The executive secretary of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), Baba Galleh Jallow, has denied rumours circulating on social media that the lead Counsel Essa Faal has either resigned or been sacked.

Mr. Jallow said the rumours were unfounded and false. He said Mr Faal is still the lead counsel and will be returning when the Commission resumes sitting on June 10.

In a press release debunking the rumours of infighting and squabbling at the TRRC, Mr. Jallow said:

“We wish to take this opportunity to assure the general public that rumours making the rounds that Lead Counsel Essa Faal has resigned or been sacked from the TRRC are just that – rumours.

“Equally false are rumours that the Christian community is engaged in a fight with the TRRC or its Chairman. The TRRC remains intact and at peace with itself and with the Gambian public.

“While welcoming and embracing the general public’s enthusiastic engagement with the TRRC process, our Commissioners and staff remain one big family of friendly colleagues dedicated to the actualization of our mandate.

“We are confident that the crippling in-fighting among commissioners and staff of some truth commissions around the world will never happen at the TRRC. We continue to seek the understanding, support and blessings of the general public.”

“Meanwhile, the TRRC has ended its fourth three-week session of hearings on Thursday, April 25, 2019. During this session, 16 witnesses testified before the Commission, bringing the total number of witnesses to testify since January 7, 2019 to 57.

“A significant number of these witnesses are former or current members of the Gambian security services. Seven of the hearings were held with Diaspora Gambians via video conferencing. One hearing was held in camera and another was that of a protected witness. At least eight women have so far voluntarily testified before the Commission, most of them widows of the November 11, 1994 incident.

“The hearings during this fourth session yielded valuable evidence on circumstances surrounding the July 22, 1994 coup, the November 11 and Koro Ceesay incidents, and a 1996 incident at Denton Bridge involving supporters of the UDP.”