Former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko has been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years in prison by Switzerland’s top criminal court. Sonko served under ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh from 2006 to 2016. Charges against Sonko included homicide, torture, and false imprisonment, but did not rise to the level of aggravated cases that could have resulted in a life sentence. The trial began in January and was considered a landmark application of universal jurisdiction, allowing for the prosecution of crimes committed abroad. The verdict is seen as a message to Jammeh, who fled Gambia and remains in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
Sonko was present in court for the reading of the verdict, showing little reaction when the translation was read out in English. He applied for asylum in Switzerland in 2016 and was arrested shortly after. The indictment against him covered alleged crimes committed during the 16 years he served under Jammeh’s regime. Sonko was accused of supporting, participating in, and failing to stop attacks against opponents in Gambia, including killings, torture, rape, and unlawful detentions. While the rape charges against him were dropped, he was convicted of homicide, torture, and false imprisonment as crimes against humanity.
Several key figures, including journalists who were once arrested under Sonko’s orders, attended the trial, emphasizing that no one is above the reach of justice. The conviction is seen as a significant step toward achieving justice for Jammeh’s victims, as well as Jammeh himself, who is currently in exile. Olimatou Sonko, the defendant’s daughter, expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of full English translations of the trial proceedings, making it difficult for her father to understand the process. The trial marked the first time a high-ranking former official was put on trial in Europe under universal jurisdiction.
Ousman Sonko’s time in power began in 2003 when he was appointed commander of the State Guard and later became inspector general of the Gambian police in 2005. He was removed as interior minister a few months before the end of Jammeh’s government and sought asylum in Europe, leading to his arrest in Switzerland. The verdict has been hailed as a milestone in the fight against impunity and a historic success for universal jurisdiction in Switzerland and Europe. Amnesty Switzerland praised the trial for demonstrating that even former ministers can be held accountable for their actions, bringing some measure of justice to the victims and their families.
Overall, the conviction of Ousman Sonko for crimes against humanity highlights the application of universal jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed abroad. The trial serves as a message to dictators and human rights violators that they are not above the reach of justice, no matter how powerful they may be. By holding high-ranking officials accountable for their actions, the verdict represents progress toward achieving justice for victims of crimes committed under oppressive regimes. The case against Sonko is significant in its application of universal jurisdiction and in demonstrating that even former ministers can face prosecution for their involvement in mass atrocities.
