How old is yahya jammeh

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Human Rights Watch. Image source, AFP. Where is Yahya Jammeh? Yahya Jammeh: At a glance. Born in May Seized power in a coup in In , he vowed to stay in power for "a billion years" if God wills He also ordered the execution of criminals and political opponents on death row Claimed in he could cure Aids and infertility with herbal concoctions Warned in that gay people would be beheaded Denied his security agents killed journalist Deyda Hydara in Does he have the right to go back?

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South Africa. By using this website, you agree with our use of cookies to improve its performance and enhance your user experience. More info in our Cookies policy page. He walked down a long red carpet surrounded by dignitaries before climbing the steps to the plane, waving to his admirers and saluting them with a Koran. While soldiers, supporters and dignitaries despaired at his departure, many others in The Gambia are glad to see the end of what they considered a dictatorship, where there was little respect for human rights or freedom of speech.

How he was persuaded to leave it not yet known. But the threat of military intervention from regional states was real enough. He finally became the first president to peacefully hand over power in The Gambia since independence from Britain in Portly president.

Known for walking around with his trademark prayer beads and a stick, he was one of the world's most eccentric and ruthless leaders. Born in May , he came to power in as a year-old army lieutenant in a country portrayed in tourist brochures as an idyllic holiday destination. He became a portly president who portrayed himself as a devout Muslim with miraculous powers, such as the power to cure people of Aids and infertility.

He also believed that homosexuality threatens human existence. Mr Jammeh divorced his first wife Tuti Faal and subsequently married two other women, though his official website referred only to Zineb Yahya Jammeh , who held the title of First Lady. According to The Gambia's privately owned Point newspaper, he married his second wife, Alima Sallah, in , but Mr Jammeh's office issued an instruction that she should not be referred to as First Lady - in contrast to South Africa where all four wives of President Jacob Zuma hold the title.

Mr Jammeh won four multi-party elections before he was finally defeated. After his victory, in a sign that his credibility among African leaders had plummeted, the regional body, the Economic Community of West African States Ecowas , refused to endorse his victory, saying voters and the opposition had been "cowed by repression and intimidation". His decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth in , which had been pushing for reforms in the tiny West African state, was a further sign of Mr Jammeh's growing isolation.

Mr Jammeh said he was not bothered by the criticism of human rights groups. Mr Jammeh was known for expressing bizarre views. In , he claimed that he could cure Aids with a herbal concoction - a view condemned by health experts. Later, he also claimed that he could cure infertility among women.

Mr Jammeh was also known for his virulent opposition to gay rights, having once threatened to behead gay people.