Victims of former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh’s authoritarian regime are accusing the government of failing to honour its commitment to reparations, after the Central Bank disclosed on Tuesday that more than one billion dalasis generated from the sale of Jammeh’s confiscated assets had been deposited into state accounts and subsequently spent.
The revelation has reignited anger among survivors and families of victims, who say the government has repeatedly stalled efforts to provide compensation. Kebba Jome, Coordinator of the Gambia Victims Centre, told local media that affected communities feel “betrayed and marginalised” by an administration that once pledged to prioritise their welfare.
Jome said the funds from Jammeh’s assets were originally promised as a dedicated source for reparations, in line with commitments made to the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
Instead, he noted, the money was diverted to unrelated government expenditures. He added that even the D50 million allocated to the TRRC for its work was widely believed to have come from Senegal, not the Gambian treasury.
Across the country, victims have grown increasingly frustrated by what they describe as the government’s failure to establish a transparent and credible reparations framework, despite repeated assurances.
Victims’ groups say they will continue pressing the government to uphold its promises and deliver a reparations programme that matches the magnitude of the suffering endured during Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
