The President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, welcomed Mr. Dawda A. Jallow, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of The Gambia, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting was part of The Gambia’s ongoing efforts to implement judicial reforms.

Mr. Jallow, accompanied by a delegation of experts from The Gambia, engaged in discussions with President Touray, along with the President of the Court of Justice of ECOWAS, the Honourable Judge Edward Amoako Asante, and the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah. The focus of the discussions was on The Gambia’s plans to establish a court to prosecute crimes committed during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh, spanning the years 1994 to 2017.

During the meeting, Minister Jallow formally requested ECOWAS’ support for the implementation of the judicial reform component of the recommendations made by the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) of The Gambia.

In response, President Touray reiterated ECOWAS’ commitment to assisting The Gambia and other member states in initiatives aimed at benefiting citizens and strengthening democracy and the rule of law.

The discussions underscored the collaborative efforts between ECOWAS and The Gambia in promoting accountability and justice for past human rights violations, demonstrating a shared commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and good governance in the region.