt crisis. Known for his eccentric, lavish and dictatorial style of leadership, the former leader accrued a heap of national debt during his rule.
Jammeh, who had been the leader of Gambia since 1994 coup, reluctantly agreed to step down from power after threats of external intervention from neighbouring countries.
Jammeh’s lavish spending widened the gap between rich and poor, he spent a proportion of the country’s wealth on planes, cars and homes, some of which he took with him into exile in Equatorial Guinea.
“The fleet of expensive vehicles at State House and the three planes bought by former president Yahya Jammeh have been put on sale,” Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh told Reuters. “My ministry will soon start publicising the sales.” This comes after the IMF has put a hold on Gambia’s borrowing, as a result of Jammeh’s incessant borrowing during his presidency, much of which he spent on luxury living. He owned a mosque, jungle warfare training camp and a number of private safari parks.
The process has faced the backlash from Jammeh’s supporters, who have accused the new government under Adama Barrow of carrying out a witch-hunt against the ex-president.
Photo Credit: Al Jazeera