‘TRRC Report Likely Not To see Daylight Under Adama Barrow,’ Essa Faal at Victim Centre

On Monday, the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s former Lead Counsel Essa Faal visited The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations as part of the Center’s advocacy to commit presidential candidates to enforce the TRRC recommendations.

Mr. Faal, who is also running for President in December, said he has zero confidence that the current administration would implement the TRRC report. “We have seen the government has gone to bed with the party of the perpetrators, and they are telling them that the TRRC report is going into the dust bin,” Essa Faal said.

Faal said the things happening in this country are very shameful, and it should be the responsibility of everyone to ensure that justice is served. “If we don’t do that, we will be failing the victims.”

Mr. Faal, who announced his candidature for President last August 2021, said he had made a personal commitment to ensure that the issue of the victims is the leading cause in his campaign. However, he added that one of his principal reasons for running for President is to be the victims of human rights violations.

He revealed that he had been a victim’s representative for so long. “I was the lawyer for the victims of the Darfur war. I was also the lawyer for the victims of extrajudicial killing in the Philippines, respectively.“

However, he says he would not accept impunity, no reconciliation without justice, and all the perpetrators must face justice. 

Sheriff Kijera, the Executive Director of The Gambia Victim Centre, said the victims are very proud of Essa Faal for his contribution to transitional justice. 

Mr. Kijera added that the victim center is engaging the various political parties to make commitments for justice and implement the TRRC report if they are elected into office. He told Essa Faal, “The victims are your victims.“