Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mr. Gaye TheVoice
Published on 2024-03-07 08:41:25
Mariam Sankanu reported on the trial of Gambia’s former interior minister, Ousman Sonko, for crimes against humanity committed during the rule of former president Yahya Jammeh. Philippe Currat, Sonko’s lawyer, has requested the Federal Court of Bellinzona to acquit Sonko and award him $1 million in compensation for wrongful detention.
Yahya Jammeh was known for ruling Gambia with a heavy hand, facing accusations of human rights violations, including murder and torture. Sonko was a former military member who rose through the ranks to become the head of the State Guards, a unit responsible for protecting the Gambian presidency. He later served as the head of the Gambia police and as the interior minister overseeing the country’s internal security from 2006 to 2016.
In 2016, Sonko fell out with Jammeh and sought refuge in Switzerland. He was arrested in Bern in January 2017 following a criminal complaint filed against him by Trial International. Sonko was indicted by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General in April 2023.
Currat argued that none of the ministers who served under Jammeh’s presidency had been prosecuted anywhere, emphasizing the responsibility of groups like the Junglers and the NIA, who answered solely to the president. Sonko faces charges of murder, rape, false imprisonment, and torture brought against him by Swiss authorities and Gambian plaintiffs.
The trial began on January 8, 2024, with prosecutors seeking a life sentence for Sonko based on his alleged involvement in various crimes against humanity. The prosecution referenced the Bai Lowe verdict in Germany to support their request for a life sentence. Most of the crimes Sonko is accused of involved collaboration with others, except for the murder of Almamo Manneh and the alleged rape of Binta Jamba.
Witnesses at the trial accused Sonko of participating in investigations that authorized torture and rape. Sonko denied any wrongdoing, prompting prosecutors to describe him as having two faces – one portraying innocence and the other suggesting involvement in systematic human rights violations.
During the trial, proceedings were conducted in German, making it difficult for Gambian journalists and Sonko’s lawyer to follow. Translation tools were relied upon to understand the hearings, with Sonko’s lawyer expressing concern about his client’s ability to follow due to the language barrier.
The trial of Ousman Sonko in Switzerland sheds light on the alleged atrocities committed during Jammeh’s rule in Gambia, emphasizing the importance of accountability for crimes against humanity. It remains to be seen how the Federal Court of Bellinzona will decide on Sonko’s fate and whether he will be acquitted or sentenced for the crimes he is accused of.
Read the original article on The Voice Gambia
