President Adama Barrow announced on Tuesday that Gambia’s Vice President, Badara Alieu Joof, passed away due to illness while receiving medical treatment in India.
Barrow tweeted “it is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing away of my #VicePresident, His Excellency, Badara Alieu Joof. The sad event took place in India after a short illness. May Allah grant him Jannahtul Firdawsi.” No further details were provided.
Joof, 65, had recently been appointed as Vice President in 2022 and had previously served as Education Minister. He had left the Gambia three weeks prior to his passing to seek medical treatment. Prior to his appointment as Vice President, he had expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of public affairs and had stated that “business as usual” would not lead to the change Gambians desired.
The country will now begin the process of selecting a new Vice President to take his place.
Who was Badara Alieu Joof, Gambia’s late Vice President?
Before his political career, Joof was a well-respected educator and had dedicated many years to the field of education in Gambia. He was a strong advocate for improving the country’s education system and had worked tirelessly to ensure that all Gambian children had access to quality education.
Image Credit:Twitter / UN The Gambia
