On January 5, 2015, just over a week ago there was an attempted coup in the small West African country of Gambia. Involved in the coup were two American citizens. Criminal charges are being held against two United States citizens, accused in federal court of helping to finance, lead and arm the plotters. The Justice Department, in Washington said that the American defendants, both of Gambian descent, were in federal custody. They also have been charged with conspiring to violate the Neutrality Act, a very infrequently used law that prohibits Americans from fighting, or plotting against a nation at peace with the United States.
On Wednesday the defendants were identified as Cherno Njie, a 57 year old man, from Austin, Texas. The other man was Papa Faal, 46, is from Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, though, it is not clear whether they had lawyers or whether other Americans were also under investigation in the case.