Former Gambian interior minister, Ousman Sonko, has received a 20-year prison sentence from a Swiss court for crimes against humanity committed during the presidency of Yahya Jammeh.
Ousman Sonko sought asylum in Switzerland in 2016, just before Jammeh’s ousting from power.
NGOs presented evidence of atrocities against Jammeh’s political adversaries, leading to Sonko’s conviction for acts including killings, torture, and unlawful detention. Philip Grant, executive director of Trial International, hailed the verdict as a strong message against impunity.
During earlier proceedings, Sonko’s defence argued against his culpability for the crimes. Switzerland pursued the case using universal jurisdiction, allowing prosecution for offences committed abroad.
Sonko’s trial marks the highest-ranking official prosecution under this principle in Europe. Jammeh, now in exile in Equatorial Guinea, also faces allegations of human rights violations.
