The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice says it has temporarily suspended “all sales of properties recommended by the Janneh Commission”.

The ministry’s announcement comes days after the country’s Appeal Court ruled on June 1 that the Commission’s recommendations cannot be enforced without a court order.

Justice ministry said in a statement: “Consistent with the Government’s strong commitment to respect the rule of law, all sales of properties flowing from the Janneh Commission recommendations have now been suspended in deference to the ruling of the Court of Appeal until a final pronouncement is made on the matter.”

But it also said: “The Government however disagrees with this position by the Court of Appeal and intends to further litigate this matter.

“The Government notes that different interpretations of the ruling are being offered by many including sections of the media.”

It added: “The Government wishes to clarify to the general public that The Gambia Court of Appeal did not in any way state that the Janneh Commission recommendations cannot be enforced.”

According to the statement:”rather, in a departure from long established practice in this jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal held that an additional legal step needs to be taken by the Executive in order to execute some, and not all, of the recommendations of a commission of inquiry such as the Janneh Commission.”

It also said:“Indeed, the Gambia Court of Appeal has accepted, in the said ruling, that the position arrived at by the Court in this matter is a novel one.”

“The Government however disagrees with this position by the Court of Appeal and intends to further litigate this matter,” the statement said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba