The Gambia’s Justice Minister and Attorney General, has said that he wouldn’t be bothered hearing from former President Yahya Jammeh to testify before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission.

Abubacarr Tambedou was responding to questions from journalists during a quarterly press conference of his ministry convened at the Attorney General’s Chambers in Banjul.

On his personal view, he said former president Yahya Jammeh’s testimony “will not contribute to the healing process of the country.”

“But personally speaking I wouldn’t be bothered hearing from former president Jammeh,” he said.

He added: “What value will it bring? I don’t think we are yet in a position where we feel that former president Jammeh in term of the crimes that have been committed in this country can contribute anything positive to our healing process that’s my personal view but forget about my personal view.”

According to him, all the other witnesses have something to contribute because they probably have their unique perspectives.

Despite saying he can’t speak on behalf of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, Mr. Tambedou said “I can’t speak on behalf of the TRRC. If you ask me personally, I’m not sure what value a testimony from former president Jammeh will bring to this process.”

Meanwhile, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission is mandated by the National Assembly to probe into the human rights violations and crimes that occurred under the former President Yahya Jammeh, who now lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea after losing the presidential elections to Adama Barrow in 2016.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba