The Post-TRRC Unit on Tuesday, 6, May 2025 convened the inaugural meeting of the Partnership Platform Sub-Committee on the Special Accountability Mechanism (SAM) at the Senegambia Beach hotel, marking a pivotal moment in The Gambia’s transitional justice process. The meeting brought together civil society organizations (CSOs), development partners, and key stakeholders to review the proposed SAM framework, deliberate on the operationalization of its core components, and examine its draft Terms of Reference (TOR).
This meeting is a significant milestone in the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). It provided a collaborative platform for stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the design and functionality of the SAM—an accountability mechanism aimed at ensuring justice, redress, and institutional reform for victims of past human rights violations.
In her opening remarks, Ida Persson from the Ministry of Justice welcomed participants and provided a comprehensive overview of the SAM Sub-Committee’s structure and objectives. She outlined the three key components of the SAM: aThe Special Prosecutor’s Office, the Special Tribunal, and the dedicated Criminal Division. She emphasized the urgency and importance of setting up and operationalizing these components to ensure the effectiveness of the accountability process.
Representing the Gambia Bar Association (GBA), Counsel Salieu Taal presented an in-depth analysis of the operationalization and coordination of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. He underscored the critical need for the office to become functional as soon as possible, highlighting the types of cases it could potentially prosecute, and reinforcing the importance of delivering justice in a timely, credible, and independent manner.
Penda Dibba, Executive Secretary of the GBA, highlighted the Association’s longstanding commitment to the transitional justice process. She emphasized the GBA’s role in promoting legal reform, upholding the rule of law, and supporting victims’ access to justice. She also acknowledged and commended the efforts of sub-committee members and development partners for their continued support and collaboration in advancing justice and national healing.
Recognizing the GBA’s central role and technical expertise, the Ministry of Justice nominated the Association to co-chair the Sub-Committee on SAM. The nomination was seconded by EU representatives Messina and Manira, and unanimously endorsed by members. As a result, the GBA will co-chair the sub-committee for the next two years, a development that further reinforces its leadership in driving accountability efforts in The Gambia.
Counsel Taal also moved a motion for the adoption of the Terms of Reference as amended, which was seconded by Penda Dibba and supported by all present.
The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of collective responsibility and a strong commitment from all parties to ensure that the Special Accountability Mechanism is grounded in justice, inclusivity, and the rights of victims.
