Nearly 400 eyewitnesses gave harrowing details about human rights abuses under Jammeh's rule

Nearly 400 eyewitnesses gave harrowing details about human rights abuses under Jammeh’s rule

Gambia: Voices for Yahaya Jammeh’s prosecution tune higher

The Gambia’s attorney general and the justice minister will on Wednesday unveil plans on how the country will implement recommendations of a commission of inquiry that investigated human rights abuses under former President Yahya Jammeh.

The commission’s report held the former Gambian leader responsible for almost all the alleged rights violations and recommended that he be prosecuted.

The release of the government white paper will be a significant step towards ensuring justice for victims of rights abuses during the 22-year rule under Mr Jammeh.

At the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission hearings, nearly 400 witnesses gave chilling accounts of alleged state-sponsored torture, rape and forced disappearances.

The commission submitted its report to the government in November after more than two years of work.

It found that Mr Jammeh and his hit squad known as the Junglers allegedly killed over 240 Gambians and other nationals including nearly 60 West African migrants in 2005.

Victims and their families are keen to see Mr Jammeh brought to justice.

He has been in exile in Equatorial Guinea since the current President Adama Barrow defeated him in the 2016 elections.

Editorial Chief, Nigerian Bureau

Kings UBA is a Nigerian journalist and writer. I have reported for major local and international news organisations. I write satire. In 2017, I started contributing stories primarily to Discover Africa News Network. I can be reached on editorkingsuba@gmail.com. I currently manage Discover Africa News social media handles