SERREKUNDA, Gambia — On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made a pivotal decision to establish a special court aimed at addressing the crimes that occurred in Gambia during its era of military rule.
This significant announcement was made during a summit of regional leaders held in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
The newly proposed court will focus on the alleged offenses committed under the leadership of Yahya Jammeh, who ruled as a military dictator from 1996 until his departure in 2017.
His regime was notorious for its unlawful detentions, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings.
After losing a presidential election in 2016, Jammeh initially refused to relinquish power and subsequently fled to Equatorial Guinea a year later.
In Gambia, there has been an increasing demand for justice for the victims of this oppressive dictatorship over the years.
The country, which is largely encircled by Senegal and has only a slender coastline along the Atlantic, has seen persistent calls for accountability.
In 2021, a truth commission in Gambia concluded its sessions by providing compelling recommendations, urging judicial actions against those responsible for the atrocities.
Earlier this year in May, a former minister of the interior under Jammeh was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Swiss court, found guilty of crimes against humanity.
Additionally, a German court convicted a Gambian national, Bai Lowe, on charges of murder and crimes against humanity pertaining to his role in the extrajudicial killings of government dissidents while he was employed as a driver for a military unit tasked with suppressing opposition.
The Gambia Justice Ministry has heralded the establishment of the special court as a monumental achievement, calling it a “historic development” and emphasizing that it represents a “significant step forward for Gambia, the region, and the international community.”
This move reflects a commitment to promoting justice and accountability in places grappling with the aftermath of dictatorial rule.
