In January 2018, some of Yahya Jammeh’s most prized assets , his herds of cattle spread across Kanilai, Farato, and Banjulinding, were auctioned under a High Court order. The claim was that the animals were “not safe.” According to Alieu Jallow, former Registrar General, one Major Gibril of the Gambia Armed Forces slaughtered 400 cattle for reasons never explained.
The Ministry of Justice had asked the army to investigate Gibril’s alleged mass slaughter of the animals. However, The Republic understands the military did not oblige to the ministry’s request to investigate Gibril who was responsible for Yahya Jammeh’s farms in Banjulinding.
What followed was a hurried disposal of the livestock. Between 9 and 31 January 2018, 724 heads of cattle were sold, raising just over D8.3 million. On paper, it looked like progress in recovering Jammeh’s looted wealth. In reality, the manner of sales of the livestock and the buyers was clouded by conflict of interest and lack of transparency.
The Republic has made two publications on the sale of the cattle of the ex–president– in March 2024 and July 2025– but both of which exposed lack of due process, including failure to conduct a valuation of the livestock prior to the sale, or following orders of the court which sanctioned their sale.
Following our main expose on the sale of Jammeh’s properties published in April 2025, the National Assembly set up a special committee to investigate how the assets were disposed of.
So far, witnesses and documentary evidence reveal names of individuals who bought the animals, a list that was entirely kept from the public for years.
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Below are some of the buyers of the cattle and how many each bought
- Musa Sowe paid D1.5 million for 94 cattle
- Alh. Modou Cham secured 60 Cattle for D960,000.
- Cherno Jallow of Banjul took 75bulls for only D350,000.
- Yaya Barry of Abuko bought 18 cows for D288,000.
- Alagie Jeng of Serrekunda got 18 cows for D319,000
- Musa Sow picked up 11 calves for just D10,000.
- Abubacarr B. Korta of Brikama bought 7, 2 bull and 5 cows for D105,000
- Amadou Manneh of Manjai bought 6 cows for D64,000
- Kissima Tambadou got 6 cows for D64,000
- Kebba Danso of Serrekunda bought 4 cows for D64,000.
In total, 293 cattle went to just ten buyers, many at prices that seasoned livestock dealers have called shockingly low.
The Director of the Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency, Momodou Darboe, told the National Assembly’s special select committee that one of the people who did valuation, pricing, and tagging of Jammeh’s livestock was one Buba Korta of the Brikama Abattoir. Buba was also part of the buyers of the cattle.
Like Buba Korta, Amadou Kora was also part of the valuers of the livestock. According to the testimony of Alieu Jallow, former Registrar General, said the initial prices of the cattle were low, however, he claimed that Amadou Kora set a standard price. “The pricing was not satisfactory, and that’s why I introduced Amadou Kora. He changed the game and enhanced the pricing.”
Jallow said Kora participated voluntarily and was not representing any institution. He later introduced him to the then Sheriff of the High Court, Sheriff B. Tabally, who was overseeing the sales. “When Mr. Kora came, he made it very easy for us because he had the experience. He would estimate the weight of a cow and suggest a price, say 30,000, and we would insist on that amount until the highest bidder took it. He assisted in that.”
Kora had insisted that he was not taken to the auction by anyone, claiming he went there to buy only to end up setting the prices for the cattle.
Jammeh’s cattle has seen a huge decline in numbers in the past few years, according to evidence so far presented before the inquiry. The total number of cattle recorded on 18 August 2016 was 3,456.
A follow-up joint count with the Janneh Commission shows 638 cattle in January 2017. That means 2,818 heads of cattle have disappeared from Jammeh’s ranches in 16 months.
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