President Barrow, Speaking at the opening of the 2025 legal year
By Fatou Sillah
President Adama Barrow has reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to addressing the injustices committed during the 22-year rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. Speaking at the opening of the 2025 legal year at the High Court Complex in Banjul, President Barrow emphasized that mechanisms have been put in place to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations.
“Following the release of the White Paper in 2022, my government set in motion mechanisms to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations. The decision to establish a Special Prosecutor’s Office and a Special Tribunal underscores our determination to address past injustices with transparency and integrity. These efforts are essential to rebuilding trust and fostering a reconciled and united nation,” he stated.
He further highlighted the significance of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government’s approval to establish a Special Tribunal, describing it as a major milestone in the quest for justice for Jammeh-era victims.
“The recent approval by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government to establish the Special Tribunal is another remarkable achievement. The Tribunal will investigate and prosecute gross human rights violations and international crimes committed during the previous regime, running from July 1994 through January 2017. This decision is to make sure that there is justice for the victims and survivors of the human rights abuses committed during that period,” President Barrow stated.
He further underscored the tribunal’s role in reinforcing the rule of law and sending a strong message against impunity.
“It is meant to send a strong message that impunity will not be condoned on our shores. By addressing these grave violations, the tribunal will contribute to restoring trust in public institutions and reinforcing the rule of law in the country,” he added.
President Barrow also linked the establishment of the Special Tribunal to The Gambia’s broader transitional justice process, aimed at redressing past injustices, fostering societal healing, and promoting long-term peace.
“The tribunal will also be an essential part of my government’s efforts to entrench accountability, justice, and reconciliation, address individual and collective grievances, and contribute to a just and democratic environment for all. For us, transparency and accountability will remain indispensable pillars of good governance,” he emphasized.
The President also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to combating corruption, citing the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission as a testament to this resolve.
“The establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission illustrates our resolve to combat corruption in all its forms. The Commission will promote integrity within public institutions and reinforce public trust in our governance architecture,” he concluded.