Amnesty International has emphasized the need for justice as Ousman Sonko, Gambia's former Interior Minister, faces trial for crimes against humanity in Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. Sonko, serving under ex-President Yahya Jammeh, allegedly committed these crimes from 2000 to 2016.
Michèle Eken, a researcher from Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa office, highlighted the crucial role of universal jurisdiction in ending impunity. Eken asserted, "States must either prosecute or extradite those accused of international law crimes; there should be no safe haven for them.” She commended Switzerland for prosecuting Sonko and urged the court to facilitate victim participation in the trial.
Amnesty International also called on the Gambian government to hasten the prosecution of human rights violators identified by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). The TRRC's November 2021 report recommended prosecuting 70 officials, including Sonko. The government's May 2023 plan proposed establishing a hybrid court for this purpose.
Sonko, who held the ministerial post from 2006 to 2016, fled Gambia in 2016 and was detained in Switzerland on 26 January 2017 under universal jurisdiction. He is accused of involvement in killings, rape, and torture, with NGOs providing evidence leading to his arrest. The trial is scheduled to start on 8 January 2023.
What does the prosecution of Ousman Sonko for crimes against humanity reveal about the broader issue of corrupt leadership in Africa, and what steps should be taken to address this systemic problem?
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