The United Democratic Party (UDP) has accused the Adama Barrow administration of stonewalling efforts to provide full transparency on the sale of former dictator Yahya Jammeh’s seized assets, months after nationwide protests demanded accountability. Despite President Barrow’s pledge to release a comprehensive list of buyers and sale prices, the government’s partial disclosures have fueled suspicions of insider deals and deliberate obfuscation.
In May 2025, youth-led protests organized by Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) forced the government to commit to publishing detailed records of transactions involving Jammeh’s confiscated luxury cars, livestock, boats, and real estate. However, the list released by the Ministry of Justice under public pressure omitted critical details, including the identities of high-profile buyers and justifications for undervalued sales. For example, a Hummer H3 was auctioned for $135,000, far exceeding its $80,000 reserve price, while high-value assets, such as Jammeh’s custom Rolls-Royce and Bentley, remain unaccounted for. The UDP has condemned this selective transparency, alleging that the discrepancies point to deals benefiting Barrow’s allies.
“The government’s reliance on a National Assembly inquiry is a stalling tactic,” the UDP stated in a press release. “This is a pretext for further delays and an attempt to bury the issue until public outrage subsides.” The party criticized the Ministry of Justice for failing to provide supplementary breakdowns from receivers such as Augustus Prom Audit Tax Advisory and the Sheriff Division, as promised. The UDP argues that the Barrow administration’s pattern of deflection—launching investigations to shield culprits while avoiding accountability—undermines public trust.
The asset sale scandal highlights broader failures in Barrow’s anti-corruption agenda. The Janneh Commission’s 2019 report revealed that Jammeh looted over $360 million from The Gambia, but irregularities have plagued recovery efforts. Audit reports flagged D22.3 million in unaccounted funds and livestock sold at deflated prices, yet no officials have faced the consequences. “If the Barrow government cannot transparently handle Jammeh’s assets, how can it tackle the endemic corruption that has mushroomed under its watch?” the UDP questioned.
The UDP has outlined three key demands: the immediate release of all buyer names, sale prices, and bidding processes; independent oversight to audit the disposal process, excluding politically compromised bodies; and prosecution of officials involved in undervalued sales or conflicts of interest. “Gambians deserve the truth, not another cover-up,” the party emphasized.
The controversy comes at a critical time for The Gambia’s transition from dictatorship to democracy. The UDP warned that the failure to account for Jammeh’s stolen wealth threatens to erode public confidence in the government’s commitment to justice. As the National Assembly inquiry continues, the UDP has urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue to apply pressure on the administration.
The Barrow government has yet to respond to the UDP’s latest accusations. However, public frustration is mounting, with calls for transparency.
As the standoff between the UDP and the National People’s Party (NPP)-led government intensifies, the asset sale scandal risks becoming a flashpoint in The Gambia’s fragile political landscape. With GALA and other civil society groups planning further demonstrations, the pressure on Barrow to deliver on his transparency pledge shows no signs of easing. The UDP’s call for accountability resonates with a population weary of broken promises and determined to see justice served.
