Austin developer Cherno Njie accused of leading failed coup in Gambia
An Austin developer who specializes in low-income, federally subsidized housing now stands accused of trying to overthrow the government of a small West African country.
The federal Department of Justice announced Monday that Cherno M. Njie, 57, had been charged with funding a failed coup in The Republic of Gambia, of which he expected to become the interim leader. Njie is one of two American citizens arrested, according to the Justice Department, along with Minnesotan Papa Faal, 46.
U.S. law forbids citizens from trying to overthrow the governments of nations with which the United States is at peace, according to the Justice Department. In response to the attempted coup, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh blamed “terrorist groups” and alleged that plotters had received backing from foreign countries.
The Justice Department charges are based mainly on an interview with Faal, according to the government affidavit. Faal told investigators that the Gambian-descended Njie — who went by the code name “Dave” — “was a businessman who financed the operation and was to be installed as the leader of The Gambia after the successful coup.”
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/austin-developer-cherno-njie-accused-of-leading-fa/njgsk/
