Masaneh Kinteh

Masaneh Nyuku Kinteh (born 13 August 1968) is a retired Gambian Army officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff until his removal on 5th March 2020 by President Adama Barrow. He was the Gambian Chief of Mission in Havana, Cuba, from 2012 to 2017, and was previously Chief of the Defence Staff from 2009 to 2012. He had retired at the rank of lieutenant general in 2012, having previously also served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff in 2009. He was reinstated in 2017.

Masaneh Kinteh
Kanteh during Exercise African Endeavor, 5 July 2011
Chief of the Defence Staff
In office
27 February 2017 – 5 March 2020
PresidentAdama Barrow
Preceded byOusman Badjie
Succeeded byYankuba Drammeh
In office
9 October 2009 – 6 July 2012
PresidentYahya Jammeh
Preceded byLang Tombong Tamba
Succeeded byOusman Badjie
Military Aide to the President Prime Minister of the Gambia
In office
25 January 2017 – 27 February 2017
PresidentAdama Barrow
Preceded byNew position
Personal details
Born (1968-08-13) 13 August 1968
Sankwia, Jarra West, the Gambia
Military service
Allegiance The Gambia
Branch/service Gambian National Army
Years of service1991–2012
2017–2020
Rank Lieutenant General
CommandsChief of the Defence Staff

Early life

Kinteh was born in the village of Sankwia, Jarra West, the Gambia.[1] He studied in the United Kingdom[2] and worked as a school teacher from 1988 to 1990.[3]

Career

Kinteh's military career began in November 1990 when he passed the Commission Selection Board organised by the British Army Training Team for the selection of potential officer cadets. He formally joined the Gambian armed forces on 15 March 1991 and gradually rose through the ranks. In December 2004, he became the acting Chief of Staff of the Gambian Army, after the previous incumbent, Assan Sarr, was raised to the position of Chief of the Defence Staff.[4] He was appointed as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff in 2009 by President Yahya Jammeh.[3][5]

On 9 October 2009, following Lang Tombong Tamba's sacking (he was later trialled and sentenced to death on charges of treason), Jammeh appointed Kinteh as Chief of the Defence Staff. At the same time, Yankuba Drammeh was raised to Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, but shortly after was removed from the post. Kinteh was removed as Chief of the Defence Staff by Jammeh on 6 July 2012. The week before he was removed, he was questioned by intelligence officers, but nothing came of their questioning. No official reason was given for his removal, but it was said that he would receive a post in the foreign service. Ousman Badjie was chosen as Kinteh's replacement.[1][6]

Kinteh and Carter Ham surveying the troops, 21 July 2011.

Following his appointment to the foreign service, there was some confusion over whether he had been appointed as the Gambian ambassador to Tunisia or as chief of mission of the Gambian diplomatic mission in Cuba.[3] The pro-government Daily Observer announced on 2 August 2012 that he had been appointed as the deputy chief of mission in Cuba.[5] He later became the chief of mission in Cuba.[7] In December 2016, during the constitutional crisis, Kinteh was one of 11 Gambian ambassadors to call for Jammeh to step down as President and recognise Adama Barrow as his successor.[8] Jammeh removed Kinteh from his post in Cuba on 10 January 2017.[9]

On 25 January, it was announced that Kinteh would serve as President Barrow's military aide.[10] On 27 February 2017, Kinteh was appointed by Barrow to replace Badjie as Chief of the Defence Staff. He said that Barrow has plans to reform and restructure the military, but his immediate priority was to restore the morale of the troops. He said, "I want to make sure we get over that hurdle and make sure soldiers come out of their self and see themselves as citizens of this country who are to be respected, admired and be role models." [11]

References
  1. Joof, Modou S. (6 July 2012). "President Jammeh Removes Chief of Defence Lt. Gen. Kinteh". North Bank Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  2. "Badjie Takes Over Army as Kinteh Relieved". Daily News. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  3. "Confusion over ex-CDS Kinteh's appointment". Kibaaro News. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  4. "Gambia gets second army chief in 60 days". Pana Press. 27 December 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  5. Fadera, Hatab (2 August 2012). "Masanneh Kinteh goes to Cuba as deputy chief of Mission". Daily Observer. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  6. "Jammeh Removed Army Chief". Kibaaro News. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  7. "Cuba and Gambia to strengthen bilateral cooperation links". The Standard. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  8. Saidykhan, Musa (20 December 2016). "11 Gambian Diplomats Want Jammeh To Accept Defeat". Kairo News. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  9. Phatey, Sam (10 January 2017). "Gambia's President Jammeh fires nine more ambassadors". SMBC News. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  10. Jobe, Alhagie (25 January 2017). "Gambia's Ex-Army Chief Masanneh Kinteh named Military aide to President Barrow". Fatu Network. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  11. "Kinteh takes over as CDS, promises to transform the army". The Point. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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