PETER SINGHATEH

Peter Singhateh, also known as Sana B. Sabally, is a former Gambian military officer and politician notable for his role in the 1994 coup d'état that overthrew the government of President Dawda Jawara. Born in the Gambia, Singhateh rose through the ranks of the military and became a key figure in the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) that took control of the country following the coup.

The coup occurred on July 22, 1994, when Singhateh, along with Yahya Jammeh and other junior officers, seized power from the long-serving President Jawara. The AFPRC, with Singhateh as a prominent member, suspended the constitution, dissolved parliament, and banned political parties. The coup was justified on the grounds of rampant corruption and economic mismanagement under Jawara’s regime. Singhateh was appointed Vice Chairman of the AFPRC, effectively making him the second-in-command in the new government.

Singhateh's tenure in the AFPRC was marked by political repression and human rights abuses. In January 1995, he was implicated in the torture and killing of several political detainees, an incident that highlighted the brutal nature of the regime. This period saw numerous arrests, detentions without trial, and widespread fear among the populace.

Internal power struggles within the AFPRC led to Singhateh’s downfall. In November 1994, he was accused of plotting a coup against Jammeh, who had by then consolidated his power as the head of state. Singhateh was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. He spent several years in prison before being released as part of a general amnesty.

Following his release, Singhateh assumed a new identity as Sana B. Sabally and largely withdrew from public life. His experiences and the political turmoil of the period have been subjects of various discussions on governance and human rights in the Gambia. Singhateh’s life reflects the complexities and challenges of the country's political landscape during the late 20th century.

REFERENCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Singhateh