Gambia Government spokesman Ebrima G Sankareh has confirmed the sale of former president Yahya Jammeh’s private jets amid controversy around the issue.

Mr Sankareh said the three aircraft were sold to a Gambian businessman Momodou Turo Darboe in 2019 at a cost of $500,000.

“The Ministry of Finance under the guidance of Gambia Civil Aviation Authority actually sold three of former President Jammeh’s aircraft to a Gambian business entrepreneur,” he said.

“The cumulative price for the three aircraft is five hundred thousand dollar ($500,000) as of his findings. The Senegalese government retired aircraft that was in operation in recent days, was disposed of at half a million dollars ($500,000) which is a functioning aircraft,” he added.

He said the airplanes were basically in a bad condition, as they were running out of steam, adding “they have depreciated in value”.

Mr Sankareh added that the aircraft were old Russian aircrafts types that were bought by the former president at a cost yet to be ascertained by the Government. 

He however stated the possibility of consulting the Ministry of Finance to determine the costs of purchase for those aircraft at the time, compared to the cost it will be sold by the current Government in 2019.

The sale has raised eyebrows in several quarters.

It was never publicised even though The Gambia Government had announced its plans to sell the assets of Mr Jammeh in 2017 after his removal from power. 

The sale only came to light last week after  the U.K. based news platform African Intelligence reported that Jammeh’s planes were sold to a Belarusian company. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba