Lieutenant General Mamat O. A. Cham has resigned as Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces following allegations of misconduct and abuse of office.
According to the statement by the Presidency, the resignation, which takes immediate effect on Friday, has been accepted by President Adama Barrow.
The statement added that General Cham, in his letter of resignation, reportedly acknowledged that he was stepping down in the wake of “numerous allegations of misconduct and abuse of office inconsistent with the Office of Chief of Defence Staff.”
Following the resignation, President Barrow has appointed Major General Ousman Gomez as Acting Chief of Defence Staff with immediate effect.
Major General Gomez had previously served as Deputy Chief of Defence Staff at Army Headquarters in Banjul.
The Presidency said that the appointment was made under Section 190 of the Constitution.
“General Cham also thanked President Barrow for the confidence reposed in him during his tenure as the country’s ninth Chief of Defence Staff,” the statement added.
GIK/APA