Gambian lawyer and politician Essa Faal has resigned from his role at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to focus on politics ahead of the 2026 presidential election.

Mr Faal, who previously served as lead counsel for The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), said he was stepping away from international legal work to concentrate fully on domestic political matters.

He returned to The Gambia this week and confirmed his resignation during an interview at Banjul International Airport.

He stated that he remains determined to address the challenges facing Gambians, citing the rising cost of living and the economic hardship under the Barrow administration.

“I was tasked with handling the Rohingya case, and by God’s help, we have filed a warrant of arrest for the Myanmar president. Very soon, I will file another warrant for senior members of the Myanmar military. But I have resigned from the ICC so I can fully concentrate on Gambian politics,” he said.

“I never intended to stay long in that role. I’ve fulfilled the task assigned to me, and we have achieved success. Despite my resignation, I still have some work to complete with them. Over the next four to five months, I will be doing some jobs for them, but I won’t need to be in The Hague. I’ve returned for good. I will focus 100% on politics because the situation in the country is so dire that everyone is feeling the impact,” he added.

By Adama Makasuba