Civil society group Gambia Participates has strongly demanded government transparency regarding the disposal of assets forfeited by former dictator Yahya Jammeh, citing allegations of corruption, conflict of interest, and a lack of accountability. The call follows an investigative report by The Republic on April 30, 2025, titled “The assets of Gambia’s former dictator go for a song,” which exposed irregularities in managing and selling Jammeh’s assets.
The report reignited concerns initially raised in 2018 when the former Secretary of the Janneh Commission of Inquiry, tasked with overseeing the asset forfeiture, filed a petition alleging conflict of interest after the government suspended the commission’s asset sales. The Secretary was subsequently sacked, with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) defending the decision, stating the Secretary lacked legal standing to raise such issues. The MOJ acknowledged a potential conflict of interest at the time, engaging an external lawyer to investigate, but the outcome remains undisclosed.
Gambia Participates highlighted the MOJ’s response to The Republic’s report, dated May 5, 2025, claiming that all sold assets were audited by the National Audit Office (NAO), with a report to be submitted to the National Assembly. However, as of May 6, 2025, no special audit on Jammeh’s assets has been publicly documented. A 2020 NAO audit of general government accounts raised red flags, noting that D706,306,614.07 (approximately $14 million) in proceeds from asset sales lacked supporting documentation, including bidding records, advertisements, valuations, and auctioneer licenses. The failure to provide these documents remains unresolved, raising questions about whether this was intentional.
The lack of transparency has eroded public trust in the process, particularly as the government has not disclosed how over D1 billion ($20 million) in proceeds from asset sales since 2019 have been spent. These assets, seized to address Jammeh’s corrupt practices, are meant to benefit victims of his regime, in line with the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principle 5, which emphasizes that recovered assets should benefit those harmed by corruption. Victims, however, are still awaiting full compensation.
Gambia Participates argues that the disposal process must adhere to international standards of transparency and probity. The group criticized the government’s initial refusal to name buyers, citing “privacy” concerns, and warned that secrecy risks undermining the Janneh Commission’s work and the government’s anti-corruption efforts.
To address these issues, Gambia Participates outlined four immediate actions. First, the MOJ should publish a comprehensive list of forfeited assets, details of disposed assets (including disposal processes, valuations, buyers, and proceeds), and the status of remaining assets. Second, the MOJ should investigate *The Republic*’s findings, building on its precedent of acting on journalistic reports to prosecute corruption. Third, the MOJ should commission a special NAO audit of the forfeiture and disposal process and implement its recommendations. Finally, the National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) should exercise oversight and hold those responsible for any lapses accountable.
The controversy surrounding Jammeh’s assets underscores broader challenges in Gambia’s fight against corruption. Jammeh, who ruled from 1994 to 2017, amassed significant wealth through corrupt means, and the forfeiture process was intended to rectify these wrongs. However, allegations of mismanagement threaten to tarnish these efforts, leaving victims and the public demanding answers.
As Gambia Participates’ statement gains traction, all eyes are on the government to respond. The MOJ has yet to comment on the group’s demands, but pressure is mounting for decisive action to restore confidence in the asset recovery process. Without transparency, the legacy of Jammeh’s corruption may continue to haunt Gambia’s pursuit of justice.
