Report on the Jammeh era in The Gambia: hope and anguish among families of victims

Courtroom of the Gambia Truth-Reconciliation-Reparation Commission, set up in December 2017, to investigate crimes committed between July 1994 and January 2017 (August 2019).

RFI / Romain Chanson

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In The Gambia, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission delivered its report Thursday, November 25, to President Adama Barrow.

It brings together 370 testimonies collected over two years from victims, witnesses and perpetrators of crimes committed during the 27 years of the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh, exiled in Equatorial Guinea since 2016. This report was eagerly awaited by the families of the victims.

Advertising

Read more

Murders, rapes, acts of torture or even extra-judicial kidnappings, these are all the crimes described by the victims of Yahya Jammeh to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Nana-Jo N'Dow, daughter of a Gambian opponent who disappeared under Yahya Jammeh's regime, is delighted that this report has finally been submitted: “ 

Finally, we will have the causes and the extent of the human rights violations committed during from the period from July 1994 to January 2017. All this will be officially engraved in the history of The Gambia

 ”.

But the report was not made public so far and Nana-Jo N'Dow adds: " 

I am disappointed that the recommendations were not made public because for me this will unnecessarily prolong the anguish of the victims and their process of healing

 ”.

The final step in this healing process would be to see Yahya Jammeh brought to justice to answer for his actions.

Baba Hydara, son of journalist Deyda Hydara, killed under the Jammeh regime, remains hopeful: “ 

We never thought we would come to this.

I am sure that these recommendations will say that we are going to bring Jammeh to justice

 ”.

► See also: Gambia: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports on the crimes of the Jammeh era

President Barrow has one month to submit a summary of the report to the National Assembly and international organizations.

He has six months to publish a white paper.

Delays that give him time to face the presidential election scheduled for December 4.

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Gambia

  • Yahya jammeh

  • Human rights

  • Adama barrow