Ex-Gambian minister charged with crimes against humanity

Prosecutors in Switzerland have charged a former Gambian interior minister with crimes against humanity and other offences.

They accuse Ousman Sonko of involvement in and failure to prevent systematic attacks on opponents of the former president, Yahya Jammeh.

Mr Sonko held several senior posts in the authoritarian administration of Mr Jammeh – who ruled The Gambia for more than 20 years after seizing power in a military coup in the mid 1990s.

Prosecutors accuse Mr Sonko of supporting and participating in repression, up to 2016.

That year he left The Gambia to seek asylum in Europe, shortly before President Jammeh himself was ousted in an election.

The repression, prosecutors say, included systematic use of torture, rape and extra- judicial executions.

Mr Sonko has been held in detention in Switzerland for over six years.

He denies ever committing any offences and rejects allegations that crimes against humanity took place in The Gambia at the time.

Speaking to the BBC, his lawyer also accused the Swiss authorities of procedural violations during their lengthy investigation.

Source: 3news.com