Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia’s former Minister of Interior in the early days of the transition, Mai Ahmad Fatty, who is also the leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), has strongly opposed the government’s plan to spend over D4 billion on the prosecution of former president Yahya Jammeh, describing the initiative as financially unwise and morally misaligned with the country’s urgent needs.

The government’s proposed tribunal, aimed at prosecuting Jammeh and a select number of others accused of atrocities during his 22-year rule, is expected to cost around D840 million annually over a five-year period — totaling approximately USD 60 million (over D 4.2 billion). However, Fatty believes the planned expenditure is unjustifiable in light of the country’s financial constraints and the persistent suffering of victims of the former regime.

“We need sober reflection, introspection, and an honest, dispassionate new national conversation on our transitional justice system — one not driven by emotion or sentiment but influenced by historical context and the stark realities of our nation as we stand,” Fatty told The Standard.

Fatty, a lawyer by profession, argued that the resources earmarked for the tribunal would be better spent supporting the victims who continue to live with the physical, emotional, and economic scars of Jammeh’s dictatorship. “Many of these victims are in poor health, and their families are still grappling with the aftermath of the atrocities,” he said. “Should we, as a nation, continue to pour our resources into a lengthy and costly legal battle, or should we focus on providing immediate and sustainable support to these victims and their families?”

He proposed a victim-centered justice strategy focused on reparations, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment, stressing that these are the most tangible and meaningful forms of justice for the affected individuals and communities.

“In my view, justice must not only be punitive; it must also be restorative,” Fatty added. “The financial resources needed for a tribunal could be far better spent on rebuilding the lives of those devastated by Jammeh’s rule.”

As an alternative to a costly tribunal, Fatty urged the government to strengthen the existing Special Division of the High Court, which was established to handle prosecutions arising from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). He argued that bolstering this division with sufficient resources and technical capacity would ensure accountability while maintaining fiscal prudence.

“This approach will allow us to focus on the real needs of the victims while still holding perpetrators accountable in a manner that is sustainable and in the best interest of the nation,” he said.

Fatty also called for Yahya Jammeh to be permanently banned from political life and all forms of public service. “He has already been convicted by his own conscience,” he said, citing Jammeh’s increasingly erratic public remarks as signs of a “deeply troubled, psychologically unstable mind haunted by the weight of his crimes.”

According to Fatty, the greatest punishment for Jammeh would be the permanent loss of power and the public privileges typically afforded to former presidents. “His legacy will forever be one of cruelty and abuse, and that is the greatest justice he will receive,” he stated.

Despite his criticisms of the tribunal, Fatty emphasized that he was not advocating for impunity. “Historical excesses must be corrected and accounted for,” he affirmed, “but not at the expense of today and the future.”

He concluded with a call for national unity and forgiveness, warning against allowing the nation’s past traumas to fuel continued division. “My call for forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. It is a testament to the strength of our nation and those of us who have suffered,” Fatty said. “We cannot be consumed by hatred or vengeance; we must look forward, not backward.”

The government has yet to officially respond to Fatty’s remarks.

Source: The Standard