Essa Faal, a Gambian lawyer and politician, has resigned from his position at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to concentrate on his political ambitions in anticipation of the 2026 presidential election.
Mr. Faal, who formerly held the position of lead counsel for The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), announced that he would be stepping back from international legal work to focus entirely on domestic political issues.
This week, he returned to The Gambia and confirmed his resignation in an interview at Banjul International Airport. He expressed his unwavering commitment to tackling the challenges confronting Gambians, highlighting the increasing cost of living and the economic difficulties experienced during the Barrow administration.
I was assigned to manage the Rohingya case, and with divine assistance, we have submitted a warrant of arrest for the president of Myanmar. I will soon file another warrant for senior members of the Myanmar military. However, I have stepped down from the ICC to dedicate my full attention to Gambian politics, he stated.
I had no plans to remain in that position for an extended period. I have completed the task given to me, and we have attained success. Even though I have resigned, there are still tasks I need to finish with them. In the coming four to five months, I will be undertaking some tasks for them, but my presence in The Hague won’t be necessary. I have come back for good. I will dedicate myself entirely to politics because the circumstances in the country are so severe that everyone is experiencing the effects,? he added.
