The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has approved the establishment of a special court to address crimes committed during the rule of former Gambian military dictator Yahya Jammeh. Announced during a summit in Abuja, Nigeria, the court is tasked with delivering justice to victims of Jammeh’s regime, which spanned from 1996 to 2017 and was characterized by arbitrary detention, sexual abuse, and extrajudicial killings. Jammeh fled the West African country in 2016 after losing a presidential election despite initially refusing to step down. Since then, there have been calls for accountability, especially following the 2021 recommendations of Gambia’s truth commission. Recent international prosecutions, including convictions in Switzerland and Germany related to crimes linked to Jammeh’s regime, underscore the growing efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. Gambia’s Justice Ministry hailed ECOWAS’ decision as a “historic development,” marking a pivotal step for justice in Gambia, West Africa, and beyond.
SOURCE: AP NEWS
