Former Gambian Minister Receives 20-Year Sentence in Swiss Court for Crimes Against Humanity
Ousman Sonko, who fled to Switzerland in 2016 amidst political upheaval in The Gambia, has been handed a 20-year prison term by a Swiss court for his involvement in crimes against humanity. Sonko, formerly an interior minister under President Yahya Jammeh’s regime, faced charges of intentional homicide, torture, and false imprisonment. Despite maintaining innocence, Sonko’s conviction underscores the Swiss Federal Criminal Court’s application of universal jurisdiction, marking a significant milestone in Europe’s pursuit of justice against high-ranking officials implicated in atrocities. The trial, initiated in January, involved extensive investigations in The Gambia, where widespread human rights abuses occurred during Jammeh’s rule. Sonko’s case highlights global efforts to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable, with parallel legal actions underway in other countries against former members of Jammeh’s regime. While The Gambia has established transitional justice mechanisms, concerns persist over the pace of addressing past abuses.