Gambia to compensate Jammeh's victims using proceeds from seized US mansion

The government of The Gambia has announced that funds generated from the sale of a luxury US property belonging to former long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh will be channeled directly to victims of his authoritarian rule.

According to the country’s Reparations Commission, authorities have officially received a total of $2,573,414.10. The money stems from the forfeiture and subsequent sale of a Maryland mansion that the United States successfully targeted in 2022, ruling that the estate was purchased using criminal proceeds and misappropriated Gambian public funds.

Jammeh seized power in a 1994 military coup and maintained a grip on the West African nation for over two decades. His tenure was heavily marred by severe human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture, and sexual violence. Investigations later revealed that state-backed abuses during his rule resulted in the deaths of up to 250 individuals.

Following his defeat in the 2016 presidential election to current leader Adama Barrow, Jammeh initially contested the outcome. However, mounting regional pressure—including the deployment of West African regional troops—forced him to step down in 2017 and flee into exile in Equatorial Guinea.

A subsequent national inquiry uncovered vast financial corruption, showing that Jammeh amassed hundreds of properties and controlled numerous bank accounts far beyond his official presidential salary, embezzling more than $300 million in public wealth.

The Reparations Commission has assured the public and survivors that the newly acquired funds will be managed responsibly and with strict transparency, keeping the rights and needs of victims at the forefront.

Read the full report on Nile Post.