#Headlines

Dieng insists justice must happen in Gambia

Nov 19, 2021, 10:51 AM | Article By: Sulayman Waan

Adama Dieng, adviser to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor has said that justice must happen in the Gambia as lawyers and human rights activists from The Gambia and beyond suggest that any recommendations by the Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) for the prosecution of abusive officials be followed by a process of criminal accountability.

 

 The TRRC unearthed human rights violation committed under former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

The seasoned lawyer was speaking in a video presentation at the International Conference Centre, Bijilo, from his office at the International Criminal Court, Hague.

The Justice Forum-implementation of TRRC Recommendation on Prosecution was organised by The Gambia Bar Association, the Institute for Human Rights and Development (IHRDA), The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and International Centre for Transitional Justice. 

The forum aimed to discuss the importance of accountability for the crimes committed during the  period 1994-2017 as well as how and where such prosecution could be carried out.

However, Mr. Dieng recalled that the TRRC had unveiled that former President Yahya Jammeh had maltreated his political opponents and committed murder of Gambians and non-Gambians alike under his regime. In this regard, he said justice must happen in The Gambia.

During the closing of the TRRC public hearings, lead counsel, Essa Faal, now a presidential candidate, said ex- President Jammeh must be taken to the International Criminal Court, saying there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Jammeh and Karim Khan, ICC prosecutor welcomed the remark.

It could be recalled that the TRRC had revealed allegations of extrajudicial killings, disappearance without trace, series of murder cases, rape, detention without trial among other human rights violation cases that occurred under Jammeh’s reign.

The International Criminal Court has the jurisdiction to preside war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

However, The ICC legal adviser said if the Gambia government is able or unable to, the ICC would investigate and prosecute perpetrators under its jurisdiction after completion of the TRRC.

Aisha Jammeh, a victim, whose father and aunty were allegedly murdered by former President Jammeh’s killing squad (‘junglers’) said if the TRRC recommended the prosecution of human right violation and perpetrators under the Jammeh administration, any sitting government should implement the recommendations.

Read Other Articles In Headlines
Ousman Saidybah
Narcotic officers arrest man with over 140g of cocaine
Jul 7, 2021, 1:51 PM

Operatives of the country's narcotic agency have arrested a Bissau Guinean with 146 grams of 400 milligrams cocaine, The Point has been reliably informed.

SIS training academy
‘SIS training academy will be a center of excellence in security studies in Africa’
Jun 21, 2022, 11:17 AM

The director general of State Intelligence Services (SIS), Ousman Sowe, has stated that his administration was working tremendously in making sure that the SIS Training Academy for Security Studies is a center of excellence in Africa in the next five years. He added that with the current trajectory, those noble objectives will be achieved. 

Adama Njie
Destination Gambia records increase in land arrivals in 2021
Sep 30, 2022, 12:11 PM

As disclosed by Adama Njie, director of Marketing of the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), there was an increase in the number of land arrivals in Destination Gambia in 2021 as compared to previous years.

Barrow and Bishop Mendy
Barrow calls on faith groups to propagate peace, tolerance
Jun 13, 2022, 11:43 AM

State House, Banjul, 9th June 2022: President Adama Barrow, Thursday, 9th June 2022, made a call on faith groups to propagate and maintain peace and tolerance as a prerequisite for social and economic development. The President was speaking at the Statehouse during a meeting with the Outgoing Vatican Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E Dagoberto Campo Salas, who came to bid him farewell.