The historic ECOWAS Summit held in Abuja on 15 December 2024 will be remembered as a watershed moment in the quest for justice and reconciliation in The Gambia. Indeed, the region’s leaders took the courageous decision to establish a Special Tribunal for The Gambia, marking a major step forward in the fight against impunity and the protection of human rights.
At the heart of this decision is the desire to deliver justice to the victims of the atrocities committed under the brutal regime of former dictator Yahya Jammeh, who ruled The Gambia from 1994 to 2017. During his twenty-three years of tyrannical rule, hundreds of people were subjected to heinous crimes, ranging from summary executions and rape to torture and enforced disappearances.
The establishment of a special court for The Gambia is therefore of paramount importance, not only for Gambians who suffered so much under Jammeh, but also for the entire international community. Indeed, this initiative demonstrates the will of West African leaders to confront the most serious crimes and to ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are finally held accountable.
Previous trials that have taken place outside The Gambia, such as that of former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko in Switzerland and Bai Lowe in Germany, have already helped to establish a form of justice for the victims. However, the establishment of a special court in The Gambia represents a further step towards acknowledging the suffering endured and combating impunity.
The path to justice remains fraught with challenges, particularly with regard to the possibility of Yahya Jammeh being tried. Indeed, the absence of an extradition agreement between The Gambia and Equatorial Guinea, where the former dictator is currently in exile, poses a major challenge. However, international pressure and the mobilization of victims make it increasingly likely that Jammeh and his accomplices will receive a fair trial.
In conclusion, the decision by ECOWAS to establish a special tribunal for The Gambia marks a significant step forward in the quest for justice and reconciliation for this small West African country. Let us hope that this initiative will pave the way for an era of truth, reparation and reconstruction for Gambians, while sending a strong message to all perpetrators of crimes against humanity: sooner or later, justice will catch up with them.