PBSO’s support of the transitional justice process in The Gambia continued this year, building upon five years of support to the country’s transition priorities. As one of the early responders to the peacebuilding needs, investments by the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) to The Gambia have focused, among others, on transitional justice, good governance, and youth participation. These investments have helped the country from relapsing into violence. Similarly, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has supported the Government’s peacebuilding needs, playing a hinge role in mobilizing international support and coordinating UN support, which saw the UN system, including the DPPA, UNOWAS, UN Country Team, UNDP, and OHCHR, all working together.

The transitional justice process has been a critical element of the democratic transition process of The Gambia following the post-electoral crisis and the peaceful transfer of power from President Jammeh to President Barrow in 2017. The national-led and inclusive process has seen the set-up of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of human rights violations committed during the 23 years of the Jammeh regime and to consider reparations for the victims of abuses, promote reconciliation and prevent a recurrence. The work of the TRRC also garnered interest from Gambians through live public hearings and outreach activities. Following the submission of the TRRC report in 2021, the Government of The Gambia, through its Ministry of Justice, released a White Paper outlining how the government intends to implement the TRRC recommendations.

In line with the PBC’s continued support to The Gambia, the 18 October 2022 Ambassadorial-Level meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission was convened to enable the government to share updates on the transitional justice process, including the Government’s White Paper on the implementation of the TRRC’s recommendations. The meeting also discussed the priority areas and related actions for which The Gambia needed further support from international partners. The meeting heard briefings by the, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, by a civil society representative from the Gambia, as well as senior UN officials.

Discussions at the meeting spoke to The Gambia’s remarkable progress in transitional justice, reconciliation, democratic governance, and building and sustaining peace and stability. Key priority initiatives noted by the government to implement in line with the TRRC recommendations are the setup of an autonomous Special Prosecutions Office with authority to investigate and prosecute perpetrators, a Reparations Bill with an independent administer of a reparation fund for the victims, a Peace and Reconciliation Commission to help heal from the trauma caused by the atrocities committed and security sector reform (SSR).

PBC members encouraged The Gambia to utilize the PBC’s convening role to share experiences and lessons on transitional justice and reconciliation. The meeting also underscored the importance of timely implementation of the TRRC recommendations for sustainable peace and development, highlighting the need to address gender aspects. As noted by the CSO briefer, the culture of silence and the fear of stigma accounted for the low participation of victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Hence, the next phase of transitional justice should address the structural gender inequalities underlying causes of SGBV and ensure the meaningful participation of women.

With the country set to organize a stakeholders’ conference in 2023 to mobilize support for the key priority areas of the White Paper, the meeting highlighted the importance for the international community, including the UN system and its partners, to sustain support for The Gambia’s peacebuilding priorities. In this regard, the PBF’s post-TRRC follow-up project was mentioned, noting its consultative and participatory approach to support the implementation and monitoring of the TRRC recommendations.