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Global Anti-Corruption Efforts in Gambia Show Promise but Challenges Remain
Since President Adama Barrow took office in 2017, The Gambia has made efforts to combat corruption with new legislation and institutions. However, domestic accountability mechanisms have struggled to take hold.
Government Accepts Recommendations from the Janneh Commission
The government has accepted recommendations from the Janneh Commission, which mapped grand corruption under former leader Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule. These included confiscating Jammeh’s properties and pursuing criminal charges against him. Yet, progress on these fronts has been slow, with little public information on asset forfeiture or challenges to the legal force of the recommendations.
International Accountability
Meanwhile, US and UK sanctions have frozen assets and banned travel for Jammeh and his associates, providing a tool for international accountability.
Strengthening Domestic Anti-Corruption Efforts
In a bid to strengthen domestic anti-corruption efforts, Public-Private Integrity (PPI) partnered with International Law Partners (ILP) to request training on sanctions and asset confiscation. PPI, a Gambian civil society organization, aims to improve national anti-corruption mechanisms and uphold international standards.
Comprehensive Virtual Training
ILP collaborated with Ropes & Gray to provide comprehensive virtual training for Gambian civil society representatives. The session covered:
- Global Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Sanctions: An overview of the latest developments in global human rights and anti-corruption sanctions.
- International Best Practices for Asset Forfeiture and Recovery: Expert insights on international best practices for asset forfeiture and recovery.
- Implications of the Jammeh Commission of Inquiry: A discussion on the implications of the Jammeh Commission’s findings.
Future Engagement
The interactive session sparked interest among participants in using sanctions as a tool to address corruption, particularly regarding the Jammeh Commission’s findings. PPI expressed a desire for further engagement with ILP and Ropes & Gray on these issues, including bespoke training for Gambian National Assembly members and civil servants.
For More Information
For more information or to access the recording of the training, click here. Presentation slides are also available for download below.