Chief Supt Colley: “Shocking” TRRC Revelations Should Serve as Turning Point for Police
By Edward Francis Dalliah
During his opening remarks at the opening ceremony of a two-day training on the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2023, Chief Superintendent Omar Colley representing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) revealed that they expect the findings of the now defunct Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) to serve as a learning tool for the police.
Held at Bakadaji Hotel on 12th December 2024, the engagement brought together officers from diverse Police units, including the Human Rights and Professional Standards Unit and the Prosecution and Investigations Unit.
Superintendent Colley acknowledged that the revelation brought to light by the TRRC was “a shocking experience for most of us police officers who are at the centre of law enforcement function in this country. However, we hope that they serve as learning points and a turning point for our discharge of function, which is expected to be in line with democratic principles and international standards of the Police.”
The now-defunct TRRC uncovered widespread human rights violations that occurred during the 22-year regime of former President Yahya Jammeh, with a particular focus on the security sector. The Commission’s report detailed the extensive use of torture by security officers to extract confessions and information from victims of the former President.
Notably volumes 13 and 14 of the report documented Institutional hearings at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) now the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and The Gambia Prison Service (Mile II). The report highlighted numerous accounts where several means of torture were used to force victims to confess to crimes, many of which were made up.
In volume 13, the report documented that “the NIA became a weapon of oppression and subjugation for former President Yahya Jammeh. [And it was used as] an instrument for orchestrating the fake narrative that sustained the former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule, by instilling fear into the hearts of The Gambian people through committing egregious human rights violations on Jammeh’s behest”. This included beatings, amongst other forms of torture.
But despite the strong testimonies from victims and some perpetrators who appeared during the Commission’s hearing, the TRRC faced significant challenges in holding some perpetrators accountable. The Commission’s report revealed that Ousman Sowe the former director of the NIA actively destroyed crucial evidence relating to the torturing that was happening in his institution. Therefore, in their recommendations, they recommended the government should “ban [him] from holding public office --- for a minimum period of 10 years.”
However, the recommendation was rejected by the government which argued that the allegation “happened in May 2017, [which was outside] The TRRC’s mandate covers the period from July 1994 to January 2017. The Government is therefore of the view that this recommendation goes beyond the scope of the TRRC’s mandate.”
Ousman Sowe appears untouchable as he was promoted to Minister of Lands and currently serves as the Director General of the State Intelligence Services (SIS).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr Emmanuel D. Joof highlighted that: “The Gambia has made significant strides in its journey towards democracy, good governance, and respect for human rights since the transition in 2017. Key among these achievements is the enactment of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2023.”
He said the law “is the first domestic legislation specifically criminalizing torture and providing robust mechanisms for its prevention and accountability.”
Passed in 2023 a statement from the Ministry of Justice highlights that the Act “provides the legal framework for the prohibition, prevention and punishment of any form of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in The Gambia and provides penalties aimed at ensuring accountability for acts of torture”.