International justice served

Ousman Sonko, the former Gambian Minister of the Interior, thought he would find refuge in Switzerland having served under his country’s authoritarian regime. Accused of crimes against humanity, he was arrested in 2017 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2024. A complex investigation conducted by fedpol on behalf of Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland enabled the authorities to piece together the repressive system that he had been part of.

Between 2000 and 2016, Ousman Sonko terrorised the population of The Gambia. A minister under the authoritarian regime of former president Yahya Jammeh, he planned to keep his secrets safe in Switzerland, where he applied for asylum. Things took a turn for the worse for him when the Swiss authorities arrested him in January 2017. The charges against him were serious – crimes against humanity.

Sonko was suspected of being a key player in the Jammeh regime’s repression of journalists, political opponents and any military personnel suspected of plotting against the government. Under the regime’s orders, a chilling reality reared its head: arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

A puzzle to be pieced together

For years, the Junglers – Jammeh’s death squad – would regularly meet at Traffic Light, a strategic crossroads in Banjul. Aboard white pick-up trucks, these men wearing baclava masks would hunt down and capture political opponents, who would first be detained in the government prison, before being transferred by the Junglers to the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). There, they were subjected to brutal interrogation and torture. Few emerged unscathed.

A number of Junglers testified before the Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). Filmed hearings, entitled Establishing the Truth, allowed investigators to piece together certain facts. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), with the support of fedpol, also interviewed several Junglers. One of them admitted to having killed about ten people, without showing any apparent remorse. Caught up in a spiral of violence, these executioners carried out orders in cold blood. Any disobedience on their part could also put their own lives in danger.

Criminal analysis yields a clear picture

Crimes against humanity pose major challenges, requiring a meticulous reconstruction of often remote past events. The Sonko case exemplifies this complexity: the investigation required in-depth analysis of the historical and political context and power dynamics in The Gambia at the time the events took place. 

By combining criminal analyses and investigations, it was possible to establish a detailed picture of the regime’s inner workings. In addition, witness accounts could be verified, thus building the case for the prosecution. All of these elements shed light on Sonko’s purported role as a key player in the planning and implementation of the atrocities.

‘Until a few years ago, investigating this type of crime was unheard of. Nowadays, such cases are becoming increasingly common. The investigations are fascinating and involve complex political and historical dimensions. They shed light on conflicts and periods of world history that are not always well known in Switzerland.’

Jacques, crime analyst, specialist on Africa

A strong message against impunity

Switzerland refuses to be a refuge for war criminals and actively takes action against impunity. Sentenced to 20 years, Sonko is the most senior official to be tried in Europe under universal jurisdiction. This historic verdict is a reminder that status affords no immunity from international justice. However, an appeal is still pending and the defendant continues to benefit from the presumption of innocence.

Further international criminal law investigations are also underway. Through rigorous investigations and international cooperation, justice is progressing and demonstrating that those who commit atrocities must know that they can be brought to justice, no matter where they are.