Gambian Pres Wants to Fire all Gay Soldiers

Addressing newly promoted army chiefs, Gambia's president said that he would fire all gay and lesbian officers serving in the military, according to reports on Monday.

President Yahya Jammeh said that lesbianism was "taboo" in the military and that soldiers must refrain from homosexual activity, which he called "evil" and "ungodly," according to the Freedom Newspaper, a Gambia-focused news site. He also called being gay in the military a "no, no, no."

Jammeh also once threatened to behead gays in his country and has said that his government has no tolerance for gays.

One top Gambian official told the Freedom Newspaper that the president has "gone nuts."

"It is unfortunate that he is making such an irresponsible statement," he said. "This guy has gone nuts. He does not remember some of the things he said. I am sure his statement on gays will offend the gay community. He wants to comment on issues he doesn't have any clue about. This is the type of president we have in the Gambia. He even threatened to fire female soldiers suspected of skin bleaching."