By Buba Gagigo
The Gambia Government has partially accepted the TRRC recommendation to ban former interior minister, Yankuba Sonko but referred the matter for further investigation.
The TRRC recommended that Yankuba Sonko and one Malamin Ceesay be banned from holding public office with the Gambia government for 10-years for their roles in covering up the killings of the West African migrants.
The Government admitted ‘partially’ accepting the recommendation, but referred it for further investigation in light of ‘potentially exculpatory’ evidence submitted in favour of Yankuba Sonko, according to the White Paper.
The White Paper added that the government is also set to do the following:
· (To) establish an international joint investigation team (Joint Forensic Investigation Team) based in The Gambia, which will comprise forensic investigators and scientists from The Gambia, Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria, with the relevant skills, training and background to carry out the following tasks:
· To without delay, identify the exact locations where the victims were buried, including the wells and graves mentioned by the witnesses that are located in both The Gambia and also in Cassamance, Senegal.
· Take all reasonable steps to ensure the security and full protection of all the sites where the remains were buried and yet to be exhumed for the purposes of protecting the human remains therein and from tampering with the evidence.
· Be given the mandate to exhume and conserve the remains of the victims that may be found in those wells or graves.
· Be given the full cooperation of the Gambian authorities, including full access to all documentary, testimonial and physical information and evidence in their possession that the Joint Forensic Investigation Team deems relevant to the inquiry.
· The Government of The Gambia also said they shall undertake without delay the steps, measures and arrangements necessary for the speedy establishment and full functioning of the Joint Forensic
· They said the Investigation Team, including recruiting impartial and experienced staff with relevant skills and expertise and also to establish procedures for carrying out the activities of the Joint Forensic Investigation Team taking into account the Gambia’s relevant laws and judicial procedures.
The Barrow government yesterday issued the much-awaited White Paper on the TRRC recommendations; following the submission of the commission’s report in November 2021.
By Buba Gagigo
The Gambia Government has partially accepted the TRRC recommendation to ban former interior minister, Yankuba Sonko but referred the matter for further investigation.
The TRRC recommended that Yankuba Sonko and one Malamin Ceesay be banned from holding public office with the Gambia government for 10-years for their roles in covering up the killings of the West African migrants.
The Government admitted ‘partially’ accepting the recommendation, but referred it for further investigation in light of ‘potentially exculpatory’ evidence submitted in favour of Yankuba Sonko, according to the White Paper.
The White Paper added that the government is also set to do the following:
· (To) establish an international joint investigation team (Joint Forensic Investigation Team) based in The Gambia, which will comprise forensic investigators and scientists from The Gambia, Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria, with the relevant skills, training and background to carry out the following tasks:
· To without delay, identify the exact locations where the victims were buried, including the wells and graves mentioned by the witnesses that are located in both The Gambia and also in Cassamance, Senegal.
· Take all reasonable steps to ensure the security and full protection of all the sites where the remains were buried and yet to be exhumed for the purposes of protecting the human remains therein and from tampering with the evidence.
· Be given the mandate to exhume and conserve the remains of the victims that may be found in those wells or graves.
· Be given the full cooperation of the Gambian authorities, including full access to all documentary, testimonial and physical information and evidence in their possession that the Joint Forensic Investigation Team deems relevant to the inquiry.
· The Government of The Gambia also said they shall undertake without delay the steps, measures and arrangements necessary for the speedy establishment and full functioning of the Joint Forensic
· They said the Investigation Team, including recruiting impartial and experienced staff with relevant skills and expertise and also to establish procedures for carrying out the activities of the Joint Forensic Investigation Team taking into account the Gambia’s relevant laws and judicial procedures.
The Barrow government yesterday issued the much-awaited White Paper on the TRRC recommendations; following the submission of the commission’s report in November 2021.