The Gambia Reparations Commission has announced the commencement of payments to victims of human rights violations committed between July 1994 and January 2017, marking a major step in the country’s transitional justice process.
In a press release, the Commission said the development represents a significant milestone in its mandate to facilitate justice, restore dignity and support the recovery of victims who suffered abuses during the period under review.
According to the Commission, payments are being made in phases and by year of violation, starting with victims whose cases date back to 1994.
“Payments are being disbursed in phases and by year of violation, beginning with victims whose violations occurred in 1994. The Commission is actively contacting eligible victims and victim groups to verify information and complete the necessary steps for disbursement,” the statement said.
The Commission urged victims who have not yet completed their registration or updated their details to do so without delay by contacting 7200044, 3434688 or via email at info@reparationsgm.com.
To ensure smooth processing, applicants are required to provide a valid identification document, bank account or Wave details, and any supporting documentation from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), where applicable.
The Commission also appealed to community members, civil society organisations and the general public to assist victims—especially those in remote areas or with limited mobility—to complete their registration and verification processes.
“The Reparations Commission reaffirms its unwavering commitment to delivering transformative, transparent and victim-centred reparations in accordance with its mandate,” the statement added.
The announcement brings renewed attention to the 2005 killing of migrants under the administration of former President Yahya Jammeh. In July 2005, Gambian security forces arrested a group of migrants bound for Europe after their boat landed in The Gambia, on suspicion of involvement in a coup plot.
Reports indicate that nearly all the migrants—including about 44 Ghanaians, nine Nigerians, two Togolese, and nationals of Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal—were subsequently killed in The Gambia or taken across the border into Senegal, where they were shot and their bodies dumped in wells.
Although the Reparations Commission’s statement did not specifically mention the Ghanaian victims, analysts say their inclusion in the reparations programme would be critical to ensuring justice and closure for affected families across the sub-region.
Source: 3news
