Essa Mbye Faal, former lead counsel of The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), has issued a public apology to Gambians who felt offended by his recent remarks involving Imam Abdoulie Fatty, cleric and former State House Imam under ex-president Yahya Jammeh.

Faal, who is now seeking the presidency, came under heavy criticism from individuals widely believed to be followers of Imam Fatty, who once appeared before the TRRC.

The backlash followed allegations that he had insulted the religious leader.

Clarifying his position, Faal said: “people are insulting me that I insulted their imam, Imam Fatty. But I never did. I just had a disagreement as to whether certain people should be attacked for their beliefs or not.

“But let me say to the Gambian people that for those who thought that maybe I insulted their religious leaders or whatever, I am sorry and I apologise for that. But not that I did it,  I apologise for the fact that I might have said things that hurt you. It was never my purpose to go and hurt anybody,” he told Coffee Times.

Before his role at the TRRC, Faal worked as a senior international prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he led high-profile cases, including work on the defending former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who was later convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Faal’s apology may help cool tensions as he continues his campaign for The Gambia’s highest office.

By Adama Makasuba