Gambia takes step toward Jammeh-era prosecutions
British barrister Martin Hackett has been appointed as The Gambia’s special prosecutor to pursue crimes committed under former president Yahya Jammeh, BBC News Africa reported on April 8th, in a move that could advance long-delayed prosecutions linked to the former regime.
Justice Minister Dawda Jallow said Hackett will lead a newly established Special Prosecutor’s Office responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases identified by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
The office is part of a broader government effort to act on the commission’s findings. Hackett is expected to begin his four-year term in April 2026 and arrive in Banjul before the end of the month.
The role sits within a system developed with support from regional and international partners under the Special Prosecutor’s Office Act 2024, which the minister described as a “novel initiative”, according to local outlet The Standard.
The TRRC, which examined abuses committed between 1994 and 2017, recommended prosecutions for dozens of individuals. Jallow said the government had accepted those recommendations, which include potential cases against Jammeh and other figures linked to the period.
Hackett has more than 30 years of experience in criminal and international law and has previously worked with the United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
His work has included investigating and prosecuting international crimes, including complex cases involving forensic and digital evidence.
The commission documented a range of alleged violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and high-profile cases such as the killing of journalist Deyda Hydara and the execution of more than 50 West African migrants.
Some suspects have already been prosecuted abroad under the principle of universal jurisdiction, including former members of a paramilitary unit known as the Junglers, who were convicted in countries such as Germany and the United States.
Hackett’s appointment marks a step toward bringing similar cases before Gambian courts, as authorities move to prosecute those identified by the TRRC.
Jammeh, who ruled The Gambia for 22 years, left power in 2017 after losing an election and facing pressure from regional leaders. He remains in exile in Equatorial Guinea and has denied wrongdoing.
BBC Africa, The Standard, Maghrebi.org
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