By Buba Gagigo
The Gambia’s Intelligence Chief, Ousman Sowe has escaped the minimum of 10-year ban the TRRC recommended against him for ‘destruction and concealment’ of evidence of rights violations.
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA boss has been found responsible for the destruction and concealment of evidence at the NIA headquarters and the commission recommended him be banned from holding public office for a minimum of 10 years.
However, the Government White Paper stated that the allegation against the Intelligence Chief happened in May 2017 and held that the recommendation against him ‘beyond the scope of the Commission’s mandate’.
The TRRC was mandated to investigate allegations of rights violations from July 1994 to January 2017 under former President Yahya A.J.J Jammeh.
The commission performed its mandate, prepared and submitted its report with recommendations to President Barrow in November 2021 and the Government reacted to it in the White Paper showing its position on the various recommendations of the commission on 25th May 2022.