By: Binta Jaiteh
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, on Monday gave an update to the National Assembly as regards the delay in the payment of the balance of the reparations to victims of former President Jammeh.
Responding to a question posed by Serekunda West lawmaker Madi Ceesay about the state of the payment of reparations, AG Jallow explained that following the conclusion of the TRRC, the government accepted recommendations related to the commission.
“A policy decision was reached to set up an independent body that will be charged with the responsibility to assess and issue reparation,” he stated. He further explained that this policy was subsequently transformed into legislation known as the Victims Reparation Act of 2023, adding that an independent commission will administer reparations.
“It will reassess all monetary reparations initially assessed by the TRRC with the aim of improving it in line with best practices. The recruitment of seven commissioners has been successfully carried out, and their tenure will commence on April 1st,” minister Jallow said.
He elaborated that the government has included a sum of twenty million dalasi in the 2025 annual revenue and estimates.
“The proceeds of the sale of former President Yaya Jammeh’s property in Potomac, USA, will be repatriated straight into the victims’ funds. This sum will serve as the initial fund for the victims’ reparation fund, soon to be established,” he disclosed.
Legislator Madi Ceesay maintained that when the first payment was made, there were no immediate plans for setting up a reparation commission, stating that the victims were promised that their balance would be paid.
“Why is the payment of the said balance tied to the commission now?” Ceesay asked.
In his response, the attorney general explained that the mandate of the TRRC was to provide interim reparation that was tied to the mandate of the TRRC.
“As soon as the TRRC was concluded and dissolved, that mandate was gone with it. It is for the government to take over where the TRRC stopped. The government is not competent and lacks the capacity or expertise to administer reparations. Therefore, we suspended reparation matters until a competent institution is created. That is why no further payments have been made from the time the TRRC stopped to date,” Jallow told lawmakers.
“We are equally concerned with the affairs of the victims, and we are expediting this. Hopefully, by April 1st, the commission will be in operation. An office has been secured, and appointment letters have been given,” he revealed.
Sulayman Saho, Central Badibou lawmaker, told AG that it was disappointing to hear the Minister say that the government lacked the expertise to continue paying reparations to Jammeh’s victims.
Minister Jallow told MPs that victims, who are entitled to compensation, will be paid because they have already been approved.
“Even if they are not alive, their families will receive the funds,” he stated. “It is not the competence of the government to administer reparations,” he added.