British barrister Martin Hackett has been appointed as The Gambia's first special prosecutor to try those responsible for human rights abuses during the 22-year rule of ex-President Yahya Jammeh, which ended when he went into exile in 2017. Hackett will head a newly created office dedicated to addressing the cases from a period fraught with repression, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
This appointment follows the final report from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which revealed the extent of the alleged abuses and recommended the prosecution of those most responsible. The TRRC had heard testimonies from victims and witnesses, calling for reparations and delivering a stern warning against allowing impunity to prevail.
The TRRC has initiated phased compensation payments starting with victims from the 1994 coup era, but many survivors prioritize accountability over financial restitution. Among the most notorious cases uncovered were the killings of journalist Deyda Hydara and more than 50 West African migrants unjustly accused of plotting a coup. Hackett's appointment is seen as a decisive move towards ensuring domestic accountability, following previous convictions of perpetrators abroad under universal jurisdiction. Attorney General Dawda Jallow highlighted Hackett's extensive qualifications, including past service at the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Despite Jammeh’s refusal to cooperate with the TRRC and his relocation to Equatorial Guinea, this step is a crucial milestone in The Gambia’s journey toward justice and healing.
This appointment follows the final report from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which revealed the extent of the alleged abuses and recommended the prosecution of those most responsible. The TRRC had heard testimonies from victims and witnesses, calling for reparations and delivering a stern warning against allowing impunity to prevail.
The TRRC has initiated phased compensation payments starting with victims from the 1994 coup era, but many survivors prioritize accountability over financial restitution. Among the most notorious cases uncovered were the killings of journalist Deyda Hydara and more than 50 West African migrants unjustly accused of plotting a coup. Hackett's appointment is seen as a decisive move towards ensuring domestic accountability, following previous convictions of perpetrators abroad under universal jurisdiction. Attorney General Dawda Jallow highlighted Hackett's extensive qualifications, including past service at the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Despite Jammeh’s refusal to cooperate with the TRRC and his relocation to Equatorial Guinea, this step is a crucial milestone in The Gambia’s journey toward justice and healing.
