Gambian ex-minister – Ousman Sonko is sentenced to 20 years in prison – News

  • The criminal chamber of the Federal Criminal Court has sentenced the former Gambian interior minister to a prison sentence of 20 years for multiple serious crimes against humanity.
  • The Federal Prosecutor’s Office (BA) has requested a life sentence. The defendant demanded an acquittal.
  • Sonko came to Switzerland as an asylum seeker, which is why he could be reported in this country.

The criminal chamber of the Federal Criminal Court found him guilty of multiple intentional homicides, multiple deprivation of liberty and multiple torture as crimes against humanity. The proceedings in the rape cases will be discontinued. The court also ordered him to be expelled from the country for twelve years.

The federal prosecutor’s office accuses Sonko of having been jointly responsible for killings, torture, rape and multiple violations of sexual self-determination in his respective leadership positions. In one case, he is accused of raping the widow of a slain military member numerous times.

Legend:

Alleged victims demonstrate in front of the Federal Criminal Court before the start of the trial, in Bellinzona. (January 8, 2024)

Keystone/Pablo Gianinazzi

The torture and sexual crimes against journalists, members of the opposition or those suspected of taking part in the coup are said to have been carried out by the paramilitary unit Junglers on the orders of various managers – including the defendant.

Brief assessment: “Important sign for the population”


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Brief assessment by Sibilla Bondolfi, SRF court correspondent: “The fact that Ousman Sonko was convicted is not surprising; this has been apparent for a long time. What is noteworthy, however, is that the Federal Criminal Court classifies the killings, torture and deprivation of liberty as crimes against humanity. This is not only relevant because of the statute of limitations. The court also recognizes that the regime in Gambia, under which Sonko was police chief and interior minister, systematically attacked the civilian population. This should be an important sign for the population in Gambia. The fact that the rape proceedings are discontinued due to Switzerland’s lack of jurisdiction and the statute of limitations is likely to be of secondary importance.

Systematic attack against civilian population

The crimes accused by the BA occurred between January 2000 and September 2016. The Gambian is said to have committed most of the crimes in collaboration with the then President of the West African country, Yahya Jammeh, as well as senior members of the security forces and prison services.

This happened as part of a systematic and extensive attack against the civilian population. During the 16-year period, Sonko made a career within the civil service. Starting in 2003, he quickly rose through the ranks in the State Guard, which reports to the president. He appointed Sonko Inspector General of Police in February 2005 and Interior Minister in November of the following year.

Sonko repeatedly denied responsibility for the crimes during the main trial, which lasted around a month. For example, he denied having any authority over the junglers. He knew nothing about the alleged torture – and he only found out about it in Switzerland.

Open legal questions

The trial against Sonko is the first time that a former interior minister has been put on trial for crimes against humanity in Switzerland. Legal questions arise regarding the application of the article of the Criminal Code on crimes against humanity that came into force in Switzerland in 2011. Ultimately, the Federal Court will probably have to decide on this.

In September 2016, the ruler Jammeh fired his long-time interior minister Sonko. He fled a short time later and finally applied for asylum in Switzerland. Until his arrest in January 2017, he lived unmolested in the transit center in Kappelen-Lyss BE. He has been in custody ever since.

For the time spent in custody since January 25, 2017, Sonko is demanding compensation of 200 francs per day – a total of 519,000 francs. He also wants to be compensated with around 290,000 francs for the days spent in prison under allegedly illegal conditions.

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