Hundreds of Gambians on Saturday staged a protest march on the capital Banjul, as they push for ex-leader Yahya Jammeh to be prosecuted for alleged murders and rights abuses committed under his regime.
Jammeh who is currently in exile in Equatorial Guinea ruled Gambia for 22-years before his exit after losing the 2016 presidential election.
He has been accused by many witnesses and victims of ordering killings and several rights abuses against those he deemed as political opponents.
But while in exile Jammeh has carefully orchestrated his imminent return to the country ahead of presidential elections in 2021.
He is reported to be lonely in exile and constantly desiring to return home. That loneliness sparked series of well thought out plan to force his way home on his own terms.
Leaked WhatsApp audio this month revealed that Yaya Jammeh has been in touch with his supporters constantly.
Jammeh has been encouraging them to push for his return, although he had asked for that to be done in a peaceful way.
These protests have taken place but the government has warned that he would be arrested and prosecuted should he return to The Gambia.
The country’s justice minister, Abubacarr Tambadou said “If former President Yahya Jammeh, ever comes back to this country, he will face immediate arrest and charges of the most serious kind.”
He said after almost a year of investigations into abuses under Jammeh “it can no longer be ruled out that crimes against humanity have been committed in The Gambia.”
Jammeh to Justice
Saturday’s protest march by mostly families of those who died under his regime as well as survivors of his atrocities have now called for him to be brought to justice.
The protesters wore T-shirts that read #justicemustprevail, holding photographs of people killed and who have gone missing under Jammeh.
@VictimsofJammeh March for Justice. There cannot be National healing without justice for the victims of Human Rights abuses in The Gambia #J2J @theANEKED @OlayCeesay @SirraNdow @FatouJagneS @article19wafric @amnestyusa pic.twitter.com/CwAqCkDIBc
— Ayeshah Harun ?? (@ayeshahHaru) January 25, 2020
“We want justice and we want it immediately,” they cried and demanding a ban on Jammeh’s former ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party (APRC).
The party has been behind the movement to have Jammeh return home.
Since January 2019, over 100 witnesses have appeared before a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) set up to investigate abuses under Jammeh’s rule.
The committee will submit its report this year and make recommendations to the government.
Source: Africafeeds.com
