Former Gambian Interior Minister charged with crimes against humanity

Swiss prosecutors have charged former Gambian interior minister Ousman Sonko with crimes against humanity and other offenses. He is accused of being involved in and failing to prevent systematic attacks against opponents of former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh.

Ousman Sonko held senior positions in the authoritarian government of Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in a military coup in the mid 1990s and ruled The Gambia for over 20 years. Prosecutors allege that Sonko supported and participated in the repression of opponents until 2016.

He fled The Gambia and sought asylum in Europe in 2016, just before President Jammeh was ousted in an election. Prosecutors say that the repression included the systematic use of torture, rape, and extra-judicial executions.

Ousman Sonko has been held in detention in Switzerland for more than six years. He denies ever committing any offenses and rejects allegations that crimes against humanity took place in The Gambia at the time.

According to his lawyer, the Swiss authorities have violated procedures during their lengthy investigation.