Gambia expels top EU diplomat

Gambia’s eccentric president, Yahyah Jammeh, has abruptly expelled the European Union’s top diplomat to his country.
The marching orders given to Agnes Guillard, the EU’s charge d’affaires, are the latest in a string of anti-Western gestures by Mr Jammeh, who has been heavily criticised for his human rights record.
Two years ago, he pulled Gambia out of the Commonwealth, saying the tiny west African nation would no longer belong to a “colonial” institution, and also scrapped English as one of Gambia’s official languages.
Ms Guillaud was asked to leave Gambia within 72 hours, although no reason was given. However, the EU blocked some £8m in aid to Gambia in December 2014 because of its poor human rights record, in particular anti-homosexual laws, and was debating whether to withhold further aid this year.
The decision has sparked concerns for the future of British diplomats in Banjul as well, given Mr Jammeh’s well-known disdain for the UK. He once said that in 300 years of colonising Gambia, Britain did nothing except teach Gambians “how to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep”.
An EU foreign affairs spokeswoman said the European Union was summoning the Gambian ambassador on Saturday to seek an explanation. “There appears to be no justification for the decision by the Gambian authorities. We are astonished by this announcement which came with no explanations.”
President Yahya Jammeh, 50, came to power in a coup 20 years ago. He has stifled dissent and faces increased criticism from abroad over his claims that he has a herbal remedy that can cure AIDS. He has also been criticised for executing large numbers of prisoners in his jails during an “anti-crime” crackdown. The telegraph, UK