Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a move aimed at addressing growing public demand for transparency, especially following recent youth-led protests spearheaded by Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice has released a set of preliminary documents detailing the disposal of assets seized from former President Yahya Jammeh.

The documents, published on May 9, 2025, include lists of vehicles, livestock, furniture, properties, and other materials sold by various government-appointed bodies since the Janneh Commission’s investigations into Jammeh’s financial dealings.

The Commission, established in 2017 by President Adama Barrow shortly after taking office, was mandated to investigate the financial mismanagement and illicit enrichment of former President Jammeh, who ruled The Gambia with an iron fist for over two decades until his ouster in 2017.

The Released Documentation

According to the Ministry’s statement, the following categories of assets have been disclosed:

A list of vehicles, tractors, scrap materials, and other items sold by the Janneh Commission.

An additional list of scrap materials sold by the same commission.

A list of furniture and furnishings sold by the Receiver, Augustus Prom Audit Tax Advisory, acting under the Janneh Commission’s orders.

A report on the sale of cattle and livestock conducted by the Sheriff Division of the Judiciary of The Gambia.

A list of properties and shares sold by Alpha Kapital, a Receiver appointed to dispose of certain assets on behalf of the government.

While these initial lists have been made public, the Ministry acknowledged that more detailed information—particularly the identities of buyers, sale prices, and total proceeds—is still forthcoming.

The Ministry has requested supplemental reports from both Augustus Prom Audit Tax Advisory and the Sheriff Division to provide names of beneficiaries and financial breakdowns of the livestock sales.

The sale of properties by Alpha Kapital is also ongoing, with updates promised during the fourth phase of the disposal process.

A Disclosure as a Result of Public Pressure as Government Claims Transparency

This release follows increasing pressure from the Gambian public, particularly youth activists who have recently taken to the streets demanding accountability for corruption and a full disclosure of the fate of assets seized from the former regime.

Protesters have criticized what they see as government opacity and delays in publishing audit results and asset disposal reports, especially in light of persistent economic hardships and allegations of elite enrichment.

Former President Jammeh, who fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea after refusing to concede defeat in the December 2016 presidential elections, was accused by the Janneh Commission of embezzling over D1 billion and misappropriating state assets for personal use.

The Commission’s recommendations included the seizure of hundreds of properties, bank accounts, businesses, and luxury vehicles linked to Jammeh and his close associates.

In its press release, the Ministry of Justice reaffirmed its commitment to “ensuring transparency, accountability, and the right of the public to be informed about matters of national interest.” The government encouraged citizens to follow its official website and social media platforms for future updates.

The publication of the documents is being viewed as a partial response to the growing demand for truth and transparency in the post-Jammeh era.

However, civil society groups and protest organizers have indicated that the current disclosures, while welcome, must be followed by full audits and the return of misappropriated funds to the national treasury.

With public scrutiny intensifying and elections on the horizon, the government’s handling of the Jammeh-era asset recovery process could become a critical test of its credibility and political will to break with the legacy of impunity.