BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — Protests in Gambia over the sale of a former dictator's assets led to the arrests of at least 27 demonstrators and two journalists, who were later released, police said Monday.
The protests in the West African country's capital of Banjul began after an investigative report by local media that accused the government of selling former dictator Yahya Jammeh ’s assets at below market value. A group called the Gambians Against Looted Assets, or GALA, led the protest.
According to a government statement Monday, the sale went through a “legally grounded process.”
“At all times, the government acted within the confines of the law and in the public interest,” the Ministry of Justice said.
“We condemn the (Inspector General of the Police) denial of our rights to protest and we will take none of it. We call on all Gambians to stand in opposition to this unlawful behavior of the police and come out in the thousands to take to the streets,” GALA spokesperson Omar Saibo Camara said at a news conference earlier this week. Camara was responding to the government's announcement that it had denied their request to protest.
A government commission was created in 2017 with the goal of looking into the financial dealings of former President Jammeh and his advisers. The commission concluded on Sept. 13, 2019 with a report indicating that the former president had stolen up to $362 million from the country.
His two-decade-long rule was marked by arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, according to rights activists. Along with political opponents, Jammeh also targeted journalists and members of the gay community.
Jammeh now resides in Equatorial Guinea.
FILE - Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tennis Australia has hired Andrew Abdo from the National Rugby League to replace Craig Tiley as chief executive officer.
The Australian governing bodies of both sports confirmed the move in statements on Monday.
Tiley announced in February he was quitting his roles as Australian Open tournament director and Tennis Australia CEO to join the U.S. Tennis Association, which runs the U.S. Open.
Tiley, who is from South Africa, became the Australian Open’s tournament director in 2006 and oversaw its expansion to a 15-day event, breaking attendance and revenue records. He became the CEO of Tennis Australia in 2013.
Abdo, who is also from South Africa, has been working with Australia's NRL since 2013, initially as chief commercial officer and, since 2020, as CEO. He played a pivotal role in the league navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its expansion and development.
“Tennis Australia has a unique role in Australian sport. The Australian Open is already one of the leading sporting events in the world,” Abdo said in a statement. “The opportunity is to keep evolving it – as a global event, as a fan experience, and as a platform that brings more people into the sport.”
Tennis Australia said a global recruitment search attracted more than 150 candidates and Abdo stood out for his record of leadership in a high-profile national league.
"Tennis is one of the nation’s most popular sports, and participation is growing,” Tiley said in a statement. “We have a great group of players performing at the highest level and a world-class team developing the next generation of talented players and coaches.”
The Australian Open is the first of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments on the calendar each year, followed by the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
National Rugby League CEO Andrew Abdo speaks about his resignation in Sydney, Australia, Monday, May 25, 2026. (Robbie Stephenson/AAP Image via AP)
