Yahya Jammeh (Jammeh), the former President of The Gambia who came to power in 1994 and stepped down in 2017, has a long history of engaging in serious human rights abuses and corruption. Jammeh created a terror and assassination squad called the Junglers that answered directly to him. Jammeh used the Junglers to threaten, terrorize, interrogate, and kill individuals whom Jammeh assessed to be threats. During Jammeh’s tenure, he ordered the Junglers to kill a local religious leader, journalists, members of the political opposition, and former members of the government, among others. Jammeh used the Gambia’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) as a repressive tool of the regime – torturing political opponents and journalists. Throughout his presidency, Jammeh routinely ordered the abuse and murder of those he suspected of undermining his authority. During his tenure, Jammeh used a number of corrupt schemes to plunder The Gambia’s state coffers or otherwise siphon off state funds for his personal gain. Ongoing investigations continue to reveal Jammeh’s large-scale theft from state coffers prior to his departure. According to The Gambia’s Justice Ministry, Jammeh personally, or through others acting under his instructions, directed the unlawful withdrawal of at least $50 million of state funds. The Gambian Government has since taken action to freeze Jammeh’s assets within The Gambia. [1] [2] [3]
Information
| IDENTIFYING INFORMATION | Former President of The Gambia |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 25.05.1965 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Kanilai, Gambia |
| NATIONALITY | The Gambia |
| COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE | Equatorial Guinea |
| FULL NAME | Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh |
| FIRST AND MIDDLE NAME(S) | Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung |
| ALIASES | (1) Jammeh Babili Mansa, Yahya AJJ (2) Jammeh, Alhaji Dr. Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung (3) Jammeh, Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung |
| FAMILY MEMBERS | Zineb Soumah Yahya Jammeh - wife Mariam Jammeh - daughter Muhammed Yahya Jammeh - son Aja Asombi Bojang - mother (now deceased) |
| FAMILY MEMBERS SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS | Zineb Soumah Yahya Jammeh - wife Mariam Jammeh - daughter Muhammed Yahya Jammeh - son |
| SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED LINKS TO LEGAL ENTITIES | Africada Airways, Kanilai Group International, Kanilai Worni Family Farms Ltd, Royal Africa Capital Holding Ltd, Africada Financial Service & Bureau de Change Ltd, Africada Micro-Finance Ltd, Africada Insurance Company, Kora Media Corporation Ltd, Atlantic Pelican Company Ltd, Palm Grove Africa Dev’t Corp. Ltd, Patriot Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd, and Royal Africa Securities Brokerage Co Ltd. [1] Jammeh Foundation for Peace. [2] |
| ESTIMATES OF ASSETS FROZEN OR CONFISCATED | $3.5m Maryland Property, $50m of State Funds frozen in Gambia.[1] |
| ESTIMATES OF ASSETS RETURNED | None |
| SANCTIONS REGIMES | US Global Magnitsky Sanctions. [1] UK Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions. [2] |
| START OF SANCTIONS | 21.12.2017 [1] 10.12.2020 [2] |