The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has warmly welcomed the arrest of two infamous members of Yahya Jammeh’s “Junglers” death squad, Sanna Manjang and Nuha Badjie, describing the development as a long-overdue breakthrough for victims of the former regime’s atrocities.
In a strongly worded public statement issued today, the Banjul-based human rights organisation expressed “profound relief” that the government has finally taken “meaningful steps” to hold the notorious hitmen accountable. The arrests, the group said, deliver critical psychological relief to survivors and families who have lived in fear and uncertainty for years.
“While justice may be delayed, it cannot be denied,” the statement read, reaffirming faith in eventual accountability nine years after Jammeh’s ouster.
EFSCRJ urged authorities to ensure “speedy and credible prosecution” in line with due process and international fair trial standards, insisting that justice must not only be done but visibly seen to be done.
Despite the breakthrough, the organisation expressed concern that many Junglers remain at large, particularly in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. It called for greater regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic pressure to bring all fugitives to justice, stressing that coordinated action could have secured their arrest long ago.
The group also demanded full transparency about the circumstances of Manjang and Badjie’s apprehension, including their recent activities and intentions inside The Gambia. “Citizens have an undeniable right to accurate information about those who terrorised the nation,” EFSCRJ asserted.
Finally, the Centre reminded the government of its duty to provide regular public updates to counter fear and misinformation.
Victims’ advocates and civil society leaders have echoed the call, viewing the arrests as a pivotal test of the President Adama Barrow administration’s commitment to delivering justice as recommended by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
