Gambia Appoints Special Prosecutor for Justice Cases

After years of silenced suffering, The Gambia is taking a historic step toward healing by creating a special office to prosecute crimes against humanity committed during a 23-year dictatorship.

The West African nation announced this week that Martin Hackett, a British barrister with over 30 years of experience in international criminal law, will serve as Special Prosecutor beginning in April 2026. He will lead investigations and trials for cases stemming from former President Yahya Jammeh's regime, which lasted from July 1994 to January 2017.

The appointment follows a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission that heard testimony from 393 witnesses. Most were victims or family members who shared harrowing accounts of torture, murder, enforced disappearance, rape, and other brutal treatment. The commission recommended prosecuting 69 people, including Jammeh himself.

What makes this particularly groundbreaking is how The Gambia is approaching justice. In April 2024, the National Assembly passed the Special Accountability Act, which Attorney General Dawda Jallow describes as more than just legislation. "This is a declaration by the people of The Gambia," he told journalists.

The law creates something unprecedented in transitional justice. For the first time, a country is implementing both domestic and international pathways for accountability simultaneously, including for the most serious atrocity crimes.

Hackett brings impressive credentials to the role. He previously served as senior Trial Counsel at the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon and headed the War Crimes Division in Kosovo's Special Prosecution Office. He specializes in conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence cases, crucial expertise given the testimonies heard.

The Special Prosecutor will operate with complete independence, free from government direction or control. He can determine which cases go before a Special Tribunal and which proceed through the Special Criminal Division of the High Court. The office will also establish protection programs for victims and witnesses.

Why This Inspires

The Gambia's approach shows remarkable courage and commitment to its people. Rather than letting painful history fade away unpunished, the nation is creating a comprehensive framework to ensure victims receive justice and future leaders understand that crimes against humanity carry consequences.

This matters beyond Gambia's borders too. The country is pioneering a model that other nations emerging from authoritarian rule can follow, proving that small nations can lead on human rights accountability.

Hackett's four-year appointment represents more than legal proceedings. It represents a promise to 393 witnesses who found the courage to share their stories, and to countless others who suffered in silence, that their pain will not be forgotten and justice will finally arrive.