The Government of The Gambia has given fifty million dalasi (D50m) to the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) as the first installment of the reparations to be given to victims of human rights violations under the previous regime.
One important aspect of the transitional justice embarked on by the Gambia Government when it came into office is to give reparations to victims of rights violations committed during the regime of Yahya Jammeh.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Gambians to have suffered some form of violation or the other.
The new government recognized that in order to move on, there needs to be reconciliation and in some cases, justice or reparations.
The violations have polarized the country to an extent that if something is not done to unite the people, progress will be very slow if it comes at all.
Granted, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has not yet completed its work but a lot has been achieved in terms of having a record of the violations that took place in the country during the Jammeh regime.
It has been established that many Gambians lost a lot, including livelihoods, due to some of the violations that were meted out against them.
This is an important move on the part of the government considering that some of the victims of violations in the country are still traumatized and some of them need medical assistance.
Perhaps it will not be wise to wait until everything is complete before they begin to give out reparations particularly those who need medical attention.
It is hoped that the Government will implement any and all recommendations that may come from the Truth Commission as that is what will accelerate reconciliation in the country.
