The Swiss Federal Criminal Court is delivering its verdict in the trial of Ousman Sonko, the former Gambian interior minister accused of crimes against humanity. Sonko has denied all charges, which include allegations of murder, torture, rape, and unlawful detentions during his tenure under the regime of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh from 2006 to 2016.
Swiss prosecutors argue that Sonko's role as the interior minister made him responsible for the widespread and systematic attacks on civilians . The trial is significant as it is only the second time Switzerland has applied the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Sonko was arrested in Switzerland in 2017 after a complaint by the NGO Trial International and has been in custody since. The prosecution has called for a life sentence, The trial, conducted in Bellinzona, Switzerland, has been closely watched as a pivotal moment for international justice and accountability for crimes committed during Jammeh's autocratic rule in Gambia.