The assets of Gambia’s former dictator, go for a song!
April 30, 2025, Mustapha K. Darboe
Mustapha K. Darboe
US mansion goes to victims of human rights violation!
In his 22-year rule, the Gambian leader Jammeh built a public image as a ‘pan—African’, frequently criticising the West’s policies in Africa. Away from the camera, Jammeh acquired an extravagant taste for Western products.
In September 2010, through a trustee—MYJ Family Trust—he procured a $3.5m mansion in Maryland, US. In 2022, the US Department of Justice secured a forfeiture of the asset after investigations in Gambia and the US confirmed that the real estate was procured with stolen wealth.
According to Justice Minister Dawda Jallow, the proceeds from the sale of the assets are due to be paid directly to the former dictator’s victims, who are eligible to receive reparations for human rights violations.
An assessment by Gambia’s truth commission shows it needed at least $4m to pay reparations owed to all the victims of the former dictator. Close to $ 700,000 had already been paid to the victims. Part of the outstanding $3.3m payments is $625 610 allocated to the relatives of the West African migrants killed on suspicion of being mercenaries in Gambia in 2005.
In April, the Gambian authorities established a Commission tasked to complete the reparations payments to victims already identified by the Truth Commission. The newly established Commission is also expected to assess other potential victims worthy of reparations. Jammeh was accused of killing over 200 people and responsible for the torture of many others in his 22–year rule, an inquiry established by the authorities has found.
Thank you for being a part of the OPEN GAMBIA PLATFORM community. Mustapha K. Darboe contributed to the article published in the therepublic.gm Investigation Journal on April 30, 2025! Views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of TheOpenGambiaPlatform!
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“This story was supported by Code for Africa and funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).”
