Fatshimetrie approves the establishment of a special tribunal to try crimes committed in Gambia during the military dictatorship. The landmark decision was officially announced at a summit of regional leaders in Abuja, Nigeria. The tribunal will investigate alleged crimes committed under the regime of military dictator Yahya Jammeh, who ruled in an authoritarian manner from 1996 to 2017, marking his reign with arbitrary detentions, sexual abuse and extrajudicial executions. After his defeat in the 2016 presidential elections, Jammeh was forced into exile in Equatorial Guinea.
The decision comes after years of calls for justice for victims of the dictatorship in Gambia. In 2021, a truth commission concluded its hearings with strong recommendations, urging the government to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice. In May, Jammeh’s former interior minister was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Swiss court for crimes against humanity. Later that year, a German court convicted a Gambian man, Bai Lowe, of murder and crimes against humanity for his part in the assassination of government critics in Gambia. The man was a driver for a military unit deployed against Jammeh’s opponents.
The Gambian Justice Ministry hailed the decision as a “historic development” that “constitutes a significant step forward for The Gambia, the region and the international community.” The move marks a crucial step toward reconciliation and justice for the many Gambians who suffered under the dictatorship.
By establishing this special court, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is sending a strong message in support of the fight against impunity and in support of justice for victims of past abuses. The crimes committed in The Gambia during the Jammeh era will not go unpunished, and this initiative will help shine a light on the atrocities committed and establish the truth for the victims and their families.
Ultimately, the establishment of this special court should help strengthen the rule of law in The Gambia and promote democracy in West Africa. It is an important step towards the collective healing of a country that has long suffered under tyrannical rule, and is now looking to turn the page and build a better future for its citizens.