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

Switzerland’s top criminal court has convicted Ousman Sonko, Gambia’s former interior minister, for crimes against humanity related to his role in the repression carried out by security forces under the regime of then-President Yahya Jammeh. Sonko, who served as interior minister from 2006 to 2016, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Swiss federal criminal court in Bellinzona. The trial was significant for being prosecuted under the principle of universal jurisdiction, allowing serious crimes committed abroad to be tried in Switzerland.

Sonko, who applied for asylum in Switzerland in 2016, was arrested shortly after his arrival in 2017. He was accused of participating in or failing to prevent a range of abuses, including killings, torture, rape, and unlawful detentions against Jammeh’s political opponents. These crimes occurred during Jammeh’s 22-year rule, marked by arbitrary detentions, sexual abuse, and extrajudicial killings.

This conviction is seen as a groundbreaking move toward accountability for Jammeh-era crimes. Benoit Meystre, a legal adviser at TRIAL International, described the verdict as a critical moment in the fight against impunity, noting that no one, not even high-ranking officials, is beyond the reach of justice. Meystre also highlighted the significance of this case in Europe under universal jurisdiction.

The trial garnered international attention, with Reed Brody, a prominent human rights lawyer, calling the verdict a pivotal step toward justice for victims of Jammeh’s regime. Brody expressed hope that other accomplices of Jammeh, including the former dictator himself, would eventually be brought to justice.

During his tenure, Sonko was responsible for overseeing the security apparatus in Gambia, including commanding the State Guard and serving as inspector general of police. He fled Gambia in 2016, shortly before Jammeh was ousted after losing the presidential election to Adama Barrow. Jammeh initially refused to cede power but fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea after threats of military intervention.

The case against Sonko, brought to court by TRIAL International, represents one of the highest-level prosecutions of a former official in Europe for crimes committed abroad. Amnesty Switzerland hailed the conviction as a milestone in the fight against impunity, emphasizing that justice had finally been served for the victims and their families.

The trial also serves as a stark reminder that efforts to hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable continue to gain momentum globally, and the long arm of justice is gradually catching up with former officials involved in mass atrocities.