By D. A. Jawo
It is ten years today since still unknown assassins shot and killed Deyda Hydara while he was driving home from work, at the very edge of the perimeter fence of the paramilitary barracks along the busy Serekunda-Banjul highway. However, despite numerous calls, both locally and internationally for a thorough investigation into the killing, there is as yet no indication that the Gambian authorities have any interest in launching a serious investigation of the matter with a view to apprehending those responsible for this heinous crime.
Rather than treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves, the authorities continue to show almost total indifference to it as if they do not care.
It can be recalled that the only time the authorities undertook any semblance of investigating the case was in 2005 when the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) released their socalled ‘Confidential Report’ which not only miserably failed to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserved, but instead subjected Deyda’s personality to all sorts of disparaging comments, even to the extent of blaming his death to his wayward behavior.
While there is as yet no iota of evidence linking the Yahya Jammeh administration or anyone else with Deyda’s murder, but as a bona fide Gambian citizen, the least anyone expected from the authorities was to show commitment in thoroughly investigating the case with a view to bringing the culprits to justice. Therefore, the failure of the government to do so would tantamount to shirking their responsibilities.
Despite several calls by the Gambia Press Union and other rights groups for the authorities to seek assistance from other more competent investigators to assist the police unravel the case, but the government has always insisted that the security forces have the capability to investigate the case on their own. However, ten years later, there is still no indication that they have even embarked on any serious investigation.
There is no doubt that if the authorities had agreed to such a proposal, then by now the truth would have been known as to who killed Deyda and why. Therefore, even the failure to make the autopsy report available to the Hydara family despite repeated requests or to even carry out a forensic analysis of the bullets recovered from Deyda’s body, which are some of the most basic things anyone would expect from any responsible authority, can easily be interpreted to mean an apparent attempt of a cover up.
We can recall that in June, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared the Gambia guilty of having violated provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as of the Revised Treaty of ECOWAS to which agreements it is a party.
The Court further ruled that the Gambian government has failed to meet its obligations in not conducting a thorough investigation of Deyda’s. In addition, the Court found the government guilty of having contributed to his death in tolerating and causing a climate of impunity in the country.
Many people demanded enforcement of the Court judgment as well as establishment of a United Nations mission of enquiry. While the Gambian authorities eventually agreed to a UN mission to investigate the case, but so far, UN investigators have not come and considering what the recent UN rapporteurs on torture encountered during their recent visit, it is very unlikely that any UN mission would ever be given a free hand to investigate the case.
The failure by the authorities to investigate the case with the seriousness that it deserves has not only dented the Gambia’s image as a respecter of the rule of law and provider of justice for its citizens, but it has also strengthened any speculations that the government or its agents may have been accomplices to the killing and are bent on a cover-up. Therefore, in view of the obvious reluctance on the part of the Gambian authorities to show any commitment to investigate this heinous crime, it is incumbent up on regional bodies like ECOWAS and the African Union, or even the United Nations and the rest of the international community to assume their responsibilities and ensure that justice is done for Deyda’s family and all those who care for justice and fair play.
ENDS