The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission has revealed that more than 200 people were killed during the 22-year rule of former president Yahya Jammeh.  

The Commission concluded its public hearings into human rights abuses by the former dictator. 

TRRC’s lead counsel Essa Faal said in his closing remarks that: “Between 220 murders and 250 murders occurred in this country during Jammeh’s rule, attributable to Jammeh. 

“And that is not the enforced disappeared. All what I’ve heard tells me crime against humanity, crimes against humanity, crimes against humanity.

“And the forum to deal with that is not only limited in the Gambia. It could be the Gambia, it could be Ghana, it could be West Africa, it could be somewhere in Africa, it could be the ICC.”

“So no matter how people deny, no matter how one may control what could happen in the Gambia, that same institution cannot control what happens outside or elsewhere. 

“We have Hissene Habre. He’s ran away for 20-something years, he had to face the law. Justice must happen,” he added.

During the 871 days of the Commission sittings, 392 witnesses, the majority of whom were victims, gave harrowing testimonies of the atrocities meted out to civilians by the State.

The Commission will now submit its recommendations in the form of a report to President Adama Barrow, but it has not specified a date for the report submission.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba