A cabinet minister and security chief are among nearly a dozen public officials who face risk of ban from holding public office. Some may at the same time be subjected to criminal prosecution.

This is a punishment proposed to be imposed on them by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission. The TRRC last month wrapped up nearly three years of investigations into human rights violations that were reportedly committed during the tenure of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh – July 1994 to January 2017. 

Nearly four hundred witnesses testified during the inquiry. The revelations in the TRRC report laid bare systematic and widespread violations, including the unlawful killing of more than two hundred people. Among them are at least eight children and dozens of women.

The Commission calls for Jammeh to be punished in the form of prosecution and ban from holding public office, alongside many others, including his vice president, ministers, security chiefs, among others who carried out or aided the crimes of unlawful killings, rape, torture and enforced disappearances. 

As Malagen investigation reveals, some of the people indicted by the TRRC are currently holding public office.

See this list – it is in on order of importance

He was Crime Management Coordinator of The Gambia Police Force (GPF) when an estimated 67 West African nationals were massacred in 2005 by Jammeh’s killer squad, the Junglers. He has been found to have played a key role in the elaborate cover up by destroying and concealing evidence to prevent truth-seeking and pursuit for justice. He would later be promoted by President Jammeh as Inspector General of Police (IGP). In 2018, he was appointed by President Barrow as Interior Minister. 

To be banned from holding public office for 10 years.

Sowe was appointed by President Barrow as the country’s spy chief following the change of government in 2017. He had worked at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), now State Intelligence Service (SIS) for many years and rose through the ranks to the position of a director. This was under President Jammeh. But while he may not be directly linked to ‘gross’ violations perpetuated at the NIA, the Commission took issues with him for destruction of evidence. When appointed, amid ongoing investigations involving his institution, he painted the walls of the blood-stained cells that Jammeh operated as torture chambers and where some people were allegedly tortured to death. 

To be banned from holding public office for a minimum of ten years. 

He was a police commissioner and head of the Major Crime Unit when an estimated 67 West African nationals were massacred in 2005 by Jammeh’s killer squad, the Junglers. Like Yankuba Sonko, he has been found to have played a key role in the elaborate cover up by destroying and concealing evidence to prevent truth-seeking and pursuit for justice. He has left the police and now works as municipal police commissioner at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC). 

To be banned from holding public office for 10 years

Mboob is notorious for his heavy-handedness. He was implicated in the bloody April 10 and 11, 2000 student demonstration which led to the killing of at least 15 students by the security forces. Mboob has been found to have assaulted a teacher Ousman Sabally by striking him with his baton and gun butt causing him serious injury. He was also found to have unlawfully shot into a building at St. Augustine’s High School resulting in unlawful damage and injury to three students. He is also found to have participated in a conspiracy by State agents to cover up the full extent of the participation of the police by giving false testimony, concealing and fabricating evidence at the ‘Commission of Inquiry into Public Disturbances of 10th and 11th April 2000’ to mislead the Commission. 

To be prosecuted for his role in the killing of student protesters and banned from holding public office for five years.

He was a low-ranked soldier when the Yahya Jammeh led junta took power in 1994. He has been found to be a willing tool for violations. He took part in the extra-judicial killing of 11 soldiers and the torturing another 11 members of the Gambia National Army during the Nov. 11 coup incident. He also participated in the murder of finance minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay. Although he has since resigned from the Gambia Armed Forces, he is holding a high portfolio in the Gambia Immigration Department posted in Soma. 

To be banned from holding public office for ten years. For his truthfulness in confessing to his crimes and cooperation with the TRRC, he was also recommended for amnesty so that he would not be prosecuted.

The former Director of Operations at the National Intelligence Agency has been indicted by the TRRC for his role in forcing the alleged drug suspects to confess to crimes they have denied. He has also confessed to having tortured some detainees such as Fernando and Co. Although he is no longer working at the NIA, Jim is the current Director of Operations at the Drug Law Enforcement Agency – The Gambia (DLEA-G).

To be banned from holding a public position for ten years.

He was the Inspector General of Police when President Jammeh commissioned a witch-hunting exercise in 2009 which led to the death of about 40 victims. The TRRC holds him responsible for ‘ordering the persecution, arbitrary arrest, and detention, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of the victims, some of whom have died following the incident. Badjie later fell out with Jammeh. He was removed as police chief, charged to court for drug trafficking and burglary. He was reinstated in the police after the change of government.   

To be prosecuted and banned from working in the state security or government in general. 

He is adversely mentioned to have participated in the beating, electrocuting, and stripping naked the suspected drug dealers as they set up a panel to force them to confess at the NIA premises. The Commission further found that Lamin Darboe and his team participated in the torture of the suspects of the December 30th attack on State House. 

To be prosecuted over allegations of torture 

He was a low-ranked soldier when the Nov. 11, 1994 alleged coup happened. He is found to have participated in the extra-judicial killing of the coup plotters. He has also been implicated in the torture of junta vice chair, Sanna B. Sabally and junta member Sadibou Hydara. The two fell out with Jammeh. 

To be banned from holding public office for 10 years.

Njie has also been implicated in the torture of the alleged November 11 coupists. 

To be banned from holding public office for 10 years. 

Like The Assassin and Njie Ponkal, B.A Njie is also implicated in the torture of the 1994 alleged coupists. 

To be banned from holding public office for 10 years.