Post-TRRC Unit Working with 59 Institutions to Implement Justice Reforms, Says Ida Persson

Written by: Michaella Faith Wright

Ida Persson, Special Adviser on Transitional Justice and Head of the Post-TRRC Unit at the Ministry of Justice, has said the government is working with dozens of institutions to implement recommendations from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) as The Gambia advances its transitional justice process.

In an exclusive interview with investigative journalist Mustapha K. Darboe, Persson outlined both the progress made and the challenges faced in implementing the TRRC recommendations.

She explained that her role involves advising the Justice Minister on strategic matters while also coordinating the government’s post-TRRC implementation efforts. “Sometimes I serve as a personal adviser to the Honourable Minister of Justice to discuss bigger issues and strategies. But there is also an ecosystem in place where civil society plays an important role in shaping opinions,” she said.

Persson noted that the Post-TRRC Unit is working with 59 institutions across The Gambia tasked with implementing recommendations in the TRRC report. “We have a small team that coordinates the implementation plan. We ensure that the entities responsible for implementation have the required financial and technical resources, and we mobilise grants and partnerships to keep the process moving forward,” she stated.

According to her, the implementation process focuses on key pillars, including reparations, justice and accountability, institutional reforms, legislative reforms, and social cohesion. “There are about 39 activities involving more than 22 pieces of legislation recommended in the TRRC report,” she explained.

Persson also revealed that the proposed Special Prosecutor’s Office would handle prosecutions for international crimes linked to the former regime. “Running an international tribunal could cost about $60 million, but domestic prosecutions may cost around $2.5 million, which allows justice to move forward more realistically,” she said.