Wayne Lumbasi
The Gambia has received approximately $2.5 million from the United States, representing proceeds from the sale of a mansion linked to former president Yahya Jammeh. The money is expected to support compensation for victims of human rights abuses committed during Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
The funds were recovered after US authorities seized and sold a property in Potomac, Maryland, associated with Jammeh and his wife, Zineb Jammeh. The United States alleged that the mansion had been purchased using proceeds linked to the misappropriation of Gambian public funds. The sale allowed American authorities to recover part of the wealth connected to the former president and return it to The Gambia.
The money is intended for the country’s reparations programme, which seeks to provide financial redress to people who suffered under Jammeh’s government. The Gambia Reparations Commission is responsible for administering the programme and ensuring that eligible victims receive compensation.
Jammeh came to power in 1994 after leading a military coup and remained president until 2017, when he lost the presidential election to Adama Barrow. His refusal to accept the election result triggered a political crisis that ended after regional pressure forced him to leave the country. He subsequently went into exile in Equatorial Guinea, where he remains.
During his time in office, Jammeh’s government was accused of widespread abuses, including torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, sexual violence and extrajudicial killings. A commission established to investigate his rule also uncovered evidence of corruption and the alleged diversion of public resources for personal gain.
These findings formed part of a broader effort to establish the truth about abuses committed under his administration and determine how victims could obtain justice. The country’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission heard testimonies from survivors and families whose lives had been affected by the former government’s actions.
For many victims, the return of the money offers a chance to receive some financial compensation for the harm they endured. However, the reparations process has also highlighted the difficulty of addressing the lasting consequences of torture, unlawful detention, killings and other abuses.
The recovery of the mansion’s sale proceeds is part of a wider effort to trace assets associated with alleged corruption and use recovered funds to support those harmed by the former regime. The transfer also demonstrates how cooperation between countries can help return assets and contribute to accountability efforts beyond national borders.
The immediate challenge for The Gambia is to ensure that the money reaches eligible victims through a transparent and accountable process. While the compensation cannot undo the suffering experienced by survivors and their families, it represents a tangible step towards acknowledging their experiences and addressing some of the harm caused during Jammeh’s presidency.
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