The captain of the Senegal national team, Kalilu Koulibaly, has stated that they will approach the Senegambia battle against the Gambia national team in Yamouskoro as if it were a final. He emphasized that his Teranga Lion teammates are prepared for the clash with the Scorpions tomorrow.
Speaking at the press conference ahead of the clash between the two neighboring countries, the captain of the reigning champions outlined his side’s readiness to begin the defense of their title with a victory against the Gambia. He informed reporters that Senegal would treat the game as a final.
“We are playing this game as a final. We are ready for the battle and ready to defeat our cousins [Gambia],” he told the press.
The Gambia and Senegal share not only borders but also many commonalities. This game holds a special significance for both countries compared to matches against other nations.
Senegal aims to start their journey to win the competition back-to-back, and Koulibaly expressed their desire to achieve this with a victory over the Scorpions tomorrow.
The Gambia has only defeated Senegal once in its history, back in 1962. The two sides have never met in the senior Africa Cup of Nations.
Yankuba Minteh, a highly-rated Gambian left-footed right-winger, has said the Scorpions are prepared to give their all in the first-ever Senegambian derby against their neighbors and the reigning African champions, Senegal, in the senior men’s Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
Despite the superiority of the Teranga Lions, Minteh said the team isn’t listening to comparisons and that they are ready to show their true intentions on the pitch.
“Football is eleven V [versus] eleven. [There] is only one thing that is between the teams, which is the ball, and you all fight for that one. I heard people saying outside that The Gambia is going to lose against Senegal 5-0, 4-0 — we are not listening to them.
“All we have to do is that we have to fight on the pitch, show them we can do it,” Minteh said speaking to the GFF media.
Considering the various things at stake in this game, Minteh, who is among the youngsters expected to light up the competition, vowed that the players will strive to make The Gambia proud on the pitch while acknowledging the tough nature of the game.
“We will try our best to make them [Gambians] happy because it is not easy. It is a big game also, but we [are] going to die for them and we [are] going to die for the whole nation. We are not only here for ourselves, but [for] the whole country. We will try our best to give all that we have,” Minteh stated.
The Scorpions will take on the Teranga Lions of Senegal tomorrow at 2 p.m. GMT.
It will be the first time the two neighboring nations face each other in the Africa Cup of Nations. The last time the two sides played was in a World Cup qualifier in 2008, which ended in a one-all draw.
Bellinzona, Switzerland–Demba Dem, the fourth plaintiff in the crimes against humanity trial of Gambia’s former interior minister, Ousman Sonko, testified on Friday and told the court that Sonko allegedly sat on an investigative panel that oversaw his interrogation and torture. The trial against Sonko began this week in the Swiss city of Bellinzona.
Dem was a Gambian lawmaker for ex-President Yahya Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party in 2006 when he was arrested by security officials over his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to overthrow Jammeh. (Dem has always maintained his innocence and denied being involved in the attempted coup.)
In the aftermath of the attempted coup, close to 70 Gambians—military officers and civilians, including Dem—were arrested and subjected to horrific torture at the complex of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), on the outskirts of Banjul.
“The suspects were all tortured at the NIA. Evidence was fabricated and used against them to convict them of treason,” Gambia’s Truth Commission found. Those tortured also included journalists Madi Ceesay and Musa Saidykhan, both of whom are expected to testify against Sonko in the coming days.
Dem is the third plaintiff before the Swiss court to testify on events related to the 2006 attempted coup. Sonko faces allegations that he participated in the panel that oversaw the interrogations and torture of detainees, charges he denied. If found guilty, Sonko could face up to 20 years in prison.
The court resumes hearings on Monday.
This was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
Privileges granted by our creator, such as health, wealth, and power, are a significant focus in this era of social media platforms.
Many individuals fail to comprehend that these are not rewards for select individuals but rather tests from Allah to humanity sometimes.
The belief that wealth is a result of hard work varies among individuals.
This topic opens up a discussion as both perspectives have valid justifications to offer.
Nevertheless, what is clear is that health, wealth, and power should not be considered as exclusive rewards but rather as blessings that don’t accompany us to the afterlife.
Despite people’s envy, admiration, and embrace of the fortunate and healthy, illness, accidents, and calamities don’t discriminate.
During the period from 20:00 to 20:30 in August 2023, I received a frightening phone call from my mother in our humble village.
Amidst the call, I could hear people yelling and screaming.
A feeling of shock overwhelmed me.
My mother informed me, “There has been a serious accident here, and your brother is involved.”
Completely unaware of what had occurred, I immediately contacted my eldest brother to share the devastating news.
At that time, I already had two brothers undertaking the perilous journey of the back way, which filled me with constant dread.
This fatal accident exacerbated my depression, yet I remained steadfast, understanding that I could do nothing but hold onto faith.
Phone calls flooded in from family members from all corners, and although at times I wanted to ignore them, the burden of responsibility prevented me.
The accident affected my brother and a person who resided in our home, someone who was affectionate and caring but tragically didn’t survive.
May his soul rest in peace.
That night felt like the longest of my entire life.
Despite not owning a car or having sufficient funds to hire one, I desperately wanted to travel to Bansang, where the injured individuals were taken.
Devastated and full of sadness, I sat on my bed contemplating my options.
Moments later, another call informed me that an ambulance carrying my brother was en route to Banjul for a referral.
The first night I spent in the hospital would forever remain etched in my memory.
Upon arriving at Ndemban Hospital to visit my dearly beloved brother, who had been involved in a severe motorcycle accident, I was stunned to find him lying silently amidst the grimy tiles, covered in scrapes and cuts.
I immediately knelt and inquired about his well-being.
As I glanced around, I observed other patients also lying on the unsanitary floor, their prospects for survival appearing bleak.
My heart raced, melting with emotion.
It made me realize that there’s more to life than the daily routine of work and waking up each day.
At the hospital, each passing hour brought another person with a severe illness or accident.
Turning my gaze in various directions, I witnessed dark clouds looming in the sky, patients filling the ground, and separated body parts stained with blood.
My experience at Ndemban Hospital was terrifying.
Spending three weeks there proved to be an eye-opening experience for me as a young individual.
If one is feeling excessively proud, arrogant, or pompous, it is necessary to regularly visit a hospital or cemetery for a mental evaluation.
Physically healthy individuals could be admitted with severe fractures and life-threatening injuries.
It was nights marked by restlessness, fear, anxiety, sadness, depression, nervousness, and immeasurable losses.
I witnessed once-healthy individuals lying on their beds with no hope.
While I was at the hospital, I learned new methods and was impressed by the camaraderie among patients as they supported one another.
There were moments of relief.
People ought to adopt humility, embrace love, and cherish humanity.
The individual whom you underestimate today could end up saving your life tomorrow.
In one way or another, we all depend on each other.
To my family members, I express my gratitude for always being there for me.
The year 2023 was undoubtedly a year of challenges for everyone, and I pray that Allah makes it easier for everyone in 2024.
The President of the Republic, Adama Barrow, has urged young people to strive for success within the available opportunities in the country, describing it as “Tekk fii.”
He made this statement during the grand opening of the JanJanbureh bicentenary commemoration. The President said the use of perilous journeys to Europe was unnecessary.
“The use of boarded boats to cross the rough waters of the Atlantic for a better life abroad is most unnecessary. Like the Western settlers two hundred years ago, let us stay in our homeland and exploit the numerous opportunities available to build better homes, uplift our lives, and support our families,” the President appealed.
Irregular migration of Africans to Europe has recently disturbed the international community, threatening global security, stability, and peace. This issue has become a hot topic in today’s world, representing a dangerous and frightening journey. The backway syndrome in Gambia is believed to be motivated or driven by a number of factors, mainly economic, political, and socio-cultural, leading to the loss of lives and resources.
Against this backdrop, the President highlighted that his government is aware of the roles Gambia’s heritage and culture can play in job creation and the economic well-being of the youth. Thus, his government will promote the heritage and artistic sector to create gainful employment for young people.
“Through support from UNESCO, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture has developed regulations for the National Endowment for Arts and Culture. This instrument will attract funding through grants for artistic and cultural projects. The island of JanJanbureh will also continue to receive the attention of the Gambia Tourism Board so that all the interesting heritage sites and cultural products will be fully upgraded and valorized to generate jobs through heritage and tourism, foster national unity, and project a positive image of the people,” Barrow outlined.
I avail myself of this unique opportunity and congratulate you on the award you received overseas for preserving peace and the amicable coexistence of all in the Gambian society, without exception. I fervently pray for the non-interruption of amity in our beloved Gambia.
President Barrow, I write to dramatize the appalling conditions of Banjul-Barra ferry services and the dangers the issue poses to society. The warning signs for an accident with terrible consequences are written on the wall in broad strokes and, if action is not taken in haste by your government, a cataclysmic disaster will occur. It’s superfluous to mention that in recent days, according to press reports, Gambian Scorpions boycotted scheduled practice performances over unpaid remunerations in preparation for the AFCON tournament in the Ivory Coast. The government intervened with supersonic speed, acquiesced to the demands of the footballers, and successfully ferried and landed them in Yamoussoukro within days.
Mr President, this was terrific, and virtuoso performance epitomized leadership at its best.
President Barrow, I prod you to use your good offices, the conscience and spirit exhibited on the odyssey of the Scorpions to Yamoussoukro, and be directed to the urgent calls at Banjul-Barra ferry services, for redress. TIME TO ACT IS NOW!
I’M PREPARED TO TAP INTO MY INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUPS PRO BONO FOR NATIONAL SERVICE.
Bellinzona, Switzerland—On Thursday, Fatou Ceesay, a rape victim and plaintiff, took the stand in the ongoing crimes against humanity trial against Gambia’s former interior minister Ousman Sonko in the Swiss city of Bellinzona.
Sonko was the police chief under ex-president Yahya Jammeh from 2005 to 2006. In the latter part of 2006, he was appointed minister of interior, a position he held from November 2006 to February 2012 and from May 2012 to September 2016.
The Swiss Attorney General’s office, along with 10 plaintiffs from Gambia, is accusing Sonko of torture, murder, false imprisonment, rape, and deprivation of liberty, allegedly perpetrated against Gambians during the 22-year rule of Gambia’s former dictator Jammeh.
*Ceesay, who requested not to use her real name, was accused of being involved in a foiled coup led by the army chief of defense staff Col. Ndure Cham. In the aftermath of the coup, several people—military officers and civilians—were rounded up, including Ceesay, who was a civilian.
A panel was established and composed of various heads of security institutions. Sonko allegedly sat on it, Ceesay testified. Several investigations, including one by the country’s Truth Commission, established that such panels are confession exercises accompanied by the beating of Junglers, a paramilitary hit squad operating on the orders of Jammeh.
“They took me to a room. They removed my glasses, put a plastic bag over my head, and started beating me in all directions. That went on for a long time. They do this until you can’t breathe,” said Ceesay. After the beating, she was allegedly raped by one of the Junglers.
“One of them came in and turned off the light,” she said. “The whole room was dark. I thought I was going to be beaten again. I saw a Jungler with a mask. He jumped on me, opened my legs, and started molesting me. He raped me,” said Ceesay.
Emotional scars of the incident
Ceesay had no means of identifying the person who raped her, and she is not accusing Sonko personally. According to Ceesay, Sonko, who at the time of her arrest was the police chief, formed part of the panel that supervised her torture and maltreatment. (Binta Jamba, the first plaintiff to take the stand against Sonko on Wednesday, is accusing Sonko personally of raping her.).
Ceesay, who broke down several times, told the court the rape left a lasting physical and emotional scar. “I could not bear to come close to a man. I had to end the relationship with a man I was about to marry,” Ceesay said. “Until now, I can’t sleep with the lights off. I am afraid of the dark,” she said.
Ceesay was the second plaintiff to testify in connection to the torture that occurred in the aftermath of the 2006 coup. The first to take the stand was Lt Col Bunja Darboe. “Jammeh’s government was a dictatorship. There were a lot of human rights violations. Jammeh had a lot of enablers. Ousman Sonko was one of them,” Darboe told the court on Thursday. The trial continues tomorrow with the testimony of Demba Dem, a torture victim.
Sonko has contested all allegations against him.
This was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
Victims and their lawyers outside the Swiss Federal Court trying Ousman Sonko
By Mustapha K. Darboe with New Narratives
BANJUL, Gambia – In the 22-year rule of Gambia’s former dictator Yahya Jammeh, protests were rare. The few who attempted them were brutally crushed by the military. In one of the earliest examples, at least 14 students were killed at a demonstration in April 2000.
So, sixteen years later in April 2016 when Ebrima Solo Sandeng, a political activist affiliated to the main opposition UDP party, bravely led a handful of people demanding electoral reforms to a roundabout on the outskirts of the capital, news spread quickly. Gambians waited nervously for the government’s response.
“Everyone knew there would be consequences,” said Isatou Ceesay, 40, one of the five daughters of Nogoi Njie, one of the protesters. “This was the time of Yahya Jammeh.”
The response came quickly. Police rounded the protestors up and detained them. For forty-eight hours there was no word on their fate. Finally, the UDP announced that Sandeng had been killed. In detention, Njie later told Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, she and the other protestors were severely beaten.
Jammeh was in Turkey at the time but his trusted security chiefs — Sulayman Badgie, commander of the state guards, Ousman Sonko, interior minister, and Yankuba Sonko, police chief, were in charge.
Njie could barely understand English but, she told the Truth Commission, the words she heard Sonko say in what was their first encounter were “take them to the place”. “The place” was allegedly Jammeh’s infamous confession extraction center that housed devices for torture including an electrocution machine referred to by torturers as the “talk true” machine. Whoever goes there, speaks “their truth”, according to many witnesses to the Commission.
Victims will finally see justice done this week in a court 5,000 kilometers away in Switzerland where Sonko is being tried for crimes against humanity. The Gambia has yet to hold most accused perpetrators from Jammeh’s regime to account. In the meantime, Swiss authorities are trying Sonko there where he sought asylum in 2016.
The trial is taking place under the legal principle of “universal jurisdiction” which holds that crimes committed against all of humanity know no boundaries and can be tried anywhere regardless of where they were committed. Sonko has denied the charges against him.
Nine victims will act as plaintiffs in the case brought by the Swiss Attorney General with evidence provided by the Truth Commission and Swiss justice activists TRIAL International. Njie was to be the tenth plaintiff, but she died in September at age 53, just four months before she was to testify against Sonko. Her family says she died because of the injuries inflicted on her at Sonko’s orders. Njie traveled to Turkey for treatment for heart problems and spent her final year confined to a wheelchair because of pain in her hip and knees. The trial has now taken on special importance for Njie’s family.
“We hope that our mother will get justice in Switzerland,” said her daughter Isatou. “She was beaten, kicked and maimed. She suffered until she died.”
The family of murdered protest leader Sandeng will testify. Sandeng’s son, 26-year-old Muhammed, is the board chair of the Victim Center, a rights-based advocacy organization established by victims of Jammeh to push for justice for crimes committed during his 22-year rule.
“The trial of Sonko is a step in the right direction,” said Muhammed. “This is setting us on a path to bridging all perpetrators to justice, especially those perpetrators who bear the greatest responsibility. It also goes to show that wherever one may be, you cannot run away from the long arm of justice. This is a strong indication that the world over, people are ready to embrace justice and accountability.”
It is not just Gambians hoping for justice in this case. Among the crimes attributed to Sonko is the 2005 killings of about 44 Ghanaians, 9 Nigerians, 2 Togolese, and nationals of Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal along with a subsequent effort to cover them up. West African governments have also demanded accountability in this case.
Witnesses told the TRRC that Sonko, under Jammeh’s orders, instructed officers to ferry the migrants, who were suspected of being mercenaries, to naval headquarters in Banjul. There they were allegedly violently beaten. Several officers said that it was clear the men and two women were migrants and not mercenaries. The bodies of eight migrants were found brutalized the next morning near “Ghana Town,” a settlement of Ghanaian descendants just outside Banjul. Former Junglers testified that another 40-45 were taken across the border to Senegal where they were executed.
The “Panel”
While protests were rare under Jammeh’s rule, news of attempted coups – real or imagined – were frequent. Each time alleged coup plotters were rounded up, in some cases along with family members. Evidence given to the Truth Commission revealed that post-coup interrogations were done by a panel on which sat various security chiefs. The panel allegedly gave orders to the torturers known as “the Junglers”, an alleged hit squad based at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and operating on the orders of Jammeh.
The Commission heard that Ousman Sonko was among the security chiefs. The panel, according to Bunja Darboe, a serving soldier who will testify against Sonko in Switzerland, was notorious for torturing suspects.
“You are saying that Ousman Sonko used these guys (Junglers) to torture the detainees?” asked Essa Faal, the Commission’s lead counsel.
“Yes,” replied Darboe.
“…This was their modus operandi? This is how they did things?” asked Faal.
“Exactly, because they dictate who is to come before the panel and whatever is supposed to happen to anybody, they were always aware of it they were always aware of what was happening,” said Darboe.
“Torture and fabrication of evidence became a system Yahya Jammeh employed using NIA operatives,” said the Commission in its findings. “The fabricated evidence or forced confessions were used to prosecute perceived opponents of Yahya Jammeh to send them to his infamous five-star hotel, Mile II Central Prison, using the justice sector institutions to give it a cloak of legality.”
In September 2016, the unexpected happened. Sonko silently left the country after falling out with Jammeh. The reasons are unknown. At this time, Njie had spent two months in the notorious McCarthy prison. She and the other protestors were freed in December after Jammeh lost elections to Adama Barrow.
Sonko sought asylum in Switzerland but was quickly arrested and placed in pre-trial detention in January 2017 awaiting this week’s trial. Jammeh fled to Equatorial Guinea where he has since lived in self-imposed exile.
Sonko is now the second person to face crimes against humanity charges under universal jurisdiction laws in Switzerland. The first, Alieu Kosiah, a Liberian war-time rebel commander, was convicted in 2022 and is serving a twenty-year sentence.
Sonko trial raises pressure on Gambian government
After Jammeh’s defeat, the new government established the Truth Commission to examine his alleged crimes. The Commission found at least 600 people were involved in human rights violations and crimes during the 22-year rule of Jammeh. At least 71 were recommended for prosecution. Four— Jungler Amadou Badjie, Musa Jammeh, Tumbul Tamba, and soldier Almamo Manneh —are now dead.
Since 2017, just eight have faced prosecution for Jammeh-era crimes. Yankuba Touray, former local government minister, and seven former officials of the NIA were found guilty in trials run by the state. None came as a result of the Commission’s recommendations.
Sonko is the second Jammeh official to face prosecution in a European jurisdiction. Bai Lowe was convicted in Germany in November 2023. Michael Sang Correa, another alleged Jungler, is scheduled to be tried for torture in the United States in September 2024.
“The universal jurisdiction is narrowing the space for perpetrators,” said lawyer Fatty. “It also gives hope that slowly but surely the perpetrators cannot escape. That they can run but they cannot hide.”
Still, victims say trials in The Gambia are essential to bring true justice.
“It would seem as though those in the Gambian jurisdiction are literally escaping justice,” said Muhammed Sandeng. “We have a lot of Junglers here who are not prosecuted. People overseas are being prosecuted. It can be interpreted as the Gambia is not ready to ensure justice.”
Sonko faces a series of charges ranging from torture, murder and rape to false imprisonment. Only one of those charges – rape – is alleged to have been committed by him alone. All other charges— including the alleged murders of Baba Jobe, Almamo Manneh, Ebrima Solo Sandeng, and the alleged torture of soldier Bunja Darboe, and the April 2016 protesters — are crimes Sonko allegedly committed with other perpetrators. A number of those people still hold public office.
A Sonko successful prosecution, according to Gambian lawyer Abdoulie Fatty, will have serious legal and political implications in the Gambia.
“As for those who are implicated by the evidence against Sonko, as individuals who may have committed serious human rights abuses and violations themselves, a successful prosecution of Sonko will now remove them from obscurity and place them before the full glare of the media, victims, CSOs and the justice system, as persons of huge interest and they will be compelled and dragged into the investigations,” said Fatty.
“Some of them may have evaded the TRRC but the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) that is due to be set up in The Gambia soon will have the legal power to investigate them and make appropriate prosecutorial decisions about them. So, Sonko’s successful prosecution will have far-reaching positive consequences, in widening the net to catch more perpetrators and those who may have slipped through the cracks and were not subjected to the TRRC inquiry.”
Sonko’s trial will end on January 30. A verdict is expected later this year.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
Colonel Boubacar Toure, the new commander of the ECOWAS Force in the Gambia, has reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Gambia Armed Forces to promote peace and stability.
Toure also promised to work with the people of Foni to strengthen peace and stability in the region, which is frequently threatened by conflict between the Senegalese forces and the Separatist Movement in Cassamance.
“We will work with the people of Foni to foster a mutual understanding that will strengthen peace. Whatever affects Gambia will affect Senegal.
“When there is conflict in Cassamance the people of Foni will be affected and we want to ensure peace for all,” he added.
Colonel Toure emphasized that the ECOWAS mission, under his leadership, will collaborate closely with all security stakeholders, including the Gambia Defense and Security Forces.
He stated that the mission would not undertake any actions without involving them, as the Gambia is part of ECOWAS and should be seen as their own.
Colonel Toure expressed the desire to establish a strong relationship with the Gambian security forces to achieve common goals together.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of coordination between the Ecomig and Gambian security forces.
“We will engage the Gambia Armed Forces and all other security agencies in the Gambia on any activity we will carry out,” he reiterated.
He emphasized the mission’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“We will work with you the journalists to ensure the public is well informed about our activities. We cannot succeed in our mission without you the journalists so be rest assured we will continue working with you because you are key partners,” he said.
Colonel Toure also acknowledged the concerns raised in the Foni region due to the presence of ECOMIG forces and assured reporters that the Senegalese troops would work closely with the local population to foster understanding and a better working relationship.
Miatta Lily French, the ECOWAS country representative in The Gambia, praised Colonel Aly Kane for his significant achievements in fostering peace and security. She also urged the new commander to build upon these accomplishments.
Colonel Aly Kane stated that his mission was to establish a good relationship between Ecomig forces and the Gambian security forces to ensure the safety of the president and the security of the environment.
He mentioned that joint operations with the Gambian security forces were conducted, along with initiatives such as seismic programs to raise awareness among civilians about the mission and provide free medical assistance.
Additionally, the Senegalese government provided $20,000 to renovate Bwiam Hospital and supply medical equipment as part of their direct support to the community.
Colonel Aly Kane assured that the Senegalese forces took necessary measures to avoid conflicts with the Gambian Army and invited all security forces in the country to collaborate on their activities.
Colonel Ousmane Aly Kane commended his successor Colonel Boubacar Toure for his dedication to continuing the strong relationship between Ecomig troops and the Gambian security forces.
Binta Jamba testifies before Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparation Commission in October 2019
By Mustapha K. Darboe with New Narratives
Bellinzona, Switzerland–The first witness in the crimes against humanity trial of 55-year-old Ousman Sonko —Gambia’s former interior minister — told a Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona that Sonko treated her like a sex slave.
Binta Jamba is the widow of Almamo Manneh—a former soldier in Gambia’s State Guards—an elite military unit guarding the Gambian presidency. In 2000, Manneh was accused of a coup and was killed under mysterious circumstances.
Sonko is currently on trial in Switzerland for crimes against humanity for his alleged role in a series of crimes perpetrated against Gambians under the 22-year rule of former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh. Jammeh ruled Gambia with an iron fist and was accused of numerous human rights violations, including murder and severe torture. Sonko first served in the military, rising through the ranks to command the State Guards in 2003.
Jamba, who first testified before Gambia’s Truth Commission in October 2019, said she was raped multiple times by the former interior minister at various locations in The Gambia, events she said left lasting physical and emotional scars.
Between January to December 2000, Jamba told the court Wednesday, “I was just like a sex slave to him.” Jamba said she was impregnated by Sonko twice between 2000 to 2002 and was forced to abort both pregnancies, which, she said, were arranged by Sonko. (Abortion is illegal in the Gambia.)
“I was very sick after the abortions… I was constantly bleeding,” said Jamba, as she broke down in tears. Sonko’s lawyer, Philippe Currat, had no question for Jamba on the substance of her testimony. Currat later explained that Jamba’s statement was contradictory, and his questions would have added little value.
Manneh’s murder
From 1994 until early 2000, Manneh, Jamba’s husband, was close to Jammeh and implicated in the torture of several high-profile political detainees, including former ministers of Gambia’s first president, Dawda Kairaba Jawara, in 1995, an investigation by Gambia’s Truth Commission found.
Some detainees were “beaten and kicked by the soldiers, who subjected many of them to mock executions. They were threatened frequently by Almamo Manneh and [his colleague] Bubacarr Bah, who would tell them that they were waiting for the order of the (Capt. Yahya Jammeh) to kill them and cut them into pieces, and throw them to the dogs. This caused the detainees great fear and anguish as they genuinely believed that they would be killed,” the Commission found.
It is unclear why Manneh fell out with Jammeh. However, Jamba, who described her husband’s relationship with Jammeh as a “good” one, said Manneh’s murder was orchestrated by Sonko.
“Yahya Jammeh, Ousman Sonko, and Ismaila Jammeh [Sonko’s orderly] planned and organized the killing of Almamo Manneh, which was carried out by the group sent out to lure him to Bund Road,” where Manneh was killed, said the Commission. But at the hearing on Wednesday, Sonko declined to speak on the specifics of Manneh’s killing.
“I cannot comment as far as the case of Almamo Manneh is concerned,” said Sonko. “In my statement, I did not refer to anything [that reveals] operational [details]…I am still bound by the official secrecy act.”
Lt. Col. Bunja Darboe testifies before Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission
Horrific torture of Lt. Col. Bunja Darboe
The second witness to take the stand on Wednesday was Lt. Col. Bunja Darboe, a serving Gambian soldier, arrested on allegation of his involvement in a 2006 coup. Darboe was allegedly tortured and forced to write a statement implicating himself, a document used as prima facie evidence against him at the court-martial in Banjul.
“All they said was that a speech was found on me. But that was not true. They forced me to write it,” said Lt. Col. Darboe. “Sonko is here, and I challenge him to tell the truth.”
Sonko was then chief of Gambia’s police who allegedly sat on a panel of security officers that oversaw the torture and interrogation of detainees including Darboe. The investigation by the Truth Commission found that such panels were accompanied by brutal torture of Junglers— members of a hit squad who operated under Jammeh’s orders.
Darboe said his torturers placed a plastic bag over his head, and he was subjected to horrific torture. He then broke down in tears.
“My hand was hurting me. Everywhere was paining me. When they were beating me, my hand was fractured and also dislocated. One of them cocked a pistol and asked me to say my last prayers. I could not say anything,” said Darboe.
“At that moment, I just wanted to die. I did not want to live. I was fed up with the humiliation. The pain was so extreme that I could not bear it. I was helpless.”
*Editor’s note: Bunja Darboe is not related to the author.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
The Secretary General of The Gambia Football Federation, Lamin Jassey, announced that the national football team, the Scorpions, will travel from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro by bus due to limited landing capacity.
Jassey made this revelation during an interview with QTV night news with Jainaba Sonko.
This decision comes after the team’s plane experienced technical difficulties and had to make an emergency landing in Banjul.
Jassey explained that the pilots cited reasons such as losing oxygen, failed air conditioning, and high temperature for the plane’s malfunction.
“We never anticipated that we would have a problem in Gambia.
“We signed a contract with them in full and we have fulfilled our obligations.
“Unfortunately, the boys will have to travel by bus from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro, which we don’t want,” he revealed.
He expressed disappointment with Air Côte d’Ivoire, holding them responsible for the situation and urging them to rectify the issue.
The National Coordinating Committee has engaged with Air Côte d’Ivoire to address the problem.
However, as the runway in Yamoussoukro can only accommodate smaller planes, the team will have to travel to Abidjan and then continue by bus to their destination.
“In Yamoussoukro, the runway can’t carry certain planes and the limited tones is 30 can land there that’s why a smaller plane was sent.
“So, now we have to go to Abidjan and what will happen is that we will have to travel by bus from about one and a half hours from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro,” he added.
Jassey mentioned that the separation of the team and fans was necessary due to logistical constraints.
Despite the unexpected circumstances, Jassey assured that the players were in good spirits and mentally prepared to represent their country.
The team’s coach and technical staff will decide on the training schedule, with a crucial match against Senegal approaching on the 15th.
Jassey emphasized that although the start of their journey was challenging, the players believe that a good ending is still possible.
Ousman Sonko, former Gambian interior minister, who turned 55 on Tuesday, took the stand for the first time at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland. He provided details on elements of the charges of crimes against humanity brought against him by the Office of the Swiss Attorney General.
The trial began on Monday when Sonko’s lawyer, Philippe Currat, raised several procedural issues, including arguments that Switzerland lacks jurisdiction to try Sonko on events before 2011, the year the offense of crimes against humanity came into effect in the country.
The panel of 3 judges declined to rule on the question of jurisdiction at this stage, stating that this and other procedural issues would be determined alongside the material facts of the case.
Currat argued that the question of jurisdiction was related to the elements of crimes against humanity, including how systematic and widespread violations against civilians were, and would influence the outcome of the court’s decision on Sonko’s guilt.
Thus, according to Currat, the question of jurisdiction should have been determined at the earliest stage of the trial to ensure that victims not eligible to be plaintiffs in the trial—those whose alleged crimes were committed before 2011—are removed from the indictment.
“We must start with that. Do we have a jurisdiction or not?… With an early decision, we would have been in a position to concentrate on what falls clearly under the Swiss jurisdiction,” he said after Tuesday’s hearing.
Had the court agreed with Sonko’s argument, several witnesses and plaintiffs who traveled from The Gambia to appear before the court would not have been heard.
The trial continues tomorrow with the testimony of Binta Jamba, who was allegedly repeatedly raped between 2000 to 2005.
The Tuesday hearing also came with some bad news for Gambian journalists. The panel of judges rejected all parties’ requests to have the trial translated into English.
Journalists must rely on colleagues and lawyers on the floor to understand the content of what is being said during sessions in German.
Bad detention conditions
Sonko began his Tuesday testimony by explaining the difficult circumstances under which he was detained in Switzerland. The former interior minister was arrested in Switzerland in January 2017. During his first experience of detention from 2017 to September 2018, he said he was locked in a cell for 23 hours a day with limited time to eat and bathe.
“The cell, the window is small and high up. You cannot see outside. I have no access to natural sunlight. I have to use the light 24/7,” Sonko told the court. These restrictions, he said, resulted in an eye injury.
After 2018, Sonko was moved to another detention center. The conditions there, he said, improved slightly. His seven years in detention, he told the court, have caused his health to deteriorate. Because of his detention experience, Sonko said Switzerland was in no position to judge human rights.
UN experts’ denial to access Mile 2 Security Wing
In Sonko’s 5-page preliminary testimony, he provided context on events that occurred during his role as police chief, interior minister, and military leader. Sonko raised the 2014 visit of UN experts to assess prison conditions in The Gambia. “I invited the UN Special Rapporteurs to visit The Gambia so that their recommendations would enable us to activate political leverage to improve the situation as much as possible,” Sonko said.
But in 2014, the two UN special rapporteurs on torture and extra-judicial executions— Christof Heyns and Juan Méndez— were offered a guided tour upon their arrival in The Gambia on a prison visit under the mandate of the Human Rights Council. The experts were reportedly informed that “under no circumstances would they be allowed to visit the Security Wing, where [among others] the death row prisoners are held.”
“Due to [the] denial of access to the Security Wing of Mile 2 prison to visit those sentenced to lengthy sentences, including the death penalty, an inference must be drawn that there is something important to hide. This incident forced us to suspend this integral part of the visit,” said Heyns at the time.
“To tell the truth, I was particularly disappointed that the two Special Rapporteurs preferred to provoke a clash with the Presidency as soon as they arrived, rather than carry out their mission in such a way as to build a relationship that would be useful for the country’s development,” Sonko said.
Sonko admitted that the prisons in The Gambia “are notoriously substandard” but he said such conditions are not a “result of Gambian state policy”. He attributed it to a historical legacy of colonialism.
This was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
On Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024, The Fatu Network was contacted by Ebrima Jallow, an activist and General Manager at Al-Nuru Pharmacy in The Gambia. In our conversation, Ebrima shared a story about a young lady and patient at Ndemban Clinic in Bakau, The Gambia. This courageous individual was battling for her life, with no family or friends in the country to provide support. The lady in question had endured a harrowing motorcycle accident in the first week of December 2023, leading to significant bone fractures.
Ebrima, during a visit to Ndemban Clinic to check on one of his patients, unexpectedly encountered the young woman named Favour. Witnessing the critical patient without any financial support, Ebrima sought information about her. The hospital staff confirmed that she was a Nigerian national involved in a motorcycle accident that tragically claimed two lives. Being admitted without any family, friends, or companions, Favour lacked the means to cover the expenses for her severe bone fractures treatment.
Realizing the urgency of Favour’s situation, Ebrima attempted to seek assistance from the Nigeria High Commission in The Gambia, later alleging that this approach proved unproductive.
He conveyed to The Fatu Network that Dr. Ammar Al Jafari, the Chief Medical Officer at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), stepped in to assist Favour. Dr. Ammar generously used his personal funds to acquire both medication and food, ensuring the sustenance of the patient’s health and well-being.
The Fatu Network reached out to Dr. Ammar Al Jafari to confirm his involvement in providing aid to Favour. Over the phone, Dr. Ammar said the following: “Every day, I go around in hospitals, including Ndemban, to check on patients and offer help when needed. When the patient has no escort, no money, I pay on their behalf, I perform tests, and buy medication. They (Ndemban) informed me about this Nigerian patient who was admitted without any escort or money, and I assured them that I would take care of her bills. Every day I buy a lot of medication and give her sufficient money to buy food. This has been my strategy to help both foreign and local patients in need.”
Additionally, Dr. Ammar directed us to Salifu Jallow, the Operation Assistant Officer at Ndemban Clinic, who verified that Favour was, indeed, a victim of a motorcycle accident, where she emerged as the sole survivor among the three passengers on the bike. Salifu explained that Favour suffered fractures in her leg and arm. The hospital had previously reached out to Favour’s family in Nigeria, but financial constraints prevented them from providing assistance to Favour in her time of need.
At this juncture, The Fatu Network reached out to the Nigeria High Commission in The Gambia. They directed us to Great Akah Ottuduoma, the spokesperson for Nigerians in Diaspora (Gambia chapter) and the Coordinator of Nigerian Affairs, focusing on welfare and security matters. Great clarified that upon receiving news of the Nigerian national in the hospital, he and the President of the Nigerians in Diaspora community visited Ndemban Clinic to confirm Favour’s nationality. They discovered that Favour had been in an accident on the Brusubi-Bijilo highway, involving a collision between the motorcycle she was on and a car. The car’s driver, currently held at Brusubi Police Station, was identified.
During the visit to Brusubi Police Station, the Nigerian community learned that the same driver was taking full financial responsibility for Favour’s medical treatments as part of his arrest conditions. He had already initiated payments, negating the need for financial assistance from the Nigerians in Diaspora community. The Fatu Network verified this information through Brusubi Police Station. Despite the driver’s commitment, the diaspora community continued to monitor Favour’s situation closely.
Just last week, Ebrima reached out to the Nigeria High Commission and the Nigerians in Diaspora community, revealing that the financial support for Favour’s treatment had ceased from the man in custody at Brusubi Police Station. Favour was under significant stress due to this sudden halt. Ebrima, acting as a compassionate Samaritan, stepped in to contribute to Favour’s medical expenses, recognizing the urgency of her situation. However, he realized that he couldn’t manage it alone.
At this critical juncture, Dr. Ammar Al Jafari, during one of his routine visits to hospitals and clinics, became aware of Favour’s predicament. Understanding that Favour lacked any immediate source of income to cover her treatment needs beyond Ebrima Jallow’s assistance, Dr. Ammar took the initiative to handle Favour’s bills, ensuring her continued access to necessary medical care.
When The Fatu Network spoke to Favour, her words were barely audible, strained by the pain she grappled with. Despite the challenge, she managed to convey the intensity of her suffering in her leg and arm: “I’ve had to remain still to avoid movement, as any movement causes more pain.”
Favour’s journey to recovery is undoubtedly a challenging one. Despite the kindness of Ebrima Jallow and Dr. Ammar Al Jafari, her path is still filled with obstacles. Imagine being a foreigner in a critical condition, grappling with severe bone fractures, and facing the world alone after leaving the clinic. No family, no friends, no support—just an uncertain road ahead.
From daunting medical bills to the commitment of long-term physiotherapy, Favour is in need of compassionate hearts beyond the benevolence of Dr. Ammar and Ebrima Jallow. The call goes out to the generous spirits of the Gambians and other residents who understand the significance of extending help without discrimination based on nationality or social orientation.
The Gambia, known as ‘the smiling coast,’ is renowned for its profound hospitality towards people from all walks of life. Now, Favour, a stranger in need, is calling upon that spirit of generosity. Let’s unite in support—donate what you can to contribute to Favour’s treatment and help her regain her strength. Together, we can be the embodiment of the compassionate spirit that makes ‘the smiling coast’ truly special.
Omar Ceesay, a former lawmaker of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) from Niamina East, has raised concerns about the alleged interference of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in politics. He warns that such interference jeopardizes and undermines the integrity of the police force.
Ceesay’s remarks were prompted by a viral video featuring Ramou Sabally, a recent member of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), claiming that the IGP facilitated her meeting with President Barrow at the State House in Banjul.
Ceesay argues that it is inappropriate for the IGP’s office to assist political figures in meeting the president for political gain. He firmly believes that the IGP should refrain from engaging in political affairs or providing financial or material assistance to any political figure or party.
Emphasizing that such actions are unprofessional and unethical, Ceesay asserts that they undermine the integrity and reputation of the police institution. He calls on political parties and civil society organizations to strongly condemn this behavior.
Ceesay also suggests that recent political developments indicate that the IGP and others may have acted under pressure from higher authorities to intimidate and arrest Momodou Sabally, the former Campaign Manager for the opposition United Democratic Party.
“The IGP and Co. were under the influence of authorities at the highest order to intimidate, arrest, detain, and frustrate Sabally to join the NPP, considering the volume of information he had at his disposal to criticize the Barrow-NPP corrupt government,” he asserted.
The former GDC Niamina East Lawmaker alleges that the goal was to coerce Sabally into joining the NPP, as he possessed information that could criticize the Barrow-NPP government.
Ceesay concludes that the IGP and others are neglecting their responsibilities as law enforcement officers by actively participating in the political activities of the president and using the law as a weapon.
Hon. Ceesay predicts that all “fabricated cases” and charges against Sabally will likely be dropped now that he has joined the NPP, suggesting that this was the motive behind their actions.
“Technically, the IGP and Co. are undermining their very responsibility as law enforcement officers by actively and heavily partaking in the political activities of the president by weaponizing the laws,” he added.
BELLINZONA, Switzerland—Ousman Sonko, a 54-year-old former Gambian police chief and interior minister, appeared in court today for the opening of a trial in the Swiss city of Bellinzona. The Swiss Attorney General’s office, along with nine plaintiffs, is accusing Sonko of torture, murder, false imprisonment, rape, and deprivation of liberty, allegedly perpetrated against Gambians during the 22-year rule of Gambia’s former dictator Yahya Jammeh.
Sonko appeared in court calm and clean-cut. He wore a dark blue suit and hung his head low as the charges against him were laid out.
Mere metres away, sat several plaintiffs who had travelled from The Gambia to testify against Sonko. Emotions were high, as many bear lasting marks of Jammeh’s brutal rule: Fatou Camara was allegedly tortured; Binta Jamba lost a husband. The person they blame for their suffering, Sonko, denied all wrongdoing.
Camara, a 47-year-old native of Basse, a settlement some 300 km from Banjul, was among over a dozen opposition activists who protested for electoral reforms in April 2016 and were arrested and tortured. One activist, Ebrima Solo Sandeng, died in custody. Camara was beaten so severely that she still suffers from an eye and hip injury.
“They beat me until I fainted, and when I woke up, I found myself dumped in the grass in an open courtyard. They came and poured water on me. My wrapper was completely wet,” Camara told the Gambia’s Truth Commission (TRCC) in October 2019.
In the courtroom today, as security guards escorted Sonko out during a break, tears rolled down Camara’s face. “I never thought this day would come– the day I will meet Ousman Sonko in court,” she said. “I hope we will have justice. His successful conviction will serve as a lesson to others,” she added.
Camara is not alone. Madi Ceesay, now a lawmaker representing the Serrakunda West constituency in the Gambia parliament, was managing director of The Independent newspaper when he was arrested and tortured in 2006 with journalist Musa Saidykhan. He, too, holds Sonko responsible for his suffering.
“Being here and seeing Sonko at the other side of the table is a relief for me… I hope I will have justice,” said Ceesay.
Sonko’s trial “a step towards justice”
The trial kicked off with much anticipation. Dozens of journalists, victims, human rights lawyers and activists gathered here as Sonko appeared before a 3-member panel of judges over charges of crimes against humanity.
Reed Brody, a member of the International Commission of Jurists, was involved in mobilising victims of rights violations under Jammeh. He said the beginning of Sonko’s trial is a step towards bringing Jammeh to justice.
“We are still years away from bringing Yahya Jammeh to justice. But this is an important step for the victims.” Brody was in The Gambia when Binta Jamba testified before the TRRC. “I was going around, and everybody was listening to their transistor radios to [Jamba’s] testimonies. And now, she is here testifying before the man who raped her,” said Brody outside of the Bellinzona courtroom. Fatoumata Sandeng, another plaintiff, “is going to testify before the man who tortured her father,” Brody said. “These are huge steps for justice and for victims.”
Sonko was arrested in Switzerland in January 2017 after Trial International, a Geneva-based human rights organisation launched a criminal complaint against him. Trial’s executive director, Philip Grant, attended the opening. “There are lots of parameters that need to be met to bring Jammeh to justice,” he said. “We believe these trials, by the sheer fact that they are taking place, but also by the evidence they might uncover, will provide fuel for the endeavour to bring Jammeh to justice,” said Grant.
‘Switzerland has no jurisdiction’
Philippe Currat, Sonko’s lawyer, in a more than three-hour submission, argued that Switzerland does not have jurisdiction to try Sonko on events before January 2011, as they occurred before the offence of “crimes against humanity” came into force in Switzerland. According to Currat, crimes against humanity are the only offence for which “universal jurisdiction” – the legal principle that holds international crimes should be prosecuted regardless of where the crimes were committed or the nationality of the perpetrators and the victims – would apply.
If the court agrees, half of the charges could be dropped. “Since the offence of crimes against humanity only came into force in Switzerland on 1st January 2011, and this offence is the only charge contained in the indictment for which the Swiss authorities have universal jurisdiction to potentially bring Ousman SONKO to justice, it is, therefore not possible to apply the offence to acts committed before 1 January 2011,” argued Currat.
Currat argued that the crime of torture cannot be applied in Sonko’s case, as it “is a crime in the Swiss law only as a crime against humanity,” which could be held unenforceable. Currat also claimed that a number of witnesses were heard in a process that violated the law.
The judges make a ruling on these submissions tomorrow.
This was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
The Chairman of Basse Area Council (BsAC), Mahamadou Ceesay, has confirmed that all salary arrears owed to staff from the previous administration have been settled.
In addition, Ceesay cautioned staff against being unpunctual.
Based on the annual report obtained by The Fatu Network, the council has implemented innovative strategies that have led to significant progress in a short time frame.
Ceesay, the council chairman, said that the council made tough administrative choices to navigate challenging times, such as deferring bank loan repayments until 2023.
As a result, the council has achieved the following milestones:
1) Paid off the 2023 salary arrears for all staff members.
2) Resolved the 5C Energy contract, which was on the verge of collapse due to outstanding arrears amounting to 4,164,134.71.
The council renegotiated the deal and paid one million to the company to ensure the continuation of their services.
Additionally, the council has made it mandatory to collect all revenue using a digital system.
Ceesay has revealed that in 2024 the council plans to digitalize land transfer fees, which has been a major challenge in terms of accounting.
Subsequently, the report said: “The council managed to reduce its total liabilities from over 24 million to D14,317,020, with a closing balance of D6,303,428.65 as of January 3rd, 2023.”
“Furthermore, as part of their projects, the council successfully drilled three boreholes in the communities of Sare Geda, Keita Ya, and Sare Gubu Muntaga.
The summary report revealed that the council inherited a debt burden of D24,199,206, with all council accounts having a negative closing balance.
27 soldiers have appeared before a court martial today Monday, 8th January 2024. The military personnel face 88-count charges linked to mutiny to overthrow President Julius Maada Bio’s government, failure to suppress mutiny, aiding the enemy, communicating with the enemy, stealing of public or service property, fraudulent misapplication of public or service property, and murder.
Few selected journalists were allowed access to the proceeding.
According to BBC’s Umaru Fofana, “no pleas were taken from the accused because, before the charges could be read out to them [the accused soldiers], one of them fell ill in the court and was taken away”.
The case was adjourned to Wednesday.
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma has also been indicted. He appeared in court last Tuesday and will again appear in court on 17th January 2024. The case of another set of inductees comes up tomorrow, 9th January 2024.
On 26th November last year, the Government of Sierra Leone disclosed that a group of unidentified individuals attacked the Wilberforce Military Barracks in the capital Freetown, the central prison, and some police stations in the capital. The situation caused the release of prisoners, instability, and several deaths.
The government says it was a coup attempt to unseat President Bio.
Zainab Musa Darboe’s award was a pleasant surprise for her husband, Demba L. Jammeh, who considers her an extraordinary woman for her philanthropic work.
The Tresor Women Warriors presented Demba with an award on behalf of Zainab, recognizing her numerous charitable contributions in The Gambia.
The award was presented during the organization’s fifth-anniversary celebration in Kwinella village.
Demba, speaking on behalf of his wife, expressed his gratitude and revealed that the award came as a surprise to them.
He told The Fatu Network that he attended the ceremony to represent his wife, who is miles away.
Like the others in attendance, Demba showed his appreciation towards Aji Kumba Daffeh Kah for empowering women.
He also expressed his joy for the award, describing it as both surprising and not surprising at the same time, considering Zainab’s supportive nature and love for humanitarian causes.
“This award is a surprise we never expected it. Zainab is one in a million who spent her wealth in supporting people.
“She is the type of woman that every man needs. Her motto is caring and sharing. Her generosity towards mankind is unquestioned.
“This extends beyond the United States, as people regularly seek her assistance, knowing she would never turn them away,” he explained.
Demba conveyed his wife’s immense generosity in helping people all around the world, emphasizing that Zainab is an extraordinary woman who selflessly uses her wealth to support others.
He revealed that Zainab’s motto is to care and share, and she exemplifies incredible generosity towards humanity.
Demba spoke passionately about the importance of supporting humanity, urging Gambians to follow Zainab’s lead and make a difference in people’s lives.
Amid this praise and recognition, Demba also spoke about the negative experiences he and his wife have faced while supporting others.
They have encountered criticism on social media, with people accusing them of wasting money.
“Zainab remains steadfast in her beliefs and takes negative criticism as a test from Allah. She’s a very strong woman with strong beliefs,” he said.
According to Demba, he has witnessed these posts, but Zainab always advises him to ignore them, acknowledging that there will always be individuals who say negative things about them.
Despite these challenges, Demba believes Gambians must unite and support one another, particularly women groups, as they are vulnerable.
He emphasized that the country’s development lies in the hands of every Gambian and cannot be solely relied upon by the government.
He commended his wife’s work and natural gifts, highlighting the strength and resilience they display in the face of criticism.
He urged people to abandon negative energy and offer support to each other.
In addition, he encouraged young people to be strong and resourceful and to explore various opportunities to improve their lives.
He noted that even small efforts can make a significant impact, asserting that not everyone can be confined to office work.
Ousainu Darboe, leader of the opposition United Democratic Party, has accused President Adama Barrow of being a “dictator” and said he fears he may end up worse than former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, whom he beat at the polls in 2016.
Darboe, speaking on Kerr Fatou over the weekend, said: “He stood here and vowed to re-arrest certain people even if they are bailed by the courts. These are serious dictatorial tendencies. He has to reorganize himself and remove the dirt around him, if not he will end up worse than Jammeh.
“Dictators do not only kill and jail people but also put them in a state of fear. My sister was a teacher in the civil service, does the president expect her to go against me? So, they removed her. Jammeh tried [to remove her] when Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta was the education minister, but I firmly stood against it, and they did not remove her. People lost their jobs because they perceived them to be opposition”.
Darboe further accused President Barrow of targeting and dismissing civil servants who were perceived to be opposition.
“The civil service must be isolated from partisan politics, but President Barrow has no moral grounds to preach that.
“His political adviser, deputy political adviser, cyber security adviser, and even his campaign manager Lamin Cham, are all paid by the government, and they are daily politicking for the president and the NPP.
“Yahya Jammeh with all his downsides never did such. Yes, he to some extent, involved permanent secretaries in politics but they operated secretly and that is why I said Barrow is a dictator.”
Part of this story is reproduced from The Standard.
Ousman Sonko, former Gambia interior minister, faces justice in Switzerland
Sonko
Ousman Sonko, a 54-year-old former interior minister of The Gambia, goes on trial for crimes against humanity in the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in the city of Bellinzona Monday for his alleged role in a series of crimes perpetrated against Gambians under the 22-year rule of small country’s former dictator Yahya Jammeh.
Jammeh ruled Gambia with an iron fist and was accused of numerous human rights violations including murder and severe torture by the country’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reconciliation Commission. Sonko first served in the military, rising through the ranks to command the State Guards, an elite military unit that guards the Gambian presidency, in 2003.
Sonko would serve both as the head of the Gambia police and the interior minister presiding over the internal security matters of the country from 2005 to 2016.
In 2016, Sonko fell out with Jammeh and fled to Switzerland. He was arrested in Bern in January 2017, a day after the Geneva-based rights organization— Trial International— filed a criminal complaint against him. He was formally indicted by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General before the Federal Criminal Court in April 2023.
Sonko faces charges of murder, rape, false imprisonment, torture, among others. Nine Gambian victims are bringing the case against him in the three-week trial which ends on January 30. A tenth plaintiff passed away in October allegedly as a result of lasting injuries inflicted by Sonko.
The Swiss Office of the Attorney General also accuses Ousman Sonko of having co-perpetrated deprivation of liberty and acts of torture of peaceful demonstrators in 2016, when he was Minister of the Interior. These acts have been qualified by the Swiss prosecutor as crimes against humanity.
“This trial is a significant moment in Swiss judicial history,” said Leslie Haskell, president of TRIAL International. Sonko is the second person to face trial in Switzerland under the principle of universal jurisdiction which holds that crimes against humanity are committed against all humans regardless of where they were committed. The first person to face trial in Switzerland under universal jurisdiction, Alieu Kosiah of Liberia, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. “Ousman Sonko will also be the highest-ranking state official ever to be tried for international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction in Europe.”
According to the indictment, Sonko participated in the murder of Almamo Manneh in January 2000. Manneh was a former member of the elite guards of the Gambian presidency, State Guards, who was accused of being part of a coup.
After murdering Manneh, Sonko allegedly raped Manneh’s wife dozens of times– an abuse which persisted over five years. Jamba first narrated her story before the country’s Truth Commission in October 2019.
The Commission finalized its reports and submitted them to the Gambian president in November 2021. In 2022, the government published a white paper accepting the recommendations of the Commission. Sonko is named on the list of the 90 most adversely mentioned individuals published in July 2022.
The Commission found Sonko to be involved in a scheme to cover up the killing of at least 51 West African migrants in the country in 2005. The migrants who hailed from at least four West African countries— Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo— were accused of being mercenaries and handed to members of Jammeh’s hit squad to be shot at point blank, the Commission’s investigation found.
Sonko is accused of participating in the murder of a former ally of Yahya Jammeh, Mr Baba Jobe. Jobe was killed on his hospital bed at the country’s main referral hospital in Banjul in October 2011. Sonko also faced allegations of participating in the torture of several civilian and military officers accused of plotting to overthrow Jammeh’s regime in 2006.
Sonko is also accused of participating in the torture of opposition political activists in April 2016. A rare protest broke in the Gambia led by political activists and members of the opposition UDP. The protesters, led by Ebrima Solo Sandeng, were rounded up and tortured. Sandeng would die in state custody. At least five ‘victims of torture’ in that incident have since died, and one of them— Nogoi Njie— was expected to testify against Sonko in Switzerland.
Sonko is the second member of Jammeh’s regime to face trial. In November, Bai L. a former member of a paramilitary unit known as “Junglers” created by the former President, was sentenced by a German court to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity. Michael Correa, another alleged member of the same death squad, will stand trial in Denver, USA, in September. He faces charges of torture and conspiracy to commit torture.
A verdict in Sonko’s trial is expected later in the year.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
