The Gambian government has launched an official investigation into the sale of seized assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh, amid growing public outrage over alleged irregularities and lack of transparency.
The assets in question include luxury vehicles, livestock, boats, farm machinery, and land, some of which were sold off while a government panel was still probing Jammeh’s vast wealth accumulated during his 22-year rule. Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup and fled to exile in Equatorial Guinea in 2017 after losing elections, is accused of orchestrating large-scale theft of government funds and committing widespread human rights abuses.
In 2017, President Adama Barrow established the Janneh commission to investigate Jammeh’s alleged corruption and financial misconduct. The commission’s 2019 report revealed that Jammeh had stolen an estimated $360 million, spending lavishly on expensive cars, aircraft, and real estate. The report recommended forfeiture of Jammeh’s assets, which included livestock such as cows, sheep, and goats, alongside tractors, vehicles, and other valuables.
Despite this, a recent investigative report by the Republic newspaper revealed that senior government officials may have sold some of these assets to themselves, friends, and family at below-market prices. This report triggered protests in the capital, Banjul, leading to arrests of demonstrators and journalists, though most were later released.
Following public pressure, the government published a detailed list of assets sold, including prices and buyers, but conspicuously excluded some of Jammeh’s luxury cars like a customised Rolls Royce and Bentley. Questions remain whether these were sold or allowed to be shipped to Jammeh in exile.
President Barrow has vowed full transparency, convening a cabinet meeting and calling on parliament and the National Audit Office to conduct parallel inquiries. However, opposition parties and rights groups remain skeptical, demanding an independent probe, fearing parliamentary investigations will be biased.
In a broader crackdown on Jammeh’s corrupt legacy, the US Justice Department in 2022 seized a Maryland mansion linked to Jammeh’s illicit proceeds, revealing his ownership of over 280 properties and more than 100 private bank accounts during his tenure.
The ongoing investigation reflects Gambia’s struggle to confront past corruption and restore public trust in governance.
