Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a statement to the National Assembly, Justice Minister Dawda A. Jallow confirmed that D20 million has been allocated in the 2025 national budget to kickstart the reparations process. Additionally, proceeds from the sale of Jammeh’s property in Potomac, USA, will be repatriated directly into the Victims’ Fund, which will support the compensation efforts for those affected by human rights violations under his leadership.

Minister Jallow’s remarks were made in response to concerns raised by Hon. Madi Ceesay, the National Assembly Member for Serekunda, who questioned why there has been a delay in the balance of reparations promised to victims following the conclusion of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC).

The issue of reparations has been a significant topic of national discussion, as many victims of the Jammeh era are still awaiting the compensation promised by the TRRC’s findings. The TRRC, which concluded its work in 2021, had recommended reparations as a key part of the healing process for victims who endured years of torture, unlawful detention, and other abuses. The delay in delivering these reparations has been a source of frustration for many, as it is seen as a vital part of the country’s path toward justice and reconciliation.

Minister Jallow emphasized that the government has accepted all the TRRC’s recommendations related to reparations. The government recognizes that the healing of victims and the acknowledgment of the harm caused by Jammeh’s regime is essential not only for justice but also for national reconciliation.

To address these issues effectively, an independent commission will oversee the administration of the reparations funds. This body will review the monetary reparations initially proposed by the TRRC to ensure that they meet international best practices and are fair to the victims.

“The government has allocated D20 million in the 2025 budget for reparations, and the proceeds from the sale of former President Jammeh’s property in Potomac will be repatriated into the Victims’ Fund. These funds will be used to compensate the victims as part of the reparations process. The recruitment of seven commissioners for the new independent commission is complete, and they will begin their work on April 1, 2025,” Minister Jallow said.

Jammeh’s mansion in Potomac, located in a prestigious neighborhood in Maryland, USA, has long been a symbol of the former president’s wealth and the lavish lifestyle he led while in power. The mansion, which was reportedly purchased using funds diverted from state coffers, became a focus of international scrutiny after Jammeh’s departure from office in 2017.

It is part of a wider investigation into the ex-president’s assets, including properties in several countries, which are believed to have been acquired through illicit means during his 22-year rule. The decision to sell the Potomac property and repatriate the proceeds into the Victims’ Fund is a significant step in ensuring that Jammeh’s ill-gotten wealth is used to compensate those who suffered under his regime.

In his response to Hon. Ceesay’s inquiry regarding the delay, Minister Jallow explained that the TRRC had only been tasked with providing interim reparations.

Once the TRRC completed its mandate and dissolved, it was up to the government to take over, but it lacked the necessary expertise to administer the reparations directly. This lack of capacity led to the suspension of reparations until a competent body could be established to handle the process properly.

“When the TRRC completed its work, their mandate ended. The responsibility for reparations shifted to the government, but we were not equipped to manage this complex process on our own. That’s why the government decided to delay the reparations until we could set up a specialized commission to ensure that victims receive the compensation they deserve in line with international standards,” Jallow explained.

The establishment of this independent commission is critical to ensuring that the reparations process is transparent, accountable, and in line with the TRRC’s findings. The victims, who have suffered greatly under Jammeh’s rule, have been waiting for this moment for years. Minister Jallow’s reassurances that the government is taking steps to fulfill its promises to these victims reflect the importance of reparations as an essential part of the country’s pursuit of justice and healing.

In previous years, the government has made several attempts to provide reparations to victims. In 2019, the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) established a reparations trust fund, initially receiving D50 million (approximately $1 million) to support victims. However, by mid-2022, only about D50 million had been disbursed, leaving a shortfall of approximately D205 million (around $3.3 million) needed to fully implement the TRRC’s reparations recommendations.