An investigation into the long-term effects of the witch-hunt campaign during the Gambian dictatorship

This research, a collaboration between the University of The Gambia, ARU and Nottingham Trent University, was led by Prof Mick Finlay of The Centre for Better Living and published in the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology.

It is the first academic study into the stigma associated with government-led witchcraft accusations, and includes interviews with victims and their families from the villages most affected by the campaign.

Jammeh’s 22-year dictatorship, which ended in 2016, was marked by human rights abuses including torture, extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Between 2008-2009, he orchestrated a campaign of witch hunts focusing on the West Coast and North Bank regions. These were led by a group of “witch hunters” from neighbouring countries, supported by The Gambia’s security forces.

Hundreds of people, mainly elderly, were detained, beaten, raped and subjected to degrading treatment. It is thought 41 people died and the survivors faced social exclusion and discrimination when they returned home because of the stigma associated with the witchcraft accusations.

This study, funded by the United Nations Development Program (The Gambia), involved interviewing and surveying the victims and their families, as well as members of their communities.

Findings

We found there was widespread sympathy for those affected – 98% of survey respondents expressed compassion for victims and their families – and a high level of agreement that the government (99%) and the community (92%) should provide more help for victims, indicating that the effects of the witch hunts were still being experienced.

The study also highlighted the complex role of traditional beliefs in perpetuating stigma. Although most participants believed the witch hunts were organised to frighten people not to oppose President Jammeh (89%) or to sow division (87%), 25% believed the threat from witches was real, including 22% of victims and the families of victims surveyed.

However, there was overwhelming support for legal reform. Almost all participants agreed that accusations of witchcraft should be made illegal (98%), and those responsible should be punished (95%).

Through interviews, we found that the stigma extended beyond individuals to their families and entire villages. Children of victims were bullied at school, families were shunned, and some communities were labelled as “witch villages” by neighbouring areas. This led to broken relationships, mistrust and long-lasting divisions within and between communities.

Victims reported a range of psychological conditions including anxiety, panic attacks and post-traumatic symptoms. Many described feeling powerless and socially isolated. Some withdrew from public life entirely, while others struggled to find work.

Although The Gambia’s current government established a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) to investigate the human rights abuses carried out by Jammeh, the study found many victims felt more needed to be done to address the specific harms caused by the witch hunts.

Participants proposed a range of measures to support reconciliation and healing including public declarations of innocence, legal reforms to criminalise witchcraft accusations, counselling, educational support, financial reparations and community-led dialogues to restore victims’ reputations.