International criminal law: former Gambian interior minister appears before the Federal Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity
Bern, 18.4.2023 - Following a criminal investigation lasting more than six years, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) on 17.04.2023 filed its indictment in the Federal Criminal Court (FCC) against Ousman SONKO, interior minister in the Republic of the Gambia from 2006 to 2016. The defendant is accused, in his various capacities and positions, of having supported, participated in and failed to prevent systematic and generalised attacks as part of the repression carried out by the Gambian security forces against all opponents of the regime of the President Yahya JAMMEH. The charges cover a period from 2000 to 2016 and constitute in certain cases crimes against humanity in terms of Article 264a of the Swiss Criminal Code (SCC).