By Fatou Sillah
Essa Mbye Faal, the former lead counsel of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), responded to critics who said he had not finished his work at the TRRC before joining the 2021 presidential race. Faal said that he had completed his work with the commission before launching his campaign.
“During the election, when people were saying that Essa left the TRRC to run for president without finishing the work, I was offended, but I could not say much, but the job was already done. I have finished all the reports; they were signed by the commissioners, so after the TRRC and the grinning of the campaign itinerary, I was tired, and I needed to rest to look after myself. By the time I left the TRRC, the job was completed on my part, you know what was left? Editing. I am not an editor, but all the reports were written and signed by the Chairman and all the commissioners, and I received a letter from the TRRC thanking me
“I also received a letter from the government thanking me for a job well done. That’s why when I launched my campaign, I challenged them that if you dispute that the job was not done, I will publish the letter, but they should also understand the kind of person I am. I am such a respecter of the law and a respecter of personalities that there are certain things I will not do, I will not go out insulting the president,” He said
Essa Faal further states that Gambians know that they put a lot of work into the TRRC.
“All Gambians know that we have put a lot of work into the TRRC to the highest standards, and the whole world is speaking about it. Anywhere you go, including the United Nations. Every time I received requests from universities and countries just to learn from us. People must realize that a commission like the TRRC has to be made interesting for people to follow. The whole essence of the TRRC is for people to know the truth about what has happened,” he said.
Essa Mbye Faal made these remarks during an interview with Kerr Fatou