Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission
{{Short description|Official body in The Gambia, 2017–2018}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission
| type = Commission
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| formed = {{Start date and age|2018|10|15|df=y}}
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| jurisdiction = The Republic of The Gambia
| headquarters = Dunes Resort Hotel, Kotu Beach, Kololi, The Gambia
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| minister1_name = Ba Tambadou
| minister1_pfo = Minister of Justice
| chief1_name = Baba Galleh Jallow
| chief1_position = Executive Secretary
| chief2_name = Lamin J. Sise
| chief2_position = Chairperson
| chief3_name = Essa M. Faal
| chief3_position = Lead Counsel
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The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is a truth commission in The Gambia to investigate the Yahya Jammeh era from 1994 to 2017. The process from the announcement of the commission to its launch lasted from 20 July 2017 to 15 October 2018. Its executive secretary is{{when|date=September 2021}} Baba Galleh Jallow, its lead counsel is Essa M. Faal,{{Cite web |url=http://eyeafrica.tv/essa-m-faal-appointed-trrc-lead-counsel/ |title=Essa M Faal appointed TRRC lead counsel | eyeafrica tv |access-date=2019-01-07 |archive-date=2019-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145513/http://eyeafrica.tv/essa-m-faal-appointed-trrc-lead-counsel/ |url-status=dead }} and the chairperson of the 11-strong commission is{{when|date=September 2021}} Lamin J. Sise.
History
= Establishment =
The process for founding the TRRC was led by the Attorney General, Ba Tambadou. At a press conference on 20 July 2017, Tambadou announced that a draft bill for the establishment of the TRRC had been shared with international experts for review. He also announced that a team, led by himself, would begin a public engagement tour on the bill in August, which lasted from 14 to 24 August.{{Cite news|url=http://foroyaa.gm/draft-bill-on-truth-reconciliation-and-reparations-commission-concluded/|title=Draft bill on truth, reconciliation and reparations commission concluded|date=21 July 2017|work=Foroyaa|access-date=26 June 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://gainako.com/national-consultation-truth-reconciliation-reparations-commission/|title=National Consultation on the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission|date=5 August 2017|work=Gainako|access-date=26 June 2018}} Tambadou then proceeded to table the bill before the National Assembly.{{Cite news|url=http://mobile.apanews.net/en/news/gambian-mps-adopt-bill-to-probe-jammeh-era-crimes|title=Gambia: MPs adopt bill to probe Jammeh-era crimes|date=14 December 2017|work=APA News|access-date=26 June 2018}} On 13 December 2017, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRC) Act was passed, and it received presidential assent on 13 January 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawhubgambia.com/truth-reconciliation-reparations-commission/|title=Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) Act|website=Law Hub Gambia|access-date=26 June 2018}}
Barrow appointed academic Baba Galleh Jallow as Executive Secretary of the TRRC with effect from 1 February 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://www.panapress.com/Barrow-appoints-Gambia-s-Truth,-Reconciliation-Commission-boss---3-630539060-0-lang2-index.html|title=Barrow appoints Gambia's Truth, Reconciliation Commission boss|date=5 February 2018|work=Pana Press|access-date=26 June 2018}} Also in February, a call was made for nominations to the TRRC. The job description specified that individuals should be of "high moral character and integrity," "no criminal record or involvement in past human rights violations," no political party activity, and residency in either the Greater Banjul Area or in the diaspora.{{Cite news|title=Call for Nominations of Commissioners to the TRRC|date=2 February 2018|work=Freedom Newspaper}} In August 2018, Jallow appointed Alagie Barrow as the director of research and investigation for the commission.{{Cite news|url=http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/trrc-appoints-director-of-research-investigations|title=TRRC appoints director of Research & Investigations|date=10 August 2018|work=The Point|access-date=11 August 2018}} It was announced that the commission would begin proceedings on 15 October 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.freedomnewspaper.com/2018/08/18/gambia-trrc-update-countdown-to-launching/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819050249/https://freedomnewspaper.com/2018/08/18/gambia-trrc-update-countdown-to-launching/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 19, 2018|title=TRRC Update: Countdown to launching|date=18 August 2018|work=Freedom Newspaper|access-date=6 September 2018}} On 5 October, Abdoulie Janneh, who had previously been announced as the chairperson of the commissioners, stepped down from the role due to scheduling conflicts. Lamin J. Sise, a close confidante of the late UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was announced to replace him.{{Cite news|url=https://www.freedomnewspaper.com/2018/10/04/gambia-lamin-j-sise-as-chairperson-of-the-truth-reconciliation-and-reparations-commission-of-the-gambia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004230540/https://www.freedomnewspaper.com/2018/10/04/gambia-lamin-j-sise-as-chairperson-of-the-truth-reconciliation-and-reparations-commission-of-the-gambia/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 4, 2018|title=LAMIN J. SISE AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRUTH, RECONCILIATION AND REPARATIONS COMMISSION OF THE GAMBIA|date=4 October 2018|work=Freedom Newspaper|access-date=19 October 2018}}
= Launch =
The commission was launched at Dunes Resort Hotel, Kotu Beach, Kololi, on 15 October. It was launched by President Adama Barrow and attended by senior figures including Mariam Jack-Denton, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hassan Bubacar Jallow, the Chief Justice, and members of the diplomatic corps, the National Assembly, civil society, and international organisations. Barrow noted that the TRRC would be independent, and was the sixth truth commission launched in Africa in its history. Other speakers included Ba Tambadou, the Attorney General, Sherif Kijera of The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations, Fatou Bensouda, the current chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the UN Secretary-General's special representative for West Africa, and Miguel de Serpa Soares, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs. Baba Galleh Jallow delivered the vote of thanks.{{Cite news|url=http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/president-barrow-launches-trrc|title=President Barrow launches TRRC|date=16 October 2018|work=The Point|access-date=17 October 2018}}
Staff and commissioners
= Staff =
A number of job posting were advertised, starting in June 2018, at the commission. Five research assistants, nine investigators, and 20 statement takers were advertised for. A number of coordinator roles were also advertised for, including in victim support, community outreach, youth and children, and women's affairs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16001|title=TRRC Jobs|date=18 June 2018|website=Bantaba in Cyberspace|access-date=6 September 2018}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Job Title !Name !Background |
| Executive Secretary
|Assistant professor of history, La Salle University |
| Deputy Executive Secretary
|Lecturer in law, University of The Gambia |
| Lead Counsel
|Essa M. Faal{{Cite news|url=https://jollofnews.com/2018/09/05/prosecutor-of-gambias-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-appointed/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906112712/https://jollofnews.com/2018/09/05/prosecutor-of-gambias-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-appointed/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 6, 2018|title=Prosecutor Of Gambia's Truth And Reconciliation Commission Appointed|date=5 September 2018|work=Jollof News|access-date=6 September 2018}} |Defence counsel, International Criminal Court |
| Director of Research and Investigations
|Former officer, Tennessee Army National Guard |
| Deputy Director of Research and Investigations
|State counsel, Attorney General's Chambers |
| Director of Communications, Outreach and Media
|Secretary general, Writers' Association of The Gambia |
| Chief Financial Officer
|Alieu Awe | |
| Director of Human Resources
|Mam Ndery Touray | |
| Victim Support Coordinator
|Ebou Faye Njie | |
| Reconciliation Officer
|Tabu Sarr | |
| Community Outreach Coordinator
|Vacant | |
| Youth and Children's Network Coordinator
|Babucarr Sambou | |
| Women's Affairs Coordinator
|Yadicon Njie Eribo |
= Commissioners =
This is the list of designated commissioners released to the media in August 2018, they are not yet confirmed.{{Cite news|url=http://foroyaa.gm/presidents-designated-trrc-appointees-announced/|title=President's Designated TRRC Appointees Announced|date=24 August 2018|work=Foroyaa|access-date=6 September 2018}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Name !Special Role !Background |
| Lamin J. Sise
|Chairperson |Special advisor and chief of staff to Kofi Annan |
| Adelaide Sosseh Gaye
|Vice-Chairperson |Director, Gambia Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL) |
| Anna N'gulu Jones
| |Gambia national coordinator, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) |
| Mustapha Kah
| |Founder, Banjul Open Debate |
| Abdourahman Sey
|Central River Region |Imam |
| Ma Nyima Bojang
|West Coast Region |Teacher |
| Amie Samba
|Lower River Region |Retired civil servant |
| Lang Kinteh
|North Bank Region |Retired civil servant |
| Jammeh Ceesay
|Upper River Region |Farmer |
| James Yaw Allen Odico
| |
| Ousainou Jallow
| |Imam, Pipeline Mosque |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Truth and Reconciliation Commission}}
{{Authority control}}