Published On 20 Oct 2026
Gambian authorities have announced that proceeds from the sale of former President Yahya Jammeh’s U.S. mansion will be directed toward reparations for victims of his regime.
The Gambia Reparations Commission confirmed Tuesday that it received just over $2.5 million from the sale of a property located in the affluent Washington, D.C. suburb of Potomac, Maryland, which previously belonged to Jammeh.
The commission, established to compensate individuals harmed during Jammeh’s 22-year rule that ended in 2017, stated in a press release that “the funds were deposited directly into the Reparations Fund account at the Central Bank of The Gambia and shall only be utilized for the payment of reparations.”
“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,” the statement added.
Jammeh currently resides in Equatorial Guinea after being compelled to leave office under regional pressure following his controversial 2016 electoral defeat to President Adama Barrow.
During his tenure, Jammeh was accused of overseeing the killing of political opponents, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and torture.
A government commission of inquiry estimated that between 240 and 250 people were killed by Jammeh’s forces in the small West African nation of approximately two million inhabitants.
Proceeds from corruption
President Barrow emphasized in a public statement that his administration would follow any guidance provided by auditors regarding the fair distribution of these funds to eligible victims.
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture claim asserting that the property had been acquired using corrupt funds. A federal court ordered the asset forfeited in 2022.
The department noted that the mansion was originally purchased through a trust set up by Jammeh’s wife.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced in September that it would transfer the proceeds from the mansion’s sale back to The Gambia.