Essa Faal, former lead counsel of Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC), has delivered a harsh critique of President Adama Barrow’s commitment to prosecuting Jammeh-era human rights crimes.

The internationally acclaimed lawyer who also aspires to unseat Barrow in the presidency in 2026, said he sees no “political will” from the Barrow government to prosecute human rights violations committed during Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

“He doesn’t want to offend the APRC because that’s what President Barrow relies on to get reelected in 2026. They’ve no intention and there is no political will whatsoever to implement the TRRC, especially the accountability part,” he told Kerr Fatou.

Despite regional bloc, ECOWAS, approval to establish a hybrid court that would prosecute human rights crimes committed under the exiled former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh, Faal believes the only time this will happen under the Barrow government is after the upcoming presidential polls in 2026.

“Do you know when he will be bold enough to implement this document? When he happens to win the election in 2026. Nothing fundamental will happen,” he added.

According to him, most of the TRRC recommendations don’t require significant financial resources for the government to implement the recommendations.

“Before allocating 100 million [dalasis] for the president’s travel expenses, 60 million for his nationwide tour, with all that wastes; compensate those in wheelchairs, compensate the victims. There are men who’ve been castrated and they are suffering inside. Kindly cater for the victims and stop wasting resources,” he added.

By Adama Makasuba