National Assembly Split Over Deadline Extension for Yahya Jammeh Assets Investigation Committee

By Fatou Dahaba

In a lively and contentious session at the Gambia National Assembly, lawmakers grappled with a motion to extend the deadline for the Special Select Committee investigating the disposal of assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh. The committee, established in May 2025 to scrutinize sales and handling of properties forfeited following the 2017-2019 Janneh Commission’s findings, is seeking additional time beyond its current December 16, 2025, reporting date.

The proposed extension would push the final submission to on or before the next extraordinary session in March 2026. Committee member Hon. Suwaibu Touray, who tabled the motion, emphasized the need for a modest delay to ensure the report’s accuracy and comprehensiveness.

“The volume and complexity of the evidence gathered require extra time for verification, consolidation, and finalization,” Touray stated. He highlighted that the committee had already fulfilled much of its mandate during the initial 120 days—later extended by 90 days in September—through public hearings with approximately 35 witnesses, extensive documentation reviews, and open proceedings. “This extension is in the public interest, allowing us to produce findings that truly reflect the gravity of this national issue,” he added.

The probe stems from public outcry over the opaque handling of Jammeh-era assets, including luxury vehicles, livestock, land, and businesses seized after the former leader’s exile in 2017. The Janneh Commission exposed widespread corruption and recommended the forfeiture of millions in illicitly acquired wealth.

The debate revealed divisions among assembly members. Hon. Sainey Jawara of Lower Saloum questioned the committee’s timeline, noting the next regular session in March and seeking clarity on completion plans. He urged openness, allowing members to raise concerns about the investigation’s progress.

Supporting the extension, Hon. Almameh Gibba of Foni Kansala argued that substantial work remains to be done. “The commission has more to reveal than what they’ve already covered—what remains is greater than what’s been disclosed,” Gibba said. He advocated summoning additional witnesses related to the evidence, noting that many relevant individuals are available and that the committee’s progress in recent months justifies more time for thorough interviews.

Hon. Lamin Ceesay of Kiang West focused on the resolution’s precise wording. He praised efforts to limit the extension to verification and report writing, thereby preventing the probe from being reopened. However, he cautioned against overly restrictive language that might block requests for new testimony from untapped sources, potentially undermining thoroughness. “We need extensions for further evidence without unnecessary delays,” Ceesay stressed.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers agreed to approve an additional extension for the Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh, as recommended by the Janneh Commission, which invokes Section 109(2) of the 1997 Constitution and relevant Standing Orders, allowing the committee more time to finalise its report.

Granted initially 120 days, followed by a 90-day extension, the committee must now submit its comprehensive report to the Clerk of the National Assembly by January 31, 2026, ahead of the next legislative session.

As hearings concluded in late November, the committee now shifts to analysis, with the extension seen by proponents as essential for credible recommendations.