By foday Manneh
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, says failure to implement the Truth Reconciliation and Repatriation Commission (TRRC) recommendations of the Gambia will promote impunity in the country.
The Gambian diplomat made these remarks on Friday during the opening of the Stakeholder Conference and Donor Roundtable on the implementation of TRRC recommendations in Banjul.
“Violence is unacceptable, and perpetrators of violence will be identified and dealt with in accordance with the law, including regional laws.”
“What happened here, as per the TRRC findings, was a threat to peace, and failure to implement the commission’s recommendations will also be tantamount to the promotion of impunity, another threat to peace,” Touray warned.
Meanwhile, Dr. Touray highlighted the importance of peace and security in the subregion stating its significance as a tool in fighting against impunity which he said should be everyone’s business.
“In the same vein, ECOWAS stands and is ready to support the government of the Gambia in implementing TRRC recommendations. I call on the international community to support the Gambia in this process,”
“We will work together to fight impunity, just like we have working to fight drivers of insecurity. The modalities of such collaboration and support have been discussed,” he promised.
Mr. Touray said ECOWAS attaches great importance to peace and security. ‘ Its member states are ready to pay any price to attain peace, adding that Gambians and Africans should look at the ECOMIG soldiers as forces ensuring peace and stability in the Gambia.’
“They are not an occupation force; they are here for our security and the nation. Annually, it costs ECOWAS millions of dollars to maintain ECOMIG in the Gambia. They took the decision nonetheless because peace has no price.”
However, the Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, said implementing TRRC recommendations requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving all stakeholders.
“The implementation plan is a collaborative effort of stakeholders, representing the roadmap for the future. The core values of victims, sustainability, and local ownership guide the plan. In addition, it is grounded in accountability, transparency, and exclusivity principles,” Jallow said.
Minister Jallow said the Gambia remains committed to their partners in implementing the commission’s recommendations, saying the process respects the dignity and rights of victims and promotes their participation in the decision-making process.
