Four Released Jungulers Put on Administrative Leave

The four jungulers (members of ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s hit squad) whose release from detention recently triggered public outrage in the country have been put on administrative leave.

Malick Jatta, Amadou Badjie, Omar A. Jallow and Pa Ousman Sanneh were released on Saturday August 10, after spending more than two years in military detention. They were released following their testimonies at the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission where they confessed to killings and torture during the Jammeh era.

The army spokesman Major Lamin Sanyang Monday told The Chronicle that the four jungulars who remained members of the Gambia Armed Forces during their detention have been put on administration leave and have not returned to the army.

Asked if their administrative leave was short or long term, Major Sanyang said: “All I know is that they’re on administrative leave. Whether they’ll ever return to the service in the future will be determined by the authorities at the end of the TRRC process.”

Earlier this month, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubacarr Tambadou announced his decision to recommend the release of the jungulars, arguing it was in the best interest of their victims and the country. Many victims however expressed outrage at the decision, calling it a slap in the face. Baba Hydara, son of Deyda Hydara who the jungulars confessed to have killed in 2004, described Tambadou’s decision as insane. Zainab, whose brother Ebou Lowe was also killed by the confessed jungulars, said their release was morally wrong.