Jammeh's victims to get reparations from mansion sale

Gambian authorities have announced that funds from the sale of the country’s former President’s mansion in the US would be used to pay reparations to victims of his rule, reports Al Jazeera. The Gambia Reparations Commission has confirmed that it received just more than $2.5m from the sale of a property in the wealthy Washington, DC suburb of Potomac, Maryland, belonging to ex-President Yahya Jammeh. The commission, which was set up to compensate victims of abuses committed during Jammeh’s 22-year rule ending in 2017. ‘The commission is committed to ensuring that the funds are managed responsibly, transparently and accountably, with due regard to the rights and needs of victims and survivors,’ it said. Jammeh currently lives in Equatorial Guinea, after he was forced out under pressure from The Gambia’s West African neighbours following his 2016 election loss to current President Adama Barrow. He is accused of presiding over the murder of political opponents, disappearances, rape and torture. A commission of inquiry estimated that between 240 and 250 victims were killed by Jammeh’s forces in the former British colony of 2m people.

Full Al Jazeera report