Switzerland gears up for a significant trial on Monday, as former Gambian interior minister Ousman Sonko faces charges of crimes against humanity under the ousted dictator Yahya Jammeh’s regime. The trial marks a crucial moment in the pursuit of justice, empowered by the principle of universal jurisdiction allowing grave crimes to be prosecuted globally.
Campaign group TRIAL International, the driving force behind the complaint against Sonko, views this trial as a milestone in ensuring accountability for severe atrocities. Nine Gambian plaintiffs are set to testify during the January 8-30 trial in Bellinzona’s Federal Criminal Court.
Sonko, 54, faces grave charges, including murder, torture, and multiple rapes spanning 2000-2016, in Switzerland’s second-ever trial for crimes against humanity. He denies these allegations.
Madi Ceesay, a 67-year-old plaintiff, expressed his optimism, stating, “It has been a long period of waiting, waiting with anger, anxiety. But I am very optimistic now and I feel so happy. I am smelling justice.”
Defending Sonko, lawyer Philippe Currat plans to challenge the case, citing issues with the investigations and hearings, notably contesting the handling of evidence and secret hearings in Gambia.
Binta Jamba, one of the plaintiffs, recounted her harrowing ordeal, alleging multiple rapes by Sonko between 2000-2002, alongside the murder of her husband, linking it to an alleged coup attempt. She expressed the lasting impact on her life and the enduring struggle without justice.
Currat aims to establish Sonko’s absence abroad during the period of rape accusations and argues that some alleged crimes predate the relevant Swiss law, questioning their admissibility.
Sonko was arrested in Switzerland in 2017 while seeking asylum, following Jammeh’s fall from power in January 2017 after losing an election.
The trial holds the potential for a life sentence as the maximum penalty. Currat raised concerns about Sonko’s treatment in Swiss jails, citing inadequate medical care and food denial.
Fatoumatta Sandeng, the daughter of an opposition activist killed in custody in 2016, stressed the importance of accountability. “If we don’t hold people accountable, things like this will keep happening,” she emphasised, highlighting the global impact of seeking justice.
Keywords: Switzerland, Gambian minister, crimes against humanity, universal jurisdiction, trial, justice,
