The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission closed its hearings, which began in January 2019, on Thursday, May 27. It investigated human rights violations committed under the regime of Yahya Jammeh. It must now report its findings and make proposals to the current authorities.
In more than two years, the list of abuses mentioned during the hearings broadcast live on television has been long: “witch hunts” against imprisoned and tortured opponents, murders of journalists and businessmen, massacres of migrants, rapes, or even forced treatment of HIV-positive people with a remedy concocted by the Head of State…
More than 370 witnesses were heard, including former members of the government, police and intelligence chiefs, and “junglers”, the militiamen whose unit is described as a “death squad”. In each case, the former regime’s cadres have blamed one man, Yahya Jammeh, who is in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
The commission is now expected to write its report and submit its findings to the authorities in early July. For the families of the victims, NGOs and civil society, the next step in the process is clear: Yahya Jammeh and those most responsible for the atrocities must be prosecuted.
Human Rights Watch is proposing the creation of a hybrid Gambia-Cedeao court modeled on the one that tried former Chadian president Hissène Habré. The NGO hopes that other countries will join in the prosecution and support a possible extradition request for the former president.