Africa-Press – Gambia. Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda A. Jallow has informed the National Assembly that reparations for victims of former President Yahya Jammeh’s regime have not yet commenced, despite D17.5 million already released into the reparations fund.
Mr. Jallow explained that of the D30 million allocated to the reparations process in the 2025 national budget, D20 million was earmarked for direct payments to victims, while D10 million was set aside for the operational costs of the Victims Reparations Commission, including salaries, allowances, and administrative expenses. To date, D5.3 million of the operational budget has been utilized, and D17.5 million has been transferred by the Ministry of Finance into the reparations fund.
“Of the 30 million allocated to the victims of the reparations commission in the 2025 national budget, 20 million was earmarked for the reparations fund itself and 10 million allocated for the operational cost of the commission, including salaries, allowances, and other administrative expenses,” the minister explained.
He clarified that payments have not yet begun because the commission is still finalizing its policies, strategies, and eligibility criteria to ensure a fair and structured disbursement process.
“The commission is yet to complete its foundational work, including the development of policies, strategies, and eligibility criteria, before it can begin the disbursement of reparations to victims,” he said, stressing that while the urgency is understood, due diligence is critical.
“The commission understands the urgency because they are already in touch with the victims. They have opened the accounts, and the money is paid in, but they need to be careful how they assess and how they pay,” Jallow added.
The Justice Minister further revealed that his ministry has been providing technical support to the commission, including hiring consultants to help expedite the development of key instruments.
Responding to questions on how payments will be awarded, Mr. Jallow said reparations will be categorized according to the type of harm suffered—such as loss of life, torture, or sexual violence. He noted that compensation will not be a one-off payment but will instead be disbursed in phases over the commission’s five-year mandate.
“Reparation payment is not necessarily going to be a one-off thing; depending on resources, it may be paid in amounts over the commission’s five-year mandate,” he said.
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