The APRC National Executive Committee, led by His Excellency Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh and interim party leader Hon. Yaya Tamba, has strongly condemned the alleged ongoing illegal logging and looting of former President Jammeh’s properties, including his Kanilai residence and adjacent forest park, by the Gambian government and its agencies, including the military.
The party cites recent evidence of illegal activities, particularly the felling of trees by Sergeant Pa Hally Gibba, the officer in charge of the 4th Infantry Battalion in Kanilai. Gibba reportedly claimed he was acting on orders from the Army High Command. According to the APRC, these actions have led to the destruction of buildings and infrastructure at the former president’s property.
Among the looted and damaged items are buildings, generators, boreholes, furniture, clothing, and the destruction of fences that allowed truck access to the compound. The APRC further alleges that the chain-link fence surrounding the Kanilai Forest Park has been removed and sold in both Casamance and The Gambia. The continued logging of trees in the park has reportedly left it devoid of valuable trees, which, the party claims, has led to the hunting and sale of animals for their meat, contributing to their disappearance.
The ongoing destruction and looting have also caused a severe water shortage in the region, particularly in Kanilai and the nearby animal park. The APRC argues that this represents a serious breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Gambian government and Jammeh’s representatives. This agreement, which was witnessed by the United Nations (UN), ECOWAS, and the African Union (AU), mandates the protection of Jammeh’s assets and the guarantee of safety for his supporters. However, the APRC claims that these international bodies have failed to intervene, allowing the violations to continue unchecked.
The statement also criticizes the actions of the Janneh Commission, alleging that the sale of Jammeh’s assets was unlawful, as it began before the commission had concluded its investigations. The APRC calls for immediate action from the international community, urging the UN, ECOWAS, and the AU to fulfill their obligations under the MoU. The party also demands that the Gambian government, the Attorney General, the Ministry of Justice, the military high command, and the Ministry of Defense investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable.
The APRC calls on the Gambian government to immediately halt the ongoing destruction, logging, and looting of Jammeh’s properties, which it sees as a direct violation of the MoU and a threat to the country’s peace.
