Gambia charges eight soldiers over foiled coup

Gambia charged eight soldiers with treason and conspiracy on Friday for their role in a foiled coup last month, the government said in a statement.
The government said on Dec. 21 that a group of soldiers had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt in the West African nation of 2.5 million people almost entirely surrounded by Senegal.
“The Gambia government this afternoon charged eight soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces with two counts of Treason and Felony Conspiracy to Commit Treason,” the statement said.
One of the soldiers was still at large, while the rest were remanded in custody, it added.
They pleaded not guilty to the first charge and did not enter a plea on the second charge, a government spokesman told Reuters.
Two civilians and a police officer were also charged earlier this week with concealment of treason and conspiracy to commit a felony.