Gambia's truth commission recommends prosecutions for Jammeh-era crimes

BANJUL, (Reuters) - A Gambian commission wrapped up a sweeping three-year public inquiry into former president Yahya Jammeh's 22 years in power yesterday by recommending prosecutions for killings, torture and other abuses committed during his tenure.

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) delivered its report to President Adama Barrow, nine days before an election in which the exiled Jammeh has urged his supporters to vote for an opposition coalition.

Nearly 400 witnesses testified before the TRRC, including both victims and perpetrators.

"To forgive and forget with impunity the violations and abuses ... would not only undermine reconciliation but would also constitute a massive and egregious cover-up of the crimes committed," the commission said in a statement.

In all, 240-250 people died at the hands of the state or its agents, the commission said. It recommended that the "persons who bear the greatest responsibility for abuses" be prosecuted, but did not name anyone.

Barrow or his successor have six months to decide how to respond to the report, which was not made public.

"I assure (the victims and their families) that my government will ensure that justice is done," Barrow said in a statement, "but I urge them to be patient and allow the legal process to take its course."

Jammeh, who came to power in a coup in 1994, is in exile in Equatorial Guinea, where he fled after refusing to accept defeat to Barrow in 2016. He has denied allegations of wrongdoing and could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Under Gambian law, a former head of state cannot be prosecuted unless parliament approves proceedings by a two-thirds majority - not a formality given Jammeh's continued influence.

The TRRC inquiry, broadcast live on television and radio, at times transfixed a nation of 2.5 million people that for two decades lived in fear of Jammeh's National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and his personal hit squad known as the "Junglas".

Gambians watched as perpetrators, seated in a hotel conference room in front of posters that promised "never again", admitted to carrying out killings on Jammeh's orders.