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Gambia names special prosecutor for Jammeh-era abuses
British barrister Martin Hackett has been appointed as The Gambia's first special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute human rights violations committed during Yahya Jammeh's 22-year rule, which ended in 2017 when he fled into exile.
Mandate and background
Hackett will lead a newly established office tasked with handling cases from a period marked by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systemic repression. His four-year mandate was announced by Attorney General Dawda Jallow, who selected him from a pool of international candidates.
TRRC findings and recommendations
The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), formed to document abuses under Jammeh, submitted its final report to President Adama Barrow in 2021. The commission identified key perpetrators and urged their prosecution, warning that inaction would perpetuate impunity.
While the TRRC has begun distributing phased compensation-starting with victims of post-1994 coup abuses-many survivors prioritize justice over financial redress.
Notorious cases and prior convictions
The TRRC's hearings uncovered harrowing accounts, including the 2004 murder of journalist Deyda Hydara and the execution of over 50 West African migrants by security forces, falsely accused of plotting a coup. A few perpetrators, particularly members of the paramilitary unit known as "the Junglers," have already been convicted abroad under universal jurisdiction, with sentences handed down in Germany and the U.S.
Hackett's credentials and significance of appointment
Hackett brings extensive experience to the role, having served at the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon and investigated war crimes by senior military commanders during the Kosovo conflict. His appointment is viewed as a critical step toward ensuring domestic accountability for Jammeh-era atrocities.
Jammeh's refusal to cooperate and current status
Jammeh, now 60, has consistently denied wrongdoing and did not engage with the TRRC. He was forced from power in 2017 by regional leaders after refusing to accept his election defeat, with troops deployed to The Gambia to enforce his departure. He is currently believed to be living in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
