Gambia Appoints British Barrister as Special Prosecutor for Jammeh-Era Human Rights Abuses

The Gambia has appointed Martin Hackett, a British barrister, as its first special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for human rights abuses during the 22-year rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. Jammeh's presidency, which began after a 1994 coup, ended in 2017 when he went into exile following an election defeat.

The appointment establishes a new office dedicated to these cases.

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was established to document abuses from that period, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The TRRC's final report, delivered to President Adama Barrow in 2021, identified key individuals responsible and recommended their prosecution.

It also proposed reparations for victims and warned of risks associated with inaction.

The TRRC collected testimony from victims, former security operatives, and witnesses regarding incidents during Jammeh's rule.

Notable cases include the 2004 killing of journalist Deyda Hydara and the execution of more than 50 West African migrants by security forces in 2005, who were accused of plotting a coup. The commission has initiated phased compensation payments, beginning with victims of abuses shortly after the 1994 coup.

Some perpetrators have faced convictions outside The Gambia under universal jurisdiction principles.

These include members of the paramilitary unit known as the Junglers, with convictions in Germany and the United States. Jammeh, now 60, has denied any wrongdoing and resides in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

Hackett has experience from the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon and investigations into war crimes in Kosovo.