The Sulayman Nyang-Lamin Sanneh Institute for Research and Justice was launched on Saturday, 17th December2022 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre at Bijilo.
The Institute, according to the Chairperson, Ms Jainaba Nyang Njie, is a platform for research and dialogue, needed to carry out research and to engage stakeholders in a constructive dialogue to promote, peace building, justice, and social stability in support of The Gambia’s Transitional Justice Programme.
The platform is named after two distinguished and globally renowned scholars of Gambian origin, Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang, formerly of Howard University; and Dr. Lamin Sanneh, formerly of Yale University. The Institute is independent, and not-for-profit.
The Executive Director of the Institute, Professor Abdoulie Saine, said The Gambia and other countries in the sub region face worrying signs of religious extremism, ethnic and political polarisation, which if not studied and addressed through constructive dialogue could fester into community-based conflict. He observed that there is a need to have a platform where groups and individuals can engage in dialogue before falling into conflict that might further destabilise our sub-region and possibly our country. He described Nyang and Sanneh as professional giants who mainly focus on interface dialogue
For Mr Jeggan Bahoum, in the next 10 years the Institution will focus on building a strong applied-research base to support government policy decisions; advocate or support reparations for victims; reconciliation, institutional reforms of the TRRC Recommendations; support diaspora deportees resettlement, diaspora representation, investments: Raising funds to support Institute’s programmes and activities; as well as mentoring and career service counselling for young professionals and students
Other speakers included Mr Baaba Sillah, Mr Ebrima Manneh and Mr Sainey Faye.
