The Gambia Reparations Commission has confirmed receipt of USD 2,573,414.10 recovered from the forfeiture and sale of former President Yahya Jammeh’s Potomac property in the United States. The funds have been deposited directly into the Reparations Fund account at the Central Bank of The Gambia and will be used exclusively to pay reparations to victims.
In a press release issued today, the Commission described the transfer as an important step in advancing its mandate under the Victims’ Reparations Act, 2023. The money will support individual or collective restitution, compensation, and rehabilitation for eligible victims of human rights violations committed between July 1994 and January 2017.
Full financial disclosure accompanying the announcement shows that gross real property revenue totalled $2,609,589.88, plus a $18,495.93 tax overpayment refund, bringing monies transferred via the US Treasury to $2,628,085.81. After deducting expenses of $120,174.08 — comprising legal fees, delinquent taxes for 2020–2021 and the first half of 2022, and contractor costs — net equity stood at $2,507,911.73. An additional $65,502.37 from rental escrow brought the final amount received to $2,573,414.10.
The Commission stressed that its operational budget remains separate from the Reparations Fund and that all monies in the Fund will be reserved solely for reparations. It acknowledged the cooperation between the governments of The Gambia and the United States in facilitating the recovery and transfer of the proceeds.
Established by an Act of Parliament in 2023 and operational since 2025, the Reparations Commission implements the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). Its work focuses on providing swift and comprehensive redress to victims, survivors, and affected communities.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in managing the funds and pledged to keep the public informed of significant developments in the national reparations program.
Victims and the public can expect the recovered funds to contribute to ongoing efforts to deliver justice and support to those who suffered under the former regime. The Commission said it remains dedicated to ensuring that the rights and needs of victims remain at the centre of the process.
