Gambian soldier says ex-president Jammeh ordered killing of 50 West African migrants

Banjul, Gambia (PANA)  -  A Gambian army officer, Lieutenant Malick Jatta, has admitted participating in the execution of 50 West African migrants in 2005.

Jatta, who was ending his testimony here Tuesday before the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC), said he worked for a death squad operating on the orders of former President Yahya Jammeh  

On July 22, 2005, Gambian police arrested approximately 50-56 foreigners in Barra, a town facing Banjul, on the opposite shore of the River Gambia.

Among these migrants were 44 Ghanaians, 10 Nigerians, two or three Ivoirians, two Senegalese, and one Togolese.

Jatta told the TRRC that he participated in the killings of the West African migrants.

“We were told they were mercenaries. I heard people shouting in the forest saying ‘save us Jesus’.”

This was after Jatta said he himself had shot and killed one of the migrants, adding that after killing one migrant, he felt what they were doing was not right.

Saddened by it, he said he went to sit in their vehicle.

“Shots were still being heard in the forest across the Gambian border into the Senegalese territory,” he said.

 He said he saw one of the migrants running to hide at a distance of about 20 meters from him.

“I can say I saved this person. If I wanted to kill him, at 20 meters sir, I will not miss my target.”

Jatta admitted that there was one survivor of the incident called Martin Kyere. 

His confession ties former President Jammeh to the death of the migrants.

However, Jammeh has always denied his involvement in the killings.

-0-   PANA    MSS/RA   23Jul2019