Banjul, Gambia – The freeze of USAID funding under the Trump administration has raised significant concerns in The Gambia, particularly in relation to the country’s ongoing transitional justice efforts. The halt in funding has created uncertainty about the implementation of key recommendations put forth by the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which was established to address the country’s past human rights violations.
The TRRC, a pivotal institution in Gambia’s reconciliation process, has relied extensively on international financial support to execute its mandate, which includes providing reparations to victims, facilitating community-based reconciliation efforts, and ensuring accountability for crimes committed during former President Yahya Jammeh’s regime. However, with USAID funding now suspended, there are growing fears that the commission’s work could be severely hampered.
The Special Adviser to the Ministry of Justice, in a recent statement, emphasized that the funding freeze could have far-reaching consequences on the government’s ability to implement the TRRC’s recommendations effectively. These recommendations include comprehensive measures for justice, reparations, and truth-telling, which are vital to the healing process for the many victims of human rights abuses under Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
The lack of financial resources could also undermine the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and impeding the progress made by the TRRC. The commission had been working to provide reparations for victims of forced disappearances, torture, and other atrocities, but the freeze on USAID support places these initiatives at risk.
Government officials and civil society groups have expressed concerns that the funding cut may not only delay the implementation of transitional justice measures but also weaken the trust of victims and the general public in the government’s ability to bring about meaningful change.
As the Gambian government seeks alternative funding sources to fill the gap left by the suspension of USAID aid, the future of the TRRC and the nation’s broader reconciliation process remains uncertain. The freeze has highlighted the fragility of transitional justice efforts that depend heavily on foreign aid, raising questions about how Gambia will navigate this critical phase in its post-dictatorship recovery.
