By: Nicholas Bass
Attorney General and the Minister of Justice Mr.Dawda A. Jallow has disclosed that sixty-nine 69 alleged perpetrators and others under the former regime of ex-president Yahya Jammeh are expected to be put on trial next year.
He made this disclosure at a press conference at Sir. DawdaKairaba Jawara’s conference Center on Friday, where stated that the establishment of a Special Tribunal in The Gambia by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has accomplished a special accountability mechanism.
Justice Minister Jallow stated that the special Tribunal Court based in The Gambia shall have its locust (venue) to trial the 69 suspected perpetrators of the former Junta regime.
He explained that the initiative made by the government is purposely to address complex human rights violations committed by the former regime between July 1994 and January 2017, adding that a special Division of the Court was created in January, following the passage of a special accountability mechanism Act, and a special prosecutor’s office Act in April.
”These steps underscore the government’s unwavering commitment to justice and reconciliation, ensuring that the TRRC recommendations are not mere words, but are a transformative framework for a better future. As a government we are steady fast in our commitment to implementing the TRRC recommendations outlined in the White paper”, Minister Jallow further explained.
He revealed that the government’s agenda also includes pursuing institutional and legal reforms to strengthen governance protect human rights and prevent future abuses, stressing that the government’s efforts are not motivated by the pursuit of praises,” but by the imperative justice, the call of history and the demand of our shared humanity”.
The president of the Alliance of Victim organisations, Ms.Sirra Ndow, lamented that the slow pace of the implementation is ”an understatement for them if one is hungry and you asked him to wash his/her hand and wait, it will be a challenge for them”.
Ms. Ndow stated that most of the victims are suffering especially during the cold season, adding that the cold seriously exposes the wounds of victims and they are severely suffering.
She stated that from 2021 to February 2024, The Gambia government had been giving medical support to the victims before the operationalization of the Victims’ Commission to specifically meet the needs of torture victims who cannot afford medical bills, adding that the Victims’ Medical Board was set up by the government and D10 million was given to them (Victims’ Medical Board).
”Sometimes it seems like the process is more important than the people, it should be the other way round. It took some time for the money to reach the Medical Board, ‘she noted.
Special Adviser of The Gambia Transitional Justice, Ms. Ida Persson said that the government of The Gambia has pledged to sell the mansion of ex-president Yahya Jammeh in the United States of America worth 2.5 million US dollars for the reparation of the victims, adding that the special prosecutor shall investigate alleged atrocities committed by the 69-former Officials.
According to her, the TRRC report enlisted the names of 109 victims, the Victim Centre has 1,500 names, but the Victim Commission has a mandate to develop its database.
Meanwhile, among other speakers were the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Karl Frederik, and the Minister of Foreign Minister, Dr. Mamadou Tangara who thanked the Minister of Justice for their achievements, while thanking the Barrow-led government for their recent development in having a special Tribunal to try suspected perpetrators of the former military regime.
