Yahya Jammeh, then President of Gambia, arrives for the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of States and Governments, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 12, 2013. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

BANJUL, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The head of the African Union delegation to Gambia said the continental body is ready to help the country prepare the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look into atrocities committed in the past two decades, local media reported on Thursday.

Pierre Buyoya made the comment after his delegation held a closed-door meeting with the country's vice president Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang.

"We came to the Gambia to see which way the African Union can assist, concretely, in confronting some of the challenges Gambia is facing," said Buyoya.

He said the visit focuses on how to help Gambia on security reforms, economic reforms and also the building of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

"The African Union is determined to accompany Gambia to prepare this process (establishing the commission). We are ready to assist and there is a lot of experience in Africa about TRC," Buyoya said.

The Gambian government has accused the former president Yahya Jammeh of serious human rights atrocities leading to the killing of many Gambians, poor professionalism in the army as well as embezzling state resources, which are issues the TRC will look into.