Suffice it to state here that The Gambia has experienced one of the most brutal regimes in modern history.
Most of these crimes were committed by his notorious hit squad, also now as the ‘junglers.’ All types of crimes such as crimes against humanity, murder and attempted murder to maim and enforced disappearance, were committed or orchestrated by this hit squad on Jammeh’s orders.
Since his ouster in office in 2016, victims of former exiled Gambian president Yahya Jammeh, have been seeking all possible means to ensure that he or those who committed crimes on his orders face justice.
It was published in our today's edition of that a German court has handed down a life sentence to Bai Lowe, one of the assassins in the Jammeh-era hit squad known as the ‘Junglers' for his participation in an act that killed Deyda Hydara, the managing editor and co-proprietor of The Point Newspaper.
The verdict, which was delivered on Thursday 30 November 2023 in Celle, Germany, could not have come at a better time when many of Jammeh’s victims are seeking justice for their loved ones, who disappeared during his time. However, this court verdict is a perfect reminder that the long arms of justice are closing up for the former Gambian president and his errand boys, especially members of his hit squad.
It is no hidden secret that Jammeh’s era was marred with right abuses, extra judicial killings, maiming, enforced disappearance and exile of political opponents, among other rights abuses.
He ruled The Gambia like his personal property and ordered crimes that run contrary to the fundamental human rights of the citizens.
Similarly, on September 17, 2019, the US Department of Homeland Security took custody of Sang Micheal Correa in Denver, Colorado. An investigation was launched involving a coalition of human organizations and right advocates which found him (Correa) complicit in some right violation in The Gambia.
On June11th, 2020, the US Attorney for the District of Colorado announced Correa’s indictment on six counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture.
Therefore, we commend the Germany Federal Court for this milestone and historic court verdict. However, this is a lesson for other perpetrators that the long arms of justice are closing on them.
In this day and age, one cannot just commit such serious crimes and get away with it. The Germany Court has sent a clear signal that there is no room for torture and crimes in their modern generation.