Some of these victims lost almost everything they could lean on in this vale of tears, and some have serious medical issues as a result of the brutality of the Jammeh regime.
Whilst we acknowledge and commend your government's efforts to secure ECOWAS approval for the special tribunal to prosecute Jammeh era crimes, we also consider it incumbent and foremost, upon request, on your government to carry out complete reparations or make full payment to victims before commencing prosecution of perpetrators.
The TRRC made a recommendation for 1009 victims to be awarded reparations in a total amount of D237 million. However D38 million was shared among 670 victims, each receiving 19% of the total awarded them; hence the government owes a substantial amount to the victims.
It is now three years since the TRRC wrapped up its work, and the hope of many victims still continue to linger in thin air.
Mr President, the joint collaboration of the Gambia government and ECOWAS to set up a special tribunal to prosecute the Jammeh era crimes is quite laudable and welcomed by many Gambians. The question many victims are asking, though, is how soon this will happen, and the request that Yahya Jammeh should be tried under residual mechanism outside The Gambia.
Mr President, the political demand is: your commitment and political will to support the accountability process. According to the TRRC report, more than 240 people were brutally massacred by the Jammeh killer squad, not including those of the enforced disappearance. It is disheartening to see members of the Jammeh killer squad roaming freely in our streets. Your government should thus start the process in earnest to seek the extradition of Yahya Jammeh the key perpetrator and the ‘junglers’ in exile, and the immediate arrest of all the junglers walking freely in the streets of The Gambia.
Mr President, about a year ago, the Ministry of Justice launched a resource mobilisation campaign to raise 150 million US dollars for the post-TRRC prosecutions. However, it appears that in the 2025 budget the Finance minister did not mention any amount or financial contribution by government as regards to mobilisation of funds.
The citizens expect the government to take the lead to make generous commitment from the national budget to enhance the smooth transition of the accountability project, so international partners can come in to assist or complement the effort.
Public participation and local ownership of the process is essential to maintaining peace and deterring animosity in the proceedings of the accountability process. Therefore, it is imperative that the government devise a mechanism for public outreach for visibility and sensitisation for local ownership and coverage of the entire process.