The Gambia government has set up a task force to investigate the missing remains of victims of the former Jammeh regime who were allegedly killed and buried in unmarked graves across the country. 

Speaking at a government joint press conference, State Counsel Saffie Nyang, said the setting up of the task force is in response to a TRRC recommendation for government to look into the whereabouts of victims of enforced disappearances whose graves and burial sites are not known and whereabouts still uncertain.

She added that the task force will among others look into the cases of the West African nationals that were enforcedly disappeared in the Gambia in 2005 and also cases of several other Gambians who went missing during Jammeh’s 22-year rule and their whereabouts are not known.

Ms Nyang also said the task force will be chaired by the Ministry of Justice working in partnership with the Gambia Police Force, Gambia Armed Forces, State Intelligence Services and victim-led organisations in The Gambia.

“This is a very technical process and it requires a lot of funding because exhuming graveyards requires a lot. They already have their Terms of Reference and they now they are trying to forge partnerships with relevant international institutions that may have the capacity to assist us,” she added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba