Swiss court convicts a former interior minister of Gambia for crimes against humanity

Nine Gambian plaintiffs and their relatives travelled to Switzerland for the trial against the Gambia's former interior minister Ousman Sonko, which was held at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, canton Ticino, in January 2024.

Switzerland’s top criminal court convicted Ousman Sonko, Gambia’s former interior minister, of crimes against humanity stemming from his involvement in the repression orchestrated by the west African country’s security forces during the rule of its longtime dictator, according to TRIAL International.

Gambia's former interior minister Ousman Sonko

Sonko, who held the interior minister post from 2006 to 2016 under President Yahya Jammeh, received a 20-year prison sentence, as reported on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

The trial, which commenced in January, was seen as a chance by advocacy groups to secure a conviction under “universal jurisdiction,” permitting the prosecution of severe offenses committed abroad.

Philippe Currat, lawyer for Gambia's former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, talks to the media after the conviction of her father, in front of the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland in Bellinzona, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Switzerland’s top criminal court has convicted Ousman Sonko for crimes against humanity over the repression by the west African country’s security forces against opponents of its longtime dictator, a legal advocacy group said Wednesday.

The verdict was delivered at the Swiss federal criminal court in Bellinzona on Wednesday. Sonko, present in the courtroom, displayed minimal reaction when the verdict, translated into English, was read out, shared TRIAL International’s legal adviser Benoit Meystre, who was also present.

Sonko sought asylum in Switzerland in November 2016 and was apprehended two months later.

The Swiss attorney general’s office stated that Sonko's indictment, filed a year prior, encompassed alleged crimes spanning 16 years under Jammeh, characterized by arbitrary detentions, sexual abuses, and extrajudicial killings.

Olimatou Sonko, daughter of Gambia's former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, talks to the media after the conviction of her father, in front of the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland in Bellinzona, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Switzerland’s top criminal court has convicted Ousman Sonko for crimes against humanity over the repression by the west African country’s security forces against opponents of its longtime dictator, a legal advocacy group said Wednesday.

Sonko was accused of aiding, partaking in, and neglecting to prevent attacks against dissenters in Gambia, an English-speaking West African nation surrounded by Senegal. These offenses included killings, torture, rape, and numerous unlawful detentions, as outlined by prosecutors.

“This unparalleled conviction under universal jurisdiction in Europe reaffirms that no one is beyond justice's reach,” expressed Meystre in a text message. “Even the most influential figures can be held accountable for their involvement in large-scale atrocities.”

Philip Grant, Executive Director of TRIAL International talks to the media after the conviction of former interior minister of Gambia Ousman Sonko, in front of the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland, in Bellinzona, Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Madi MK Ceesay, an acclaimed journalist previously arrested under Sonko’s directives and a witness in the trial, indicated that the verdict would likely signal a strong message to Jammeh, who resides in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

“The trial underscores that justice can always catch up with perpetrators,” remarked Ceesay to The Associated Press.

American human rights lawyer Reed Brody, present at the trial, viewed Sonko’s conviction as a pivotal step towards justice for Jammeh’s victims.

“The wheels of justice are catching up with Yahya Jammeh’s associates worldwide and hopefully will soon catch up with Jammeh himself,” Brody stated.

Victims and their relatives have demonstrated outside the court during the trial

Sonko faced conviction for homicide, torture, and false imprisonment as crimes against humanity, with rape charges against him dropped, Brody mentioned on X.

Philip Grant, executive director at TRIAL International, credited with initiating the Swiss case against Sonko before his arrest, noted that Sonko was the highest-ranking former official ever to stand trial in Europe under universal jurisdiction.

Gambia's defeated leader Yahya Jammeh waves to supporters as he departs from Banjul airport on Jan. 21, 2017, as he has decided to relinquish power. Switzerland’s top criminal court has convicted Ousman Sonko, a former interior minister of Gambia, for crimes against humanity during repression by the west African country’s security forces against opponents under then-President Yahya Jammeh.

Sonko, who joined the Gambian military in 1988 and rose to positions of authority, including commander of the State Guard and inspector general of the Gambian police, was removed as interior minister in 2016 and sought asylum in Europe.

Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup and fled after losing Gambia’s 2016 presidential election, faces increased scrutiny as justice catches up with his associates.

“The verdict against Ousman Sonko marks a significant moment in combating impunity and represents a historic victory for universal jurisdiction in Switzerland and Europe,” highlighted Amnesty Switzerland on X. “Even former ministers can face prosecution! Victims and their families finally see justice.”