DETENTION EXTENDED FOR FORMER GAMBIAN MINISTER UNDER INVESTIGATION Ousman Sonko Context Ongoing proceedings in Switzerland against former Gambian minister of the interior under the Yahya Jammeh regime for alleged serious crimes under international law Suspect Former inspector general of police (2005 to 2006) and Minister of the Interior (2006 to 2016) Country of residence of suspect The Gambia Charges Crimes against humanity, and torture Developments in 2018 His detention was renewed several times during the year in order to allow the Office of the Attorney to interview witnesses and victims. The investigation is still ongoing. Current status Field notes Facts The Gambia was under was under the control of Yahya Jammeh from 1994 to 2016. For more than two decades, all opposition was repressed: torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances were widespread. After the re-election of Yahya Jammeh in September 2006, Ousman Sonko was appointed minister of interior. He held this position until September 2016, when he was dismissed from office and left The Gambia. Procedure Alerted to Ousman Sonko’s presence on Swiss territory, TRIAL International lodged a criminal complaint with the Bernese prosecuting authorities on 25 January 2017. The former Gambian minister was arrested the following day at the immigration center of Lyss (canton of Bern), where he had filed for asylum. He was charged with crimes against humanity. Nine Gambian victims filed a complaint. Six of them were heard by the attorney general, as well as several witnesses. On 9 October 2017, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court confirmed the seizure of Ousman Sonko’s assets. They are worth approximately USD 15,000. His detention was extended for three months twice by the Court of Coercive Measures of the canton of Bern (on 2 May 2017, on 31 July 2017 and then on 1 November 2017). In 2018, his detention was extended twice for six months by the Court of Coercive Measures (on 29 January 2018 and then on 30 July 2018). Read more about the case Detained pending trial 67 “In spite of decadelong abuse, some victims are opening up for the first time” “Since Ouman Sonko’s arrest, the Gambian authorities have been very willing to collaborate with TRIAL International. This has facilitated our access to the field, my colleagues and myself have travelled there over six times to meet survivors. It is sobering that, in spite of decadelong abuse, some of them are opening up for the first time.” Emeline Escafit, Legal Advisor at TRIAL International