Gambia ready to prosecute ex-President Jammeh
The former leader has been accused of corruption and serious human rights violations, including killings, disappearances and imprisonments, targeting opponents, journalists and gay men
The Gambian government says it is ready to prosecute former President Yahya Jammeh for what it called “the myriad of crimes” he committed during his rule.
It was responding to a report by the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, which investigated abuses that took place during his 22 years in power.
The former leader has been accused of corruption and serious human rights violations, including killings, disappearances and imprisonments, targeting opponents, journalists and gay men.
Mr Jammeh came to power in a military coup in 1994, and ruled until 2017 when he went into exile after a shock electoral defeat.
The 57-year-old now lives in Equatorial Guinea, which, according to the AFP news agency, has no extradition treaty with The Gambia.
Gambians await justice plan for Jammeh victims
The Gambia’s attorney general and the justice minister will on Wednesday unveil plans on how the country will implement recommendations of a commission of inquiry that investigated human rights abuses under former President Yahya Jammeh.
The commission’s report held the former Gambian leader responsible for almost all the alleged rights violations and recommended that he be prosecuted.
The release of the government white paper will be a significant step towards ensuring justice for victims of rights abuses during the 22-year rule under Mr Jammeh.
At the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission hearings, nearly 400 witnesses gave chilling accounts of alleged state-sponsored torture, rape and forced disappearances.
The commission submitted its report to the government in November after more than two years of work.
It found that Mr Jammeh and his hit squad known as the Junglers allegedly killed over 240 Gambians and other nationals including nearly 60 West African migrants in 2005.
Victims and their families are keen to see Mr Jammeh brought to justice.
He has been in exile in Equatorial Guinea since the current President Adama Barrow defeated him in the 2016 elections.
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