By Haddy Touray
The United States has launched a 24-month, 930,000-US-dollar project aimed at strengthening forensic investigation and criminal justice capacity in The Gambia.
The Forensic Investigation Enhancement Project was launched Tuesday, Sept. 8, by the U.S. Embassy in Banjul and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
The project will be implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and civil society organisations.
Speaking at the launch, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Robert Anderson reaffirmed Washington’s support for The Gambia’s efforts to pursue justice and accountability for victims and their families.
“The United States is proud to support The Gambia as it strengthens its capacity to pursue justice, establish the facts, and provide answers to families who have waited so long,” he said.
The initiative responds to findings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) concerning enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings committed between 1994 and 2017.
It will support the government’s Special Accountability Mechanism, including the Special Prosecutor’s Office, the Special Criminal Division of the High Court and the planned ECOWAS-backed Special Tribunal.
The project seeks to address gaps in the country’s forensic and justice sectors while contributing to the development of a modern and sustainable criminal justice system.
Under the programme, Gambian law enforcement officers and forensic specialists will receive training aimed at building local expertise and enabling trained personnel to transfer their knowledge to others.
The United States will also support the upgrading of forensic facilities and equipment, including laboratories for DNA analysis, toxicology and digital forensics.
The project will further assist the Ministry of Justice in establishing a Gambian team of forensic experts to work with a regional forensic specialist in identifying human remains and determining causes of death.
Standardised operating procedures, protocols and training manuals will also be developed to guide forensic investigations, evidence handling and crime-scene management.
The initiative is expected to strengthen coordination among the Gambia Police Force, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Special Prosecutor’s Office and civil society organisations involved in accountability and victims’ rights.
Among the civil society partners are the African Network against Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances (ANEKED) and The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations.
The U.S. Embassy said the project builds on the longstanding partnership between the United States and The Gambia and reflects their shared interest in strengthening security, stability and accountable justice institutions.
Through INL, the United States has supported partner countries in strengthening their capacity to investigate crime, uphold human rights and improve criminal justice systems.
The project is expected to contribute to the development of sustainable forensic capabilities that can support investigations and the administration of justice in The Gambia over the long term.