Amie N.D. Bensouda, a prominent legal practitioner from Gambia, has issued a formal cease and desist letter to Mr. Alagi Mamadi Kurang, who previously served as Secretary to the Janneh Commission and was an ex-presidential candidate. This action comes in response to what her legal counsel describes as “a protracted and defamatory campaign.”
The letter, dated 16 May 2025 and authored by the law firm Antouman A.B. Gaye & Co., requests that Mr. Kurang promptly cease the spread of purportedly defamatory statements regarding Mrs. Bensouda. The letter details the possibility of legal proceedings, encompassing claims for damages amounting to D144 million and requests for injunctive relief, if Mr. Kurang does not comply within seven days.
Mrs. Bensouda, as noted by her solicitors in the letter, is a cornerstone of the Gambian legal community, boasting more than forty years of exemplary service. She is presently the Managing Partner at Amie Bensouda & Co. LP. Her distinguished career encompasses her role as President of the Gambia Bar Association, a position as senior lecturer at the Gambia Law School, and various appointments to international panels, including the Technical Advisory of the World Bank.
The origins of the dispute can be traced to Mr. Kurang’s involvement in the Janneh Commission, which examined the financial transactions of former President Yahya Jammeh and his associates. Throughout his time in office, the Commission assigned him the responsibility of managing the disposal of assets confiscated by the state, which included vehicles and agricultural equipment. Mrs. Bensouda’s legal team claims that this process was affected by “administrative lapses and financial irregularities,” which encompass unbanked proceeds, duplicated payments, and sales that did not have reserve prices.
An especially controversial episode, as noted by Mrs. Bensouda’s attorneys, was Mr. Kurang’s memorandum from July 2018, which was distributed to senior government officials, including the President and Attorney General, wherein he alleged misconduct on the part of Mrs. Bensouda. In a formal rebuttal, Mrs. Bensouda dismissed the claims as “vitriolic” and “rooted in deep-seated resentment,” emphasising that her legal team’s contributions to the Commission were both significant and carried out with “extreme professionalism.” She also suggested that either she or Mr. Kurang should be removed from their positions to uphold the integrity of the Commission. Mr. Kurang was subsequently relieved of his duties.
Following his removal in 2018, Mrs. Bensouda’s legal counsel argues that Mr. Kurang has persisted in a campaign of public defamation against her, especially through social media and public statements, from 2020 to the present. The letter charges him with employing euphemisms and coded references like “mafia,” “Gupta(s),” and “corrupt woman” to aim at Mrs. Bensouda while steering clear of direct identification.
The cease and desist notice outlines particular allegations deemed defamatory, which include:
Allegations suggest that Mrs. Bensouda participated in the sale or acquisition of assets that were seized by the Commission;
Claims of conflicts of interest and questionable transactions;
There have been ongoing suggestions of bias or misconduct in the Commission’s activities; Accusations that she pursued or benefited personally from her position.
The letter additionally indicates that Mr. Kurang, in his role as Secretary to the Commission, was completely aware that Mrs. Bensouda, acting as Counsel, lacked any authority regarding asset sales or valuations. The ongoing release of these assertions is portrayed as intentional and harmful.
Alongside pursuing legal action domestically, Mrs. Bensouda has reportedly engaged legal counsel in London to investigate potential proceedings against Meta Platforms, Inc., concerning alleged defamatory content that Mr. Kurang published and disseminated on Facebook.
Her legal representatives have put forth the following requests:
All defamatory statements must cease immediately;
Complete eradication of current defamatory material from social media and public platforms;
A complete and unequivocal retraction and apology, pending prior legal approval;
Confirmation of compliance must be provided in writing within seven (7) days from the date of the letter.
Bensouda’s lawyers indicated that non-compliance with these conditions will result in legal action being pursued without further notice, aiming for general and aggravated damages totalling D144 million.
