Ousman Sonko, Former Gambian Interior Minister, Faces Trial in Switzerland

Sonko is accused of crimes against humanity under Yahya Jammeh's dictatorship, with the trial held under the principle of 'universal jurisdiction'.

Ousman Sonko, former Interior Minister of Gambia, is on trial in Switzerland for crimes against humanity, alleged to have occurred over 16 years under Yahya Jammeh's dictatorship.
Sonko is accused of supporting, participating in, and failing to prevent attacks by Gambian security forces against regime opponents, including killings, acts of torture, acts of rape and numerous unlawful detentions.
The trial, expected to last a month, is being held under the principle of 'universal jurisdiction', which allows national courts in third countries to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide regardless of where the crimes were alleged to have been committed.
Sonko applied for asylum in Switzerland in 2017 after being sacked from his position and was detained after Geneva-based NGO Trial International made a complaint.
This trial follows a recent case in November where a German court sentenced a former member of a Gambian death squad to life imprisonment.