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The Gambia has begun paying reparations to victims of crimes committed during the 22-year rule of former president Yahya Jammeh, which ended in 2017, marking a significant step in the country's transitional justice process. According to reports from AllAfrica, the payouts follow recommendations from the country's 2021 Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, which called for more than 1,000 victims to receive a total of 237 million dalasi (about $3.7 million) for abuses that left roughly 250 people dead and thousands more affected.

Essa Coker, executive secretary of the Reparations Commission, said in an email that 83 victims had been initially targeted for the exercise, with the Commission expected to pay a total of 761 victims as the program is more broadly implemented.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the development, as aggregated by AllAfrica, consistently highlights two key elements: the commencement of reparations payments and the country's parallel efforts to establish accountability for Jammeh-era crimes. Both reports note that the reparations program is one of the most concrete steps taken so far to address abuses during Jammeh's regime, and they draw comparisons to Liberia, where a similar reparations initiative has stalled.

The reports also emphasize the broader context of transitional justice in Africa, citing examples from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to illustrate varying approaches to reparations.

Key Claims

  • The Gambia has begun paying reparations to more than 1,000 victims of Jammeh-era abuses, as reported by multiple sources.
  • The 2021 Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission report recommended reparations totaling 237 million dalasi (approximately $3.7 million).
  • The Commission accused Jammeh and 68 officials of serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and torture.
  • The Gambia has appointed Martin Hackett, a British human rights lawyer, as special prosecutor with a four-year mandate to lead prosecutions.
  • The country is preparing to establish a hybrid tribunal to try Jammeh, currently in exile in Equatorial Guinea, along with the 68 officials recommended for prosecution.
  • Reparations Commission executive secretary Essa Coker stated that $285,000 had been allocated separately for reparations in each of the government's 2025 and 2026 budgets.
  • Liberia's 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended $500 million in reparations for victims of the civil wars between 1989 and 2003, but that plan remains unimplemented.
  • Liberia's Justice Minister, Oswald Tweh, said the government was committed to establishing a reparation trust fund to support conflict victims.
  • The ICC has ordered roughly $95 million in reparations for victims in five cases, including $60 million from former Ugandan rebel commander Dominic Ongwen to more than 49,000 victims.
  • Sierra Leone's reparations program registered between 28,000 and 30,000 war victims as eligible for assistance.

Perspectives

Gambian Government and Reparations Commission

Officials frame the payouts as a concrete fulfillment of the Truth Commission's recommendations, emphasizing the government's commitment to addressing past abuses. The allocation of funds in the 2025 and 2026 budgets signals ongoing financial support for the program.

Victims and Advocacy Groups

Advocates view the Gambian initiative as a model for other countries, particularly Liberia, where reparations have been delayed. They stress the importance of combining reparations with criminal accountability to achieve full justice.

Regional and International Comparisons

The experiences of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and ICC cases offer a spectrum of reparations approaches, from unimplemented recommendations to large-scale but often slow-moving international processes. These comparisons highlight both the challenges and potential pathways for transitional justice in West Africa.