Gambia’s President, Barrow Yanks Off ‘Islamic’ From Country’s Name

[caption id="attachment_16066" align="alignnone" width="699"]President Adama Barrow of The Gambia[/caption]

The newly inaugurated Gambian President, Adama Barrow, has said that the country will no longer be recognised as an Islamic republic.

It would be recalled that ex-ruler and dictator, Yahya Jammeh had declared the West African country an Islamic republic on December 11, 2015, during a political rally.

But Barrow, in an apparent attempt to overhaul Jammeh’s 22-year of dictatorship, announced that the country would cease to be identified as an Islamic state.

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The new development may see civil servants returning to a five-day work week, against Jammeh’s declaration that Friday was a day off for worship and rest for Muslims.

Gambia’s population currently comprises of 90% Muslim and 10% Christian.

THE WHISTLER recalls that ex-President Jammeh was alleged to have swindled The Gambia out of a whopping $11.4 million, leaving its economy in a dysfunctional state before ceding power.

READ HERE: Gambia In ‘Financial Distress’ As Jammeh Swindles Country Out Of $11.4m 

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President Barrow is expected to face an uphill struggle in trying to fix the economic decay left behind by his predecessor, Jammeh.

In his quest to overhaul the West African state, Barrow surprisingly told journalists that the country’s dreaded National Intelligence Agency (NIA) would remain, even though it has been severally accused by rights group of forced disappearances and torture.

READ ALSO: Jammeh Denies Emptying Gambia’s Treasury

According to Barrow on Saturday, the NIA was “an institution that has to continue”, but under a different identity.

“The rule of the law, that will be the order of the day”.

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“My government is going to look at every avenue and there will be a complete overhaul of the system,” Barrow said during his first press conference since ascending to power.

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