The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has endorsed the creation of a special court to prosecute crimes committed under the 22-year rule of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh.
The Special Tribunal for Gambia aims to bring justice for gross human rights violations committed between July 1994 and January 2017, according to a statement from ECOWAS on Sunday. This marks the first instance of the bloc collaborating with a member state to establish such a court.
Jammeh’s regime was notorious for severe rights abuses and the misappropriation of state funds for personal use. After losing the 2017 election to President Adama Barrow, Jammeh fled into exile.
The tribunal represents a significant step in Gambia’s efforts to address its past and ensure accountability. Rights groups and victims of Jammeh’s dictatorship have long called for justice for the atrocities committed during his rule.
