President Adama Barrow says that his government is committed to fighting the case of the rights of the Rohingya in Myanmar to its logical end.
Speaking in Banjul on Sunday at the opening of the 2021/2022 legal year, he said that at the global level, The Gambia continues to pursue the court case against Myanmar for violating the rights of its Rohingya Muslim minority.
“To seek justice for the Rohingya, we filed the case on 11th November 2019 at the International Court of Justice with the support of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,” he recalled.
Turning to the human rights situation in Gambia, he said bearing in mind that the rule of law is the bedrock of society, his government continues to support the country’s Judiciary to sustain a healthy and stable democracy.
“We maintain that the Judiciary must remain resolute, independent, and strong enough to facilitate good governance and the rule of law.”
He added that it is proper, therefore, to celebrate the heroes of The Gambia’s Judicial system, who continue to work courageously to administer justice and enrich our legal system,” President Barrow noted.
“Together, we have successfully laid solid foundations in the areas of good governance, respect for human rights, the rule of law and women empowerment, which we now need to develop and extend,” he added.
President Barrow noted that in the last two years, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region has experienced several conflicts and military take-overs.
He stressed that the developments in Mali, Guinea and, recently, Burkina Faso undermine the democratisation process and achievements made in the sub-region.
He emphasised that these actions are against the letter and spirit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and should be controlled.
“It needs to be emphasised that taking over power in any country must be done only through free, fair and transparent elections, which the citizens of The Gambia laudably demonstrated in the December 4th Presidential Election,” he said.