Gambia’s ex-dictator, Yahya Jammeh, accused of rape, sexual assault

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – Rights groups on Wednesday accused former Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh, of rape and sexual assault against women while in power.

According to Human Rights Watch and TRIAL International, Jammeh’s presidential aides used to regularly pressure women to visit or work for Jammeh, who then sexually abused many of them.

“Yahya Jammeh treated Gambian women like his personal property,” said Reed Brody, counsel at Human Rights Watch, who led the investigation.

“Rape and sexual assault are crimes, and Jammeh is not above the law.”

Jammeh is currently in Equatorial Guinea, where he sought exile after losing the 2016 presidential election to Adama Barrow.

A Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is documenting human rights violations committed during Jammeh’s 22 years in power, including sexual violence allegations.

“The TRRC and the Gambian government should ensure that allegations of rape and sexual violence by Jammeh and other former top officials are fully investigated and prosecuted,” the rights group urged.

Human Rights Watch and TRIAL interviewed three women who accuse Jammeh of rape and sexual assault, and a fourth woman who said that Jammeh’s aides confined her in an apparent set-up for sexual abuse.

The organizations also interviewed eight former Gambian officials and several other witnesses. The officials, who said they have direct knowledge of the events, include two men who worked for the Protocol Department at State House (the presidential palace); four close protection officers for Jammeh or at State House; a woman who worked at State House; and a former National Intelligence Agency senior official.

The officials and two of the women requested anonymity. Fatou Jallow (known as Toufah), who alleged that Jammeh raped her in 2015, asked that her name be disclosed because she wished to come forward publicly.

-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 26June2019