These two new developments of convicting persons who committed crimes against humanity under the Jammeh regime is roundly welcomed by many Gambians, especially the victims, who have continued to appeal to your good Office to bring ex-president Jammeh and his 69 collaborators to book. A majority of Gambians also call in earnest for the prosecution of Jammeh sooner rather than later.
According to the TRRC report, ex-president Jammeh did order the killing of 250 people among them 54 West African nationals. Families of these people want justice soonest. In addition, victims of the Jammeh regime are still waiting for their reparations.
Mr President, on April 22, 2024, Justice Minister Dawda Jallow presented two bills, which were enacted by the National Assembly for the prosecution process of crimes committed under the 22-year rule of former president Yahya Jammeh.
This involves establishing a hybrid court to try perpetrators and a prosecution office in charge of investigations and recommendation of cases, as recommended by the TRRC. The special high court established domestic crimes or Special Tribunal court, which has partnered with the ECOWAS Commission.
The two bills are: the Special Accountability Mechanism Bill TRRC and the Special Prosecutor's Office Bill.
Mr President, there were junglers arrested in 2017 and released in 2019.
They are Omar Oya Jallow, Amadou Badjie, Malick Jatta and Pa Ousman Sanneh. In 2022 a second batch was released by the high court. These are Lt. General Saul Badjie, Landing Tamba and Musa Badjie (who were in Equatorial Guinea with ex-president Jammeh), Alieu Jeng, Ismaila Jammeh (released by the Gambia Armed Forces after being detained without charges). There is also Michael Sang Correa, a former state guard soldier and jungler, who went to the US in 2016 and got arrested in 2019 charged with crime against humanity. His trial will start 15 September this year in the US.
Mr President, there are several junglers who have found refuge in neighbouring countries, key among them are Sanna Manjang, Bora Colley, and Lt Colonel Kawsu Camara known as bombardier. The Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs should contact the neighbouring countries where they have found refuge to get them expelled if we don't have extradition treaty with those countries. Mr President, another subject matter of national interest is Eid-ul Adha (Tobaski), which is due in few weeks’ time. According to the calendars, the date is June 17, 2024 depending on the sighting of the moon. As a proactive move, therefore, livestock dealers, through the help of Government, should contact Senegal, Mali and Mauritania for the provision of more livestock to facilitate the Tobaski.
As usual, government should establish an ad hoc committee of personnel from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Immigration, GPA, GRA, the municipalities, and area councils to monitor the situation and indicate places or venue for the sale of livestock. Mr President, livestock dealers are facing two challenges this time around: the CFA hike within which 5,000 CFA is now about D565, and also the nation presently relies on a single ferry plying between Banjul and Barra. This situation would compel livestock dealers coming or returning to the country to go through the Trans-GAMBIA route, which costs more, thereby increasing the cost and selling price of livestock in the country. It is expected that commercial banks would help their customers who meet their loan criteria. And livestock dealers should not take advantage of the cost of living to increase prices to levels people cannot afford. Government should therefore make sure that prices of livestock are not hiked unnecessarily or made exorbitant. Good day! The Point's EDITORIAL