Gambian vice president dies of illness, president says

BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambia's Vice-President Badara Alieu Joof has died of illness in India, President Adama Barrow said on Wednesday.

Joof, 65, was appointed vice president of the West African country in 2022. He had previously served as education minister.

Barrow said on Twitter that Joof had died "after a short illness" without providing further detail.

The vice president left Gambia about three weeks ago to seek medical treatment.

(This story has been corrected to say Wednesday, not Tuesday, in the lead)

(Reporting by Pap Saine; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Estelle Shirbon and Jon Boyle)