By Ebi Kesiena
A Swiss federal court rendered a landmark verdict on Wednesday, convicting a former Gambian government minister of crimes against humanity committed during the regime of former dictator Yahya Jammeh, as reported by a Geneva-based non-governmental organization supporting the plaintiffs.
According to Reed Brody, a war crime prosecutor present at the trial, Ousman Sonko was found guilty of intentional homicide, torture, and false imprisonment, while being acquitted of rape charges.
The ruling, issued by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, is subject to appeal.
Sonko, who previously served as Gambia’s interior minister, stands as the highest-ranking official to be prosecuted in Europe under universal jurisdiction, which enables the prosecution of the gravest crimes regardless of their location.
Since his arrest in January 2017 and subsequent application for asylum following his dismissal from the Gambian government, Sonko has remained in Swiss custody.
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During the trial in Bellinzona, Sonko’s legal team advocated for his acquittal and sought financial compensation for his years of detention.
The complaint leading to Sonko’s arrest was filed by Trial International, a non-governmental organization dedicated to combatting impunity for international crimes.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the NGO announced Sonko’s sentencing to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court.
Benoit Meystre, Trial’s legal advisor, spoke to the French media outlet Agence France-Presse (AFP) prior to Sonko’s verdict, expressing relief on behalf of the plaintiffs at being able to confront Sonko during the trial.
Jammeh, Gambia’s former dictator, wielded authoritarian rule over the West African nation from 1994 to 2016.
Sonko was accused by Swiss prosecutors of involvement in systematic attacks perpetrated by Gambian security forces against regime opponents.
Sonko’s defense contended that he should not stand trial for crimes against humanity, arguing that the alleged offenses were isolated acts and not under his authority or control.
Sonko’s trial, conducted under the principle of universal jurisdiction, prompted his legal team to assert that charges predating 2011 should be excluded, when Switzerland implemented universal jurisdiction laws.
Reed Brody, a member of the International Commission of Jurists, noted the trial’s significance in bolstering domestic efforts in The Gambia to prosecute crimes of the Jammeh regime.
In 2022, Gambian authorities endorsed the findings of a commission investigating Jammeh-era atrocities, with plans to prosecute 70 individuals, including Jammeh himself, who has been in exile since 2017.
