Gambiaj.com – (WASHINGTON, D.C) – The United States has welcomed the establishment of a Special Tribunal for The Gambia, hailing it as a landmark decision by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller praised the move as a courageous step by The Gambia toward addressing its past and securing a democratic future.

“The Gambia has shown admirable courage in facing its past and committing to a democratic future,” said Miller in an official dispatch. “We commend ECOWAS for its leadership and commitment to human rights and justice. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in The Gambia and ECOWAS to ensure justice and accountability for victims and help build lasting peace in West Africa.”

The Special Tribunal, announced jointly by ECOWAS and the Gambian government, will investigate and prosecute gross human rights violations and international crimes committed between July 1994 and January 2017. This period marks the 22-year regime of former dictator Yahya Jammeh, who is now exiled in Equatorial Guinea.

Pursuing Justice for Victims

According to the Gambian Ministry of Justice, the tribunal is rooted in the findings of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which was launched in 2018 to uncover the atrocities committed during Jammeh’s rule. The TRRC documented a wide range of severe abuses, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture, rape, arbitrary imprisonment, and fraudulent AIDS treatments.

These findings paved the way for legal action against 70 individuals linked to the regime, including Jammeh himself. The charges include the execution of over 240 people, among other heinous crimes.

President Adama Barrow, in a statement from the Ministry of Justice, described the tribunal as a historic initiative, noting that it marks the first time ECOWAS has established a judicial mechanism to address serious crimes within a member state.

The tribunal will be composed of Gambian officials and legal experts from across West Africa, reflecting ECOWAS’s commitment to ensuring accountability. A special prosecutor, expected to be appointed in the coming months, will have the authority to bring cases before Gambian courts as necessary.

The regional nature of the tribunal underscores its significance, signaling a collective determination by ECOWAS to hold perpetrators accountable and to prevent impunity for gross human rights violations.

Jammeh, who fled to Equatorial Guinea following his 2016 electoral defeat, remains a central figure in these proceedings. His continued exile has been a point of contention for victims and advocacy groups, who have long called for justice for the atrocities committed under his regime.

The establishment of the Special Tribunal represents a turning point for The Gambia and the West African region, offering a pathway to justice for the victims of Jammeh’s brutal rule. It also sets a precedent for regional collaboration in addressing impunity and promoting human rights within ECOWAS member states.

The U.S. has pledged its continued support for The Gambia and ECOWAS in this pursuit, emphasizing the importance of justice in building a sustainable and peaceful future for the region.