Gambia Appoints British Lawyer as Special Prosecutor to Investigate Jammeh-Era Crimes
By Fatou Sillah
The Gambia has appointed British lawyer Martin Hackett as its special prosecutor to lead investigations into alleged crimes committed during the 22-year presidency of Yahya Jammeh, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda A. Jallow announced Wednesday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Jallow said the office of the special prosecutor would operate with an estimated annual budget of $2.5 million. He acknowledged that while the government has allocated some funding, additional financial support would be sought from international partners.
“Government has committed some funds, not enough,” Mr. Jallow said. “I have a meeting with all the ambassadors that are accredited to this country, our development partners. We have had a meeting, and they are fully briefed, and we are looking at getting the support. I’m traveling to the UN headquarters in New York next week for a peacebuilding fund, who are also very supportive.”
The government is also receiving assistance for the construction of the special prosecutor’s office. “UNDP, in collaboration with the EU, is building the Office for the Special Prosecutor so that process is underway,” Mr. Jallow said. “They’re not giving us the money, but they are going to build the head office.”
Highlighting the importance of local investigative capacity, Mr. Jallow emphasized the need to develop domestic forensic capabilities. “As a country we want to build a forensic capability out of this process; we need the lab itself in The Gambia,” he said.
Mr. Hackett, who brings experience from the United Kingdom, will be tasked with overseeing complex investigations and legal proceedings related to abuses and corruption during Mr. Jammeh’s tenure, which ended in 2017.
The appointment marks a significant step in Gambia’s ongoing efforts to confront past human rights violations and strengthen the rule of law, with international partners playing a crucial role in providing both technical and logistical support.
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