The 23rd (and final session) of the public hearings continued its focus on the corruption of the justice system under Yahya Jammeh and saw multiple lawyers testify. Additionally, the Commission held some region specific hearings, which revealed how even relatively minor clashes with Yahya Jammeh or the APRC resulted in extensive abuses. The session also included a visit to suspected mass graves.

The 22nd session of the public hearings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC further looked into the massacre of West African migrants in 2005. The session also heard testimonies on the interference in the judiciary under Yahya Jammeh’s rule.

The 21st session of the public hearings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC heard a few testimonies that further elaborated on the culture of torture at the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, explored in earlier sessions. However, the bulk of the hearings focused on the massacre of West African migrants on Gambian soil in 2005 and the subsequent cover-up.

The 20th session of the public hearings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC, saw former agents from the feared National Intelligence Agency, NIA accused of torture and other human rights violations testify before the Commission. Only two of the witnesses during this session were solely victims of Yahya Jammeh’s security services.

The 19th session of the public hearings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC, added to the testimonies about the crackdown on peaceful protesters as well as the abuses committed by officers of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA. Six witnesses spoke about the 14th April 2016 peaceful protest by opposition political supporters that was violently interrupted by the authorities, leading to the arrest of dozens, torture of a handful of opposition leaders, and the enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of Solo Sandeng.

The 18th session of the public hearings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC, added to the already substantial testimony about the attempted coup led by then Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, Ndure Cham in March 2006. One of these witnesses was Lang Tombong Tamba, then deputy CDS. In his 16-hour long testimony he claimed credit for foiling the coup, but repeatedly denied knowledge of torture or “torture-for-confessions” at the NIA.

The 17th session of the public hearings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC, focused on abuses perpetrated by the National Intelligence Agency, NIA. It covered witness testimonials about the arbitrary arrest, detention, and torture committed by the NIA. Many described horrific torture at the hands of “The Junglers” in an attempt to obtain false statements or confessions.

The 16th session of the public hearings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC, covered two themes. The first part was a continuation from the 15th session and focused on Yahya Jammeh’s fake “cure” for HIV/AIDS, also known as the Presidential Alternative Treatment Programme, PATP. The second part of the session began a new thematic segment on the human rights violations and abuses committed by members of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA an institutional body used by Yahya Jammeh as a repressive tool.

The 15th session covered two topics: the injuries and deaths caused by Yahya Jammeh’s convoys as well as attacks on road users and the fraudulent HIV/AIDS treatment programme, during which at least 10 persons died. It was also reported that several died following complications caused by the fake treatment and survivors still live with the devastating consequences of the so called treatment.

The session also heard the completion of the testimony of David Colley, former Director General of the Gambia Prison Service, which began in session 14.

The 13th session, which was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on the injuries and deaths caused by Yahya Jammeh’s convoys as well as attacks by the Junglers on road users and the impact these tragic encounters had on their lives.

The 14th session focused on the prisons system during the Yahya Jammeh regime and the violations of the rights of inmates and detainees. Witnesses testified to a system plagued by corruption, nepotism, ethnic discrimination, torture and unlawful confinement practices, including unreasonably long detention of inmates. Testimonies also described the deplorable conditions of the prison facilities.

The 12th session focused on the arbitrary arrest and detention of public servants and private persons during the Yahya Jammeh regime. Witnesses testified to the systemic arbitrary arrest, (prolonged) detention (including incommunicado) and complete lack of due process they were subjected to, as well as the torture meted out onto them, including sexual violence.

The 11th session focused on the attacks on the religious freedoms of people during the Jammeh regime. Witnesses testified to the arrest, detention, torture and persecution of imams for preaching a brand of Islam or views that were different from that espoused by Yahya Jammeh. Witnesses also discussed the harassment and attacks on religious minorities including Christians and Ahmadiyyah Muslim Jamat; and the persecution and forcible exile of the Ndigal sect in 2009.

The four-week session focused on the witch-hunt campaign ordered by Yahya Jammeh which resulted in the persecution, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of hundreds of mainly elderly men and women from various villages in West Coast and North Bank regions of The Gambia as well as security personnel accused of witchcraft.

Many of the victims were beaten and forced to drink a hallucinogenic concoction, which resulted in immediate, long-lasting health problems; and in death.

A historic session of the TRRC public hearings which focused almost entirely on the highly-sensitive issue of gender and sexual-based violence (SGBV) in The Gambia. The session included testimonies from women subjected to SGVB during the Yahya Jammeh regime. Three days were also dedicated to hearing the testimony of Edward Singhateh, a high-profile alleged perpetrator regarding the numerous accusations meted against him.

The eight session of the TRRC public hearings focused almost entirely on the April 2000 Students Protests and the subsequent brutal crackdown by the Jammeh security forces against unarmed civilians, which resulted in at least 18 lives lost and many others injured.

The seventh session of the TRRC public hearings saw another five members of former President Jammeh’s death squad -the Junglers- testify about the human rights violations committed under direct orders of Yahya Jammeh. The second half of the session focused on the April 2000 Students Protests and the subsequent brutal crackdown by the Jammeh security forces, which resulted in at least 15 lives lost and many other students injured.

The sixth session of the TRRC public hearings, which ran from 8th to 25th July 2019, saw three members of former President Jammeh’s death squad -the Junglers- testify about more than 80 cases of enforced disappearances and other crimes against humanity committed under direct orders of Yahya Jammeh. The TRRC session also focused on the crimes committed against journalists, ranging from extrajudicial killing to arbitrary arrests and attacks on media houses.

The fifth edition of the Digest covers the fifth session of the TRRC which focused on the victimisation of perceived political opponents to Yahya Jammeh’s regime, specifically the United Democratic Party, UDP. During the session, two high profile persons accused of gross human rights violations appeared before the Commission, namely Alagie Martin (Brigadier General in the army) and Yankuba Touray (former Council member and Minister of Local Government and Lands ).

The fourth edition of the Digest covers the fourth session of the TRRC which continued to hear testimonies related to the 22nd July 1994 coup, the alleged 11th November 1994 failed coup and the death of the then Minister of Finance Ousman Koro Ceesay in June 1995. The fourth session also heard testimonies regarding the Denton Bridge incident and from persons mentioned by witnesses in the previous sessions, including one of the most high profiled alleged perpetrators; and relatives of those extrajudicially killed during those events.

The third edition of the Digest covers the third session of the TRRC which continued to hear testimonies related to the 22nd July 1994 coup, the alleged 11th November 1994 failed coup and the death of the then Minister of Finance Ousman Koro Ceesay in June 1995. The third session also heard testimonies from persons adversely mentioned in sessions 1 and 2; and relatives of those extrajudicially killed or forcibly disappeared and tortured during those events.

The second edition of the Digest covers the second session of the TRRC which primarily looked into the alleged November 11th 1994 failed coup. The 22nd July 1994 coup, the extrajudicial killing of former Minister of Finance Ousman Koro Ceesay in June 1995, the arbitrary arrests, detention and torture that individuals (including some witnesses) were subjected to in Gambia, notably in January 1995, October 1995 and March- April 2006 were also discussed.

A constructive recount of the first session of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission hearings looking into the July 22nd Coup and the early aftermath. The summary provides names of persons adversely mentioned as perpetrators of and/or accessory to gross human rights violations.