Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer Femi Falana has hailed the establishment of a Special Tribunal to prosecute former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh as a groundbreaking step toward justice. He emphasized that this tribunal serves as a warning to current African leaders that impunity will no longer be tolerated.
Jammeh, who has been in exile in Equatorial Guinea since his removal from power in 2016, faces charges of murder, torture, kidnapping, sexual violence, and other human rights abuses during his 22-year rule. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently approved the tribunal to address these crimes, marking a significant shift in regional accountability.
The tribunal, ratified during the 66th ECOWAS Summit in December 2024, aims to deliver justice for crimes committed under Jammeh’s regime, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the 2005 massacre of over 50 migrants. Falana praised The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) for its role in documenting these atrocities, which laid the foundation for the tribunal.
The TRRC’s findings revealed that state agents were responsible for the deaths of at least 240 individuals during Jammeh’s rule. The commission’s work culminated in a White Paper issued by The Gambia’s government, outlining the path to justice.
The tribunal follows a landmark conviction in Switzerland, where former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko was sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity under Jammeh’s regime. Falana commended The Gambian Bar Association for its proactive role in ensuring the tribunal’s establishment, highlighting its significance in halting calls for an International Criminal Court trial by addressing the crimes locally.
This tribunal represents a pivotal moment in African justice, signaling that accountability for gross human rights abuses is achievable within the continent.
