The Gambia government has set up an 11-member hybrid panel to investigate last week’s coup attempt against the Barrow administration.

At least eight soldiers have been arrested in connection with the alleged coup, as the state pursue other alleged coupists on the run.

The government statement said the panel draws membership from the Ministry of Justice, Office of National Security (ONS), The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), The Gambia Police Force (GPF) and the State Intelligence Service (SIS) “to exhaustively, professionally and impartially investigate the alleged coup plot.”

“The investigators have 30 days effective today to investigate, prepare and submit their report on the alleged coup plot,” the statement added. 

Last Wednesday the government announced that it has foiled a coup and arrested the soldiers behind it including alleged coup leader Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera. 

A captain and lieutenant were reportedly detained at the weekend in connection with the coup. 

According to government spokesman Ebrima Sankareh, the officers were “helping investigators unearth allegations of plans to overthrow the government of President Adama Barrow”.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba