Jammeh, Yahya Alphonse Jamus Jebulai (1965– )

Gambian soldier, president 1994– . In July 1994, Jammeh, then a young lieutenant, seized power after military coup toppled the existing administration led by Dawda Jawara. Jammeh appeared in public wearing combat fatigues and dark sunglasses, a look that did little to endear him to the international community. In 1996, voters approved a new constitution that gave Jammeh the mandate hold elections, and the long-awaited return to civilian rule was completed in January 1997 when Jammeh, aged 32, was elected president. Despite periodic allegations of corruption among his party's officials and several foiled coup attempts, Jammeh remained in power and brought some degree of stability to the country. International organizations continued to keep a watchful eye on developments and to occasionally criticize the tough line the government tends to take against opposition.

Jammeh defeated three civilian rivals in the 1996 national elections, which observers described as severely flawed. In the run-up to elections, Jammeh's government outlawed opposition parties, controlled the press, forbade meetings between rival candidates and foreign diplomats, and used soldiers to attack opposition rallies. However, despite continued violations of political and human rights by Jammeh's government, significant political changes took place under his leadership. In 1997, The Gambia became a temporary member of the UN Security Council for the first time in its history, providing the government with another opportunity to enhance the country's international standing. This, and Jammeh's first official visit to France in February 1998, reflected the stabilizing of the political situation that had taken place since Jammeh came to power.

Jammeh joined The Gambia National Gendarmerie in 1984 and later transferred to The Gambia National Army and was commissioned in 1989. He served under various units 1984–94. He attended the Military Police Officers Basic Course at Fort McClellen, Alabama in the USA and obtained a Diploma in Military Science in 1994, and was Commanding Officer of The Gambia National Army Military Police 1992–94. At the time of the coup, Jammeh was a lieutenant. In 1994, he was promoted to the rank of captain and in 1996 to that of colonel. Jammeh retired from the army in 1996.