Gambian Truth Committee to Submit Final Report
The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission will today submit its final report to President Adama Barrow.
The truth commission of The Gambia is entrusted with the thorough investigation of crimes committed during the administration of former President Yahya Jammeh.
According to the confession of Jammeh’s former hitman, Jammeh allegedly planned the murder of Deyda Hydra—an opposition news editor and an outspoken critic of Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction Party. Despite these developments, Jammeh further solidified his political position by forming an alliance with President Barrow’s National People’s Party prior to elections.
Due to his political alliance with the current president, Jammeh will likely avoid prosecution as the commission’s report will not force legal action alone. This in turn will significantly undermine the legitimacy of The Gambia’s truth commission during the short- to medium-term.
The commission’s investigation into further crimes committed by former President Jammeh could also likely be blocked by the current Gambian government. Furthermore, these progressions will probably draw the attention of the international community which in turn might pressure the Gambian government to put Jammeh through a fair trial process. If Banjul fails to comply however, the International Criminal Court will likely file a lawsuit against Jammeh.
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