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In a historic move for The Gambia, the government appointed Martin Hackett as the country’s special prosecutor to handle cases stemming from the 22-year rule of former strongman Yahya Jammeh.
The announcement came nearly two years after the position was first created, a delay that sparked criticism from lawmakers and civil rights groups.
Jammeh, who ruled from 1994 to 2017, left behind a legacy marked by grave human rights violations. According to The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), an estimated 240 to 250 people were killed by the state under Jammeh’s reign. The commission also uncovered widespread abuses, including torture, kidnappings, witch hunts, and other atrocities committed by Jammeh’s regime.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed Hackett’s appointment on Wednesday, revealing that the British lawyer’s background in war crimes, genocide, and counter-terrorism, including his work at the United Nations, made him a strong fit for the position. His four-year renewable mandate will focus on prosecuting 70 individuals recommended by the TRRC for their involvement in the abuses.
Hackett will begin his work before the end of this month. Reed Brody, an international war crimes prosecutor who has worked with Jammeh’s victims, praised Hackett’s credentials, emphasising his experience with complex war crimes cases and his work with victims of sexual violence, which will be crucial in these sensitive trials.
Justice Minister Dawda Jallow highlighted that Hackett’s work would be subject to annual reports to the president, the National Assembly, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Attorney General.
The TRRC, established in 2017, heard from nearly 400 witnesses and compiled evidence that led to its 2021 report, recommending the prosecution of Jammeh and 69 others.
The West African bloc ECOWAS has since backed the creation of a special tribunal to handle these crimes, although funding has yet to materialise.
Hackett will have the discretion to choose whether to prosecute cases within The Gambia or through the proposed ECOWAS hybrid tribunal, which, once established, will provide a platform for holding perpetrators accountable for crimes committed during Jammeh’s oppressive rule.
