EFSCRJ Welcomes Return of US$2.5 Million in Jammeh Assets and Demands Full Transparency and Exclusive Use for Victims

EFSCRJ welcomes the agreement to return approximately US$2.5 million from the sale of Yaya Jammeh’s Potomac property. These funds must be used exclusively for victims to provide meaningful compensation, healthcare, psychosocial support, education and rehabilitation. This is both a legal and moral obligation.

However, transparency is non-negotiable. The property was reportedly purchased with stolen public funds for about US$3.5 million in 2010, yet The Gambia receives only US$2.5 million sixteen years later, an apparent shortfall of at least US$1 million.

The Ministry of Justice must publish the property’s valuation, gross selling price, sale method and a complete breakdown of all taxes, legal fees, maintenance costs and other deductions.

We also urge the Reparations Commission to regularly publish the funds received, amounts disbursed, types of reparations provided and independently audited accounts, while protecting victims’ privacy.

For victims, there must be justice. For public funds, there must be full accountability.