A High Court in Gambia on Tuesday sentenced a soldier Sanna Fadera to 12 years in prison for leading a foiled coup last year against the country’s President Adama Barrow.
Eight soldiers were charged with treason and conspiracy in January for their role in a Dec. 21, 2022 coup attempt in the West African nation with a population of about 2.5 million.
Two civilians and a police officer were also charged with concealment of treason and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Seven, including the two civilians and the officer, were acquitted and released mid-trial.
The soldier accused of being the ringleader, Fadera was found guilty of treason, the court ruled on Tuesday.
Three other accused soldiers were acquitted of all charges.
Gambia is still reeling from over two decades under former president Yahya Jammeh that were marked by authoritarianism and alleged abuses.
Jammeh himself seized power in 1994 and foiled several attempts to overthrow him before he lost an election in late 2016 to Barrow.
Fadera has denied all charges. He has 30 days to appeal the verdict.
