The government of The Gambia, through the ministry of justice, Friday urged the army command to release three members of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh’s hit squad after they willingly testified before the country’s Truth Commission.
In a leaked letter purportedly from the ministry of justice and signed by Solicitor General Cherno Marenah said: “Following the appearance and the testimony at the Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC)of Malick Jatta, Omar Jallow and Amadou Badjie, all serving members of the Gambia National Army, during the week of 22-25 July 2019, and in view of their cooperation with the commission regarding several incidents of human rights violations and abuses under the previous administration, the Attorney General recommends that the said soldiers be immediately released from custody.”
Malick Jatta admitted taking part in the assassination of Deyda Hydara, a journalist, in December 2004 and taking part in the killing of 48 foreign nationals in the Gambia.
Omar Jallow admitted taking part in all the major assassinations under Jammeh’s administration including foreign nationals.
Amadou Badjie also admitted taking part in major killings under Jammeh, including the foreign nationals.
The government urged that the soldiers immediately subject themselves to regular professional counselling by the psycho-social unit at the TRRC; that they give an undertaking to serve as prosecution witnesses in the event that they are called upon to do so in any future trial that The Gambia may have an interest in.
“Upon their release from custody, it is also recommended that they are placed on administrative leave on such terms as you may deem fit pending the outcome of the TRRC process,” the ministry said. All efforts to get to ministry of justice for comments on the purported letter remain futile.
