By Mustapha Darboe
President Adama Barrow has told The Standard yesterday that his government will not hesitate to seek the extradition of Yahya Jammeh if a successful case is built against him.
“Every atrocity and human rights abuse in the past 22 years will be investigated and people who are responsible will be prosecuted. We will not compromise that without any doubt,” Barrow said in an interview with The Standard Wednesday.
“We will not hesitate to do that (seek Jammeh’s extradition) but we will have to wait for the due process,” he said.
“We have to get the facts first. That is why getting those people (ex-soldiers of Jammeh whose extradition is being sought) back in this country will help in that process.
“That is why we are in contact with neighboring countries so that we can get those people and have firsthand information. Getting those people (former soldiers) will be very important for us,” the president said.
Security
“These (Jammeh allies in the army) are in the minority and after 22 years of dictatorship we expect such things, pockets of resistance but we are working very much to make sure the security situation is controlled. I am absolutely sure of the loyalty of the Gambia Armed Forces,” he said.
Barrow said they have gone far in protecting the rights of Gambians and they have released all political prisoners and reinstated all people who were wrongfully sacked from the public service.
The President said his administration is under the pressure of a population that is expecting so much within a short period despite several challenges.
“We had done initial restructuring and with the help from outside in the form of budget support, we are now stabilizing the economy,” Barrow said.
