On behalf of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and myself, I join the Gambia Government to express the support of the UDP for the candidature of Mr. Abubacarr Marie Tambadou as Judge of the International Court of Justice.
Mr. Tambadou is eminently qualified for the position of judgeship of the International Court of Justice, having served at a critical juncture in the history of our nation as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia with distinction.
In his capacity as Attorney General, Mr. Tambadou was my Cabinet colleague while I served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad and later as Vice President of The Gambia. In both capacities, I had the opportunity to work closely with Mr. Tambadou, and I can attest to his ability as a lawyer, his deep commitment to the rule of law, and his passion for justice.
As The Gambia’s second longest-serving legal practitioner, I have seen Mr. Tambadou in the early years of his career at the Gambian Bar, representing indigent persons in human rights cases pro bono. It was the same passion for justice that first propelled Mr. Tambadou to work for the United Nations Special Tribunal for Rwanda.
Thereafter, as Attorney General of The Gambia, Mr. Tambadou, with the complete support of the Gambia Government, brought the plight of the Rohingya people to the attention of the international community. For all these reasons, I have great confidence that Mr. Tambadou has the experience, profile, and energy to advance the work of the International Court of Justice as a Judge.
Finally, I have the honour to commend the Gambia Government for putting forward the candidacy of a Gambian legal luminary with a solid track record for justice in Africa and the world at large and offer my support unreservedly.
A.N.M. Ousainu Darboe
Secretary General and Party Leader
