A statement released by the Gambia Bar Association in support of Mr Ba Tambadou, former Gambian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, being nominated as a judge of the International Court of Justice, describing it as a “an immense pride” for the Bar in The Gambia.

“It is with immense pride that the Gambia Bar Association (GBA) declares its support for and endorsement of the candidature of Mr Abubacarr Marie Tambadou for election as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague, Netherlands,” the statement said.

“Mr Tambadou’s deep understanding of both national and international law coupled with his wealth of experience in the practice of law, not only contributed to the advancement of the legal profession but also strengthened the protection of human rights and the principles of justice both in the Gambia and abroad,” it stated.

Read below the full statement:

STATEMENT OF THE GAMBIA BAR ASSOCIATION ON THE CANDIDATURE OF MR ABUBACARR MARIE TAMBADOU FOR ELECTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)

It is with immense pride that the Gambia Bar Association (GBA) declares its support for and endorsement of the candidature of Mr Abubacarr Marie Tambadou for election as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague, Netherlands.

Mr Tambadou is a valued senior member of the GBA who, after his enrolment as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of The Gambia in 1999, began his legal career as State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice. He rose through the ranks before proceeding to take up position as prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha Tanzania in 2003 for almost 2 decades. There, he would achieve great success and prominence as prosecutor of international crimes.

In 2017, Mr Tambadou returned to the Gambia to take up appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Justice at the beginning of a critical period in the Gambia’s transition back to democratic rule. As the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in our nascent democracy, he was instrumental in laying the foundation for the legal framework for the transitional Justice process that birthed the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission, the Janneh Anti-Corruption Commission and the Constitutional Review Commission. As Attorney General, he also instituted and led the legal team in the landmark case of The Gambia V Myanmar for the latter’s treatment of the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice in November 2019, a case which established new international law precedents and jurisprudence. Mr Tambadou’s deep understanding of both national and international law coupled with his wealth of experience in the practice of law, not only contributed to the advancement of the legal profession but also strengthened the protection of human rights and the principles of justice both in the Gambia and abroad.

He is currently the Registrar of the Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), at the level of Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations.

Mr Tambadou’s consistent demonstration of unyielding commitment to the rule of law, work ethic, profound legal acumen, exceptional leadership qualities and passion for justice, makes him an outstanding candidate for election as a judge of the International Court of Justice, one who we believe, will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success and credibility of the Court. The Gambia Bar Association wishes him all the very best.

Dated the 5th of March 2025

Signed:

Neneh M.C Cham

President