Gambia Launches Special Criminal Division as Transitional Justice Enters New Phase
Chief Justice Hassan B Jallow © Askanwi
By Fatoumata Jaiteh
In a landmark development for The Gambia’s justice system, the judiciary has inaugurated the Special Criminal Division of the High Court at Mile 7 in Bakau, a move widely hailed as a pivotal step in advancing the nation’s long running transitional justice process.
The ceremony, held on 26th January 2026, formed the centerpiece of the official opening of the 2026 Legal Year, drawing legal practitioners, government officials, diplomats and civil society figures.
The Special Criminal Division is intended to strengthen domestic capacity to handle complex criminal cases, especially those arising from recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), the body that documented years of systematic abuses spanning the 1994–2017.
The TRRC’s final report, accepted by government in 2022, called for accountability on serious violations that included killings, torture, enforced disappearances and sexual violence under the former government.
Presiding over the inauguration, Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow described the occasion as an historic milestone for The Gambia’s judiciary and its broader pursuit of accountability. He underscored that the refurbished facility is transformed from what was once a dilapidated judicial training institute now provides dedicated courtrooms, chambers and protected spaces for victims and witnesses.
“Crime undermines human rights and public confidence,” Chief Justice Jallow said, stressing that improved mechanisms for dealing with serious and complex cases are essential if justice is to be delivered fairly and timely. He thanked the United Kingdom for its support in building the infrastructure and enhancing judicial capacity, noting that collaboration with development partners had been critical.
The Chief Justice’s remarks tied directly into the transitional justice agenda, part of which aims to translate the TRRC’s truth telling legacy into meaningful accountability. Justice Jallow emphasized the judiciary’s role in reinforcing the rule of law and preventing recurrence of past abuses by ensuring serious crimes are prosecuted on Gambian soil.
Speaking at the ceremony, The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) President Neneh M.C. Cham framed the Special Criminal Division as a cornerstone of the transitional justice process, placing the judiciary at the heart of efforts to respond to the TRRC’s recommendations.
Ms Cham noted that the Division will enhance efficiency in prosecuting TRRC related cases and is intended to work with broader accountability structures, including the potential future special tribunal or internationalized court designed to try the most serious international crimes such as torture and enforced disappearances that the domestic legal code alone cannot fully address.
She thanked stakeholders for their roles in actualizing the project, underlining that the Division strengthens judicial independence while promote confidence in legal outcomes.
The launch of the Special Criminal Division comes at a time of renewed focus on justice sector reforms and accountability for past abuses. Since the TRRC’s final report in 2021, the government has accepted the majority of its recommendations and has pursued domestic prosecutions alongside preparatory steps toward establishing a Special Tribunal under the Special Accountability mechanism.
By way of establishing the Special Criminal Division, The Gambia not only strengthens its judicial architecture but also sends a clear message that no one is above the law and that the suffering of victims during past decades of authoritarian rule will not be forgotten.
