Gambia: government ready to bring ex-dictator Jammeh to trial

File photo taken November 29, 2016. Outgoing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh watches the closing rally of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) election campaign in Banjul.

AFP - MARCO LONGARI

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The Banjul government says it is ready to have former dictator Yahya Jammeh and the main leaders of his regime tried in The Gambia itself.

The Ministry of Justice says it has accepted the recommendations submitted last November by the commission which investigated crimes committed under the former regime. 

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With our correspondent in Banjul, 

It is a relief for the victims who came in large numbers this Wednesday, May 25.

The government accepts all of the Truth Commission's recommendations for prosecution.

In total, 70 people are affected, including obviously

Sensitive point for the victims: the Truth Commission had recommended amnesty for one of the main officials, former lieutenant Sanna Sabally.

The government is making a firm choice here with regard to those responsible for these crimes.  

For the continuation of the process, another commission will be created by the government.

It will take over from the Truth Commission and will be responsible for identifying other potential victims and what help could be provided.  

On a symbolic level,

, which is the main monument in Banjul, will be renamed with the slogan "Never again", which was a rather important motto of civil society during the campaign which led to the escape of Yahya Jammeh. 

At the end of these announcements, there is an atmosphere of victory, here, on the side of the victims and civil society.

But what remains to be seen are the details of the government's plan to actually implement this transitional justice here in The Gambia. 

► See also Gambia: the families of the victims of the former Jammeh regime are waiting for justice to be done

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• Gambia

• Yahya Jammeh