In Gambia, a truth and reconciliation commission found that former President Yahya Jammeh was responsible for a slew of killings, rapes, and torture during two decades of dictatorship and recommended that he be tried by an international tribunal.

Earlier this month, the commission presented its report to President Adama Barrow. However, it was publicly released on Friday after a three-year investigation into abuses committed by Jammeh.

“Over a period of 22 years, starting from July 22, 1994, Yahya Jammeh and… co-perpetrators committed very serious crimes against the people of The Gambia,” a statement from the commission said.

A statement highlighted that the commission recommended bringing Yahya Jammeh and his co-perspirators before an international tribunal in West Africa outside of Gambia, either through the African Union or ECOWAS, the statement added.

As a result of Barrow's election in 2016, over two decades of dictatorship in the West African country ended. The Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was established in January 2017. After refusing to accept defeat in the election, Jammeh - who took power in a coup in 1994 - fled to Equatorial Guinea for exile.

There are 44 specific crimes against journalists, ex-soldiers, political rivals and civilians that Jammeh and his henchmen committed, including a personal hit squad called The Junglas. According to the commission, he also raped or sexually abused three women. Additionally, 59 West African migrants were murdered in 2005. Other crimes included the killing of journalist Deyda Hydara in 2004.

Gambian Justice Minister Dawda A Jallow said the government was “committed to the implementation of the report”, but would not release a paper before May on how it plans to go forward.

Reed Brody with the International Commission of Jurists said he expected pressure to now mount on The Gambia’s leader “to deliver justice without further delay for victims who have already waited five years, and in some cases much longer”.

“There is still a lot that needs to be done, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Yahya Jammeh in a court sooner rather than later,” said Brody, who also played an instrumental role in bringing former Chadian President Hissene Habre to trial at a special court in Senegal.

Jammeh's rule was marked by human rights abuses and horrors documented over two years of hearings that led to the report. According to human rights groups, the regime was infamous for its arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and summary executions. There is no doubt that some killings were carried out under Jammeh's direction, according to testimonies given before the truth commission.

Similarly, Jammeh's commission report stated that fatou Jallow, who later gave testimony to the panel and published a book about her ordeal earlier this year, was raped by Jammeh.

Despite allegations of wrongdoing, Jammeh denies it.

Image source: voa news