As The Gambia enters a critical phase in its transitional justice journey, Hon. Dawda A. Jallow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, is helping steer the country from a period of truth-seeking and initial reparations towards one focused on delivering tangible, longer-term results for victims, communities, and future generations. Speaking before the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission in New York, the Minister reflected on the progress achieved, the challenges that remain, and the partnerships helping to advance accountability, reconciliation, and sustainable peace in The Gambia.

The Gambia’s transition has become one of the most significant peacebuilding and governance efforts on the African continent. Nearly a decade after embarking on democratic reforms, the country has strengthened institutions, enacted landmark legislation, and established mechanisms designed to provide redress to victims, address past human rights violations while preventing their recurrence.

At the centre of this process is a commitment to ensuring that transitional justice delivers meaningful outcomes for citizens. Minister Jallow emphasized that the challenge today is not defining commitments but ensuring that victims, citizens, and communities can see and feel the results of those commitments.

Since the establishment of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) in 2017, The Gambia has pursued a comprehensive approach to truth-seeking, accountability, reparations, reconciliation, and institutional reform. Through nationally televised hearings, victims, survivors, and witnesses shared their experiences, helping the nation confront difficult chapters of its history and laying the foundation for healing and reform.

The Government subsequently accepted 263 of the TRRC’s 265 recommendations and adopted an implementation plan spanning 304 activities across 59 national institutions. Under Minister Jallow’s leadership, major milestones have followed, including the establishment of the Victims Reparations Commission and Fund, the creation of the Special Accountability Mechanism, the Special Prosecutor’s Office, and the ECOWAS-backed Special Tribunal for The Gambia.

Throughout this journey, UNDP has remained a trusted partner to the Government of The Gambia. Through the Spotlight Initiative and broader governance and peacebuilding programming, UNDP has supported efforts to strengthen participation, accountability, access to justice, reconciliation, and social cohesion. Working alongside government institutions, civil society organizations, women and youth networks, victims’ groups and development partners, UNDP has helped ensure that transitional justice remains people-centred and inclusive.

UNDP’s support has extended across multiple pillars of the transitional justice process, including support to implementation of the TRRC recommendations, policy dialogue, institutional strengthening, community reconciliation, memorialization efforts and initiatives that promote citizen engagement and trust in public institutions.

A significant milestone was reached when The Gambia became the first country selected for the Peacebuilding Impact Spotlight exercise. The initiative brought together government institutions, civil society, victims, women and youth leaders and development partners to assess progress, identify lessons learned and help shape priorities for the next phase of implementation.

The findings reinforced the importance of combining institutional reforms with community engagement, dialogue, and citizen participation. They also highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum to ensure that reforms translate into visible improvements in the lives of victims and communities.

A defining feature of The Gambia’s transitional justice process has been its focus on victims and survivors. The Government has established mechanisms to administer reparations and has continued to allocate resources to support victims, reflecting a commitment to restoring dignity and recognizing the experiences of those affected by past violations.

Alongside formal accountability mechanisms, community-level reconciliation initiatives continue to foster dialogue, trust, and social cohesion. Women, young people, traditional leaders, religious leaders, civil society organizations and victims’ associations have all played critical roles in advancing these efforts.

Looking ahead, the Government is developing a National Strategy for Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding to consolidate gains and accelerate implementation. Priority areas include operationalizing the Special Prosecutor’s Office and Special Tribunal, advancing reparations, strengthening reconciliation efforts, supporting security sector reforms, and finalizing outstanding legislative reforms.

While challenges remain, including significant financing needs, Minister Jallow expressed confidence in The Gambia’s continued progress and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering on its promises to victims and citizens. “This is not the time to leave us hanging because we are at the most difficult period- technically, politically and financially”. 

The Gambia’s experience demonstrates the power of national ownership, political commitment, and strong partnerships in advancing peacebuilding and democratic governance. Through the Spotlight Initiative and its broader governance portfolio, UNDP remains committed to accompanying The Gambia as it advances accountability, reconciliation, and sustainable peace, helping ensure that the lessons of the past become the foundation for a more just, inclusive, and democratic future for all.