By Hatab Nyang
In a press release to the general public, The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has regrettably announced the passing of Brigadier General Bora Colley on 9 March 2025.
Brig. Gen. Colley, who voluntarily returned to The Gambia on 9 August 2024 after eight years of self-imposed exile, cited deterioration in his health condition.
Following his return, Brig. Gen. Colley was taken into state custody due to the circumstances surrounding his departure and his implication in the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) report, which recommended for his prosecution for the alleged killing and torture of victims in various locations within The Gambia.
While in custody, his medical condition was assessed and found to require continuous medical monitoring provided by the state.
Despite these efforts, he succumbed to his medical condition on 9 March 2025.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice has applied to His Lordship, the Hon. Chief Justice for an inquest to be conducted under the Coroner’s Act, in respect of the deceased who died while under the custody of GAF. The purpose of the inquest is to ascertain the actual cause of death of the deceased.
Meanwhile, GAF in the press release extended sincere condolences to his bereaved family, and continued that the Government of The Gambia remains committed to fully investigate and prosecute cases that arose from the recommendations of the TRRC, as contained in its White Paper on the TRRC Report.
In August 2024, Bora Colley, a former strongman under ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh, voluntarily surrendered to authorities after spending several years in exile.
A panel was constituted to investigate the serious allegations against him. GAF officials later confirmed that Colley was in custody and cooperating with investigators.
Colley had been in exile since 2017, when he fled to Equatorial Guinea along with Jammeh, evading justice for his alleged role in the atrocities perpetrated by notorious Junglers—an infamous paramilitary group. The Junglers were linked to numerous human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual abuse, and other crimes that occurred during Jammeh’s 22-year military dictatorship.
Following the coming of President Adama Barrow in 2017, a Banjul court declared Colley, along with other former military officials such as Tumbul Tamba, Col. Kawsu Camara, Major Sanna Manjang, and Sang Correa (who is set to be tried in the United States), as wanted individuals. An international arrest warrant was issued for them by a presiding magistrate.
However, the handling of Colley’s case has raised concerns among commentators. The prolonged detention of Colley without charges has been seen by some as a violation of his constitutional rights. Critics are questioning how the current administration is handling high-profile detainees, which they argue may be hindering the progress of transitional justice efforts in the country.
