The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, has reaffirmed the regional bloc’s commitment to supporting The Gambia’s Transitional Justice process, pledging continued political and technical assistance to ensure the implementation of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) recommendations.
Dr Touray made the assurance earlier this week, during a courtesy visit by a delegation from The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice to the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. The delegation, led by Ms. Ide Persson, Special Adviser to the Minister of Justice on Transitional Justice, included Mr Abdoulie Hydara, Deputy High Commissioner of The Gambia to Nigeria, and Mr Abdurrahman Maitama Yusuf, Director of Public Prosecutions.
Dr Touray said ECOWAS remains deeply committed to transitional justice because of its importance for peace, democracy and good governance across the region. “We will continue to work hard to ensure Member States appreciate its role in consolidating peace,” he stated.
He emphasised the need for national ownership of the process and urged the Gambian government to take the lead in funding and implementing reforms. “The Gambian government needs to demonstrate their commitment to the outside world. The internal processes should be financed domestically, while ECOWAS can support international engagement,” he added.
Ms Persson thanked ECOWAS for its steadfast support and highlighted progress made in the country’s post-TRRC efforts. “The TRRC has approved a total of 263 recommendations for implementation, including 44 focused on criminal accountability,” she said. “We are very grateful to the ECOWAS Commission for standing firm with the Gambian government and ensuring regional leaders endorse this process.”
The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was established in 2017 to investigate human rights violations committed during the 22-year rule of former President Yahya Jammeh, from 1994 to 2017. Its final report, submitted in 2021, detailed systemic abuses including torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. It recommended 263 measures encompassing prosecutions, institutional reforms and reparations for victims, aiming to ensure justice and prevent a return to authoritarianism.
However, four years after the release of the report, many victims and rights groups remain concerned about the pace of implementation, particularly regarding prosecutions. Civil society organizations have urged the government to prioritize accountability and transparency to restore public trust.
The Gambia’s Transitional Justice Programme, which includes truth-seeking, reparations and the establishment of a Special Criminal Tribunal, is seen as a crucial step in securing justice for victims. ECOWAS’ renewed support is viewed as vital to sustaining the country’s democratic transition and ensuring lasting peace.
