Banjul, 28 July 2025 — As part of ongoing engagements following the inauguration of its new Governing Council and Advisory Committee Members, the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) paid a courtesy visit to the Hon. Chief Justice of The Gambia, Hassan B. Jallow.
The delegation, led by Executive Director Mrs. Hannah Forster, was warmly received by the Chief Justice at his office in Banjul. Mrs. Forster opened the meeting by introducing the team and expressing her delight at the opportunity to engage with the judiciary’s highest office. She also shared updates on the Centre’s current activities, particularly its upcoming training for human rights defenders.
Hon. Justice Solomy Bossa, Chairperson of the Governing Council, extended heartfelt thanks to the Chief Justice, recognizing his foundational role in the establishment of ACDHRS and his leadership as the Centre’s first Chair. She noted that the new Council reflects the diversity of the African continent and brings extensive expertise to guide the Centre forward. She also expressed confidence in continued collaboration with the Chief Justice, highlighting the historical ties between the judiciary and the Centre.
Several members of the delegation echoed similar sentiments. Mr. Femi Falana and Prof. Mabassa Fall both acknowledged the Chief Justice’s key role in strengthening The Gambia’s judiciary and his past engagements with the Centre. Prof. Fall recalled their most recent discussion on the Centre’s progress and reaffirmed his appreciation.
Mrs. Teneng Mba Jaiteh described the meeting as a privilege, noting that the team was fortunate to connect with one of the Centre’s founding figures. She reiterated that the group would continue to seek his guidance and support in the Centre’s ongoing work.
Mr. Niass also thanked the Chief Justice for his long-standing support and unwavering availability, while Mr. Abdelbagi Jibril reaffirmed his commitment to human rights advocacy and praised the Gambia’s recent contributions to peace efforts in Sudan.
In response, the Chief Justice expressed his appreciation for the visit and the familiar faces among the delegation. He reflected on the Centre’s evolution and impact. “The Centre has truly grown,” he noted, commending the team for sustaining its mission while reaffirming his continued support for the Centre.
The meeting ended with renewed optimism for future collaboration and continued institutional growth rooted in justice and African solidarity.
The delegation includes:
1. 𝐻𝑜𝑛 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑦 𝐵𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑎, 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝘰𝑟 𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝐴𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎
2. 𝑀𝑟. 𝑀𝑜ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑀𝑎𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑎 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑙, 𝑉𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝘰𝑟 𝑊𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝐴𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎, 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒
3. 𝑀𝑟. 𝐹𝑒𝑚𝑖 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑎, 𝐺𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑊𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝐴𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎, 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒
4. 𝑀𝑟𝑠 𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑔 𝐽𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑒ℎ, 𝐺𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑦, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑎
5. 𝑀𝑟. 𝑆𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑘ℎ 𝑁𝑖𝑎𝑠𝑠, 𝐴𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑊𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝐴𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒
6. 𝑀𝑟. 𝐴𝑏𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑖 𝐽𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑙, 𝐴𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙
7. 𝘔𝑟𝘴 𝘏𝑎𝘯𝑛𝘢ℎ 𝐹𝘰𝑟𝘴𝑡𝘦𝑟, 𝘌𝑥𝘦𝑐𝘶𝑡𝘪𝑣𝘦 𝘋𝑖𝘳𝑒𝘤𝑡𝘰𝑟 𝑜𝘧 𝘈𝐶𝘋𝐻𝘙𝑆
8. 𝑀𝑠 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛 𝐴𝑛𝑛, 𝐴𝐶𝐷𝐻𝑅𝑆 𝐴𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑟
9. 𝑀𝑟𝑠. 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛 𝐺𝑖𝑏𝑏𝑠, 𝐴𝐶𝐷𝐻𝑅𝑆 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑟
10. 𝑀𝑟. 𝑃𝑎 𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑢 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑚, 𝐴𝐶𝐷𝐻𝑅𝑆 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑟
