Gambia to use $2.5 million from Jammeh’s US mansion sale for victim reparations
The Gambia has received $2.5 million from the sale of former President Yahya Jammeh's mansion in the United States. The funds will be used exclusively to compensate victims of Jammeh's 22-year rule, which involved serious human rights abuses including killings, disappearances, and torture. The Reparations Commission affirmed its commitment to transparent and responsible management of the funds.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-10-20
The Gambia announced on Tuesday that it will use $2.5 million from the sale of former President Yahya Jammeh’s mansion in the United States to pay reparations to victims of his regime.
The US Justice Department returned the proceeds from the Washington property sale, located in the affluent Potomac suburb, after determining it was purchased with “criminal proceeds and misappropriated Gambian public funds.” Jammeh ruled The Gambia for 22 years until 2017 and is accused of overseeing murders, disappearances, rape, and torture.
A commission of inquiry estimated that Jammeh’s forces killed between 240 and 250 people during his rule. He also allegedly embezzled millions from state funds for personal use. The Gambia’s Reparations Commission, established to compensate victims, confirmed receipt of the funds and stated they will be used solely for reparations as mandated by a 2023 law.
The Commission emphasized its commitment to managing the reparations money responsibly, transparently, and with accountability, prioritizing the rights and needs of victims and survivors. Jammeh currently resides in Equatorial Guinea after being forced from power following his 2016 election defeat to President Adama Barrow.