Funds recovered from the sale of Yahya Jammeh’s former Maryland mansion will be used to compensate people harmed by his regime.

Banjul, The Gambia — The Gambia will use more than $2.5 million recovered from the sale of former President Yahya Jammeh’s mansion in the United States to compensate victims of human rights abuses committed during his 22-year rule.

The US Department of Justice confirmed that $2,507,911.73 in net proceeds from the sale of Jammeh’s property in Potomac, Maryland, had been returned to the Gambian government.

The money will be used exclusively to compensate eligible victims under The Gambia’s 2023 Victims Reparations Act, part of the country’s efforts to address abuses committed under the former president.

US authorities had alleged that Jammeh and his wife, Zineb, acquired the property using proceeds of corruption and misappropriated public funds.

US Returns $2.5 Million From Yahya Jammeh’s Property

The recovered funds came from the sale of a mansion in Potomac, Maryland, which US authorities linked to alleged corruption during Jammeh’s presidency.

According to the US Justice Department, the money was returned following cooperation between American and Gambian authorities.

The department said the recovery was intended to ensure that assets linked to corruption could benefit people harmed by the former government.

Under the arrangement, the returned funds are designated for victim compensation and cannot be diverted to other government spending.

The transfer adds to The Gambia’s broader efforts to provide financial redress to people who suffered abuses during Jammeh’s rule.

Yahya Jammeh’s 22-Year Rule Marked by Human Rights Abuses

Jammeh ruled The Gambia from 1994 until 2017 after taking power in a military coup.

His presidency ended following his defeat by Adama Barrow in the December 2016 election.

Jammeh initially refused to accept the result but eventually left office in January 2017 following regional diplomatic and military pressure.

He has since lived in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

A truth and reconciliation process established after his departure documented widespread human rights violations committed during his administration.

These included unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and sexual and gender-based violence.

The findings formed the basis for recommendations aimed at delivering justice, accountability and compensation to victims.

The Gambia’s Reparations Program Moves Forward

The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission investigated abuses committed between 1994 and 2017 and submitted its final report in 2021.

The country subsequently passed the Victims Reparations Act in 2023, establishing a legal framework for compensating people affected by abuses during Jammeh’s presidency.

The returned US funds will support that process by providing financial resources for eligible victims.

The reparations program forms part of The Gambia’s wider transitional justice efforts following more than two decades of authoritarian rule.

The latest asset recovery also highlights cooperation between Gambian and US authorities in tracing and returning funds linked to alleged corruption under the former administration.