The Gambia has appointed a particular prosecutor to pursue accountability for crimes dedicated throughout the rule of former strongman Yahya Jammeh, almost two years after establishing the function.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice introduced the appointment of British lawyer Martin Hackett, whose expertise spans struggle crimes, genocide and counter-terrorism instances, together with work with the United Nations.
The long-delayed appointment follows criticism from lawmakers and civil society {groups} over the tempo of implementing post-dictatorship justice reforms. Officers had attributed the delay to prolonged consultations and procedural necessities.
The place was created after parliament handed laws in April 2024 establishing the Particular Prosecutor’s Workplace (SPO), mandated to prosecute instances recognized by the nation’s Fact, Reconciliation and Reparations Fee (TRRC). The regulation additionally gives for a particular courtroom inside The Gambia, with the choice of holding proceedings in different jurisdictions. The emptiness for the function was formally marketed in Might 2025.
Throughout his four-year renewable mandate, Hackett is predicted to pursue prosecutions in opposition to about 70 people beneficial by the TRRC for crimes dedicated underneath Jammeh’s rule between 1994 and 2017. A fact fee discovered that between 240 and 250 individuals have been killed by the state throughout that interval, alongside proof of torture, kidnappings and different abuses.
Hackett is because of arrive within the nation earlier than the tip of the month to start his work.
Welcoming the appointment, worldwide struggle crimes prosecutor Reed Brody, who has labored with victims of Jammeh’s regime, mentioned: “Martin Hackett brings critical credentials: advanced struggle crimes prosecutions, command duty instances, work with victims of sexual violence. That have issues enormously in a case like this.”
Justice Minister Dawda Jallow mentioned the brand new prosecutor can be required to submit annual reviews to the president, the Nationwide Meeting, the West African bloc ECOWAS and the Legal professional Basic.
Jammeh, who dominated for 22 years, misplaced the December 2016 presidential election to opposition chief Adama Barrow. He went into exile in Equatorial Guinea in January 2017, the place he stays.
The TRRC, established later in 2017, heard testimony from almost 400 witnesses and documented widespread abuses throughout Jammeh’s rule. In its 2021 report, it beneficial prosecuting the previous president and 69 others.
In December 2024, ECOWAS endorsed plans to determine a hybrid Particular Tribunal for The Gambia to attempt crimes dedicated throughout the dictatorship, though the courtroom has but to safe funding.
In keeping with Brody, Hackett may have the discretion to find out whether or not instances must be tried domestically or earlier than the proposed ECOWAS-backed tribunal as soon as it turns into operational.
Boluwatife Enome
Times Nigeria