EU Statement – United Nations Peacebuilding Commission: The Gambia

Thank the PBC Chair, Mr Osama Abdelkhalek, PR of Egypt, for convening the PBC meeting on The Gambia with a focus on the work of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.

We welcome this opportunity to discuss the transitional justice process in The Gambia, a process which the EU has accompanied and supported from the beginning. Today I want to say a few words on how the EU has supported The Gambia in this process, what we are planning in the future and what we think is important in the transitional justice process going forward. Finally, I also have a few questions to the distinguished panel.

Since The Gambia voted for democratic change in December 2016, the EU and its Member States have been deeply involved  – both politically and financially – in the country's democratic transition. The EU organised an international conference for The Gambia in Brussels on 22 May 2018 in the presence of President Barrow to mobilise political and financial support for the country resulting in a total pledge of 1.45 bn EUR.

The EU’s support to the Gambia since then has been substantial (365 MEUR 2017-2020 overall) and provided in the form of budget support with a focus on (1) governance/rule of law/security; (2) inclusive sustainable growth and job creation; (3) renewable energy/climate change/infrastructure. This has all been with a view to maintain macro-economic stability and invest in a sustainable future for The Gambia.

The EU has also supported the security sector, including the ECOMIG presence and building up national security structures and institutions.

The EU’s budget support has contributed to judiciary reform, which is today sustained by exclusively Gambian and fully trained judges, magistrates and legal personnel. Budget support coupled with advocacy efforts resulted in the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Gambians today are free to express their views on political and societal matters and a multitude of vibrant media outlets has sprung into being. However, more work is needed to erase remnants of the former regime from the penal code, notably the draconic and restrictive laws in the areas of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

EU support has also been instrumental in setting up the three democratic reform and transitional justice mechanisms: the Janneh Commission, the Constitutional Review Commission and the TRRC.      

The Gambia has made tremendous progress and the TRRC has so far in many ways been ground breaking. Now is a critical time for the Gambia when the TRRC has to be finalized and country is heading for historic presidential elections.

The EU would like to emphasise the importance of finalising the TRRC process in an appropriate manner for continued stability and for reconciliation in the country. The TRRC has brought to light the extent to which the Gambians have suffered human rights abuses under the previous regime. For the country to progress towards durable peace, the process must be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The EU therefore calls for the international community to rally around the process and to consider all the options for providing Gambians access to justice, reparations and memorialisation, alongside a decisive and full reform of the governance architecture, including civil and security services.

The upcoming Presidential elections on 4 December will be historic. It is therefore a privilege for the European Union to have been invited by to send a long-term EU Election Observation Mission to The Gambia, to observe the Presidential elections for the first time. The EU would not consider being present if minimum conditions for genuine elections in terms of credibility and transparency were not met. HRVP Josep Borrell announced the deployment of an EU Election Observation Mission on 7 October. He has appointed Mr Norbert Neuser, Member of the European Parliament, as Chief Observer. The presence of an EU EOM will inform EU and Member States on the direction in which the country is heading. It is important for the EU to be present and support Gambians who continue to push for democracy and their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Finally, I have a couple of questions on the plans going forward (see suggestions below)

In closing, I want to reassure you that the EU will remain committed to supporting The Gambia in its transition and peacebuilding process.

Thank you

Questions asked:

• Could the government indicate a timeline for the submission of the TRRC final report and recommendations to the Executive, and after that, to the National Assembly, the UN SG and the general public?

• Can the government indicate how the Judiciary Strategic Roadmap and the donor conference organised on 4-5 November  relates to the submission of the (the TRRC final report?