Switzerland will try a former Gambian minister under ousted dictator Yahya Jammeh for crimes against humanity on Monday in a milestone case where a serial rape victim will testify after a multi-decade wait for justice.

Former interior minister Ousman Sonko will become the highest-ranking official to be tried in Europe under the principle of universal jurisdiction that allows grave crimes to be prosecuted anywhere, said Swiss campaign group TRIAL International which filed the complaint against him.

Nine Gambian plaintiffs will travel to Switzerland for the scheduled Jan. 8-30 trial at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona in a case rights activists see as ensuring global accountability for the worst atrocities.

Sonko, 54, faces charges including murder, multiple rapes, and torture between 2000-2016 in what is Switzerland's second trial ever for crimes against humanity. He denies the charges.

"It has been a long period of waiting, waiting with anger, anxiety. But I am very optimistic now and I feel so happy. I am smelling justice," said Madi Ceesay, a 67-year-old plaintiff who says he was detained and tortured under Sonko.

The defendant's lawyer Philippe Currat plans to ask the court to abandon the case, citing problems with the investigations and hearings.

"Since the beginning, I have been stupefied by the way this file has been handled," he told Reuters, saying some of the evidence in the indictment was based on "secret" hearings in Gambia and that interviewees had not been informed of their rights.

<h2>'Struggling for 25 years'</h2>

One of the plaintiffs is Binta Jamba who, according to the indictment, was raped multiple times by Sonko between 2000-2002 after he murdered her husband in connection with an alleged planned coup attempt.

Once, in 2005, he held her captive for five days, beating her and raping her repeatedly, the indictment said. She fell pregnant by him twice and he paid for the abortions.

"Me and my family have been struggling with this for almost 25 years now," she said in a message sent to Reuters. "Without justice, I will never have peace in my life."

Currat says he can prove that Sonko was abroad during much of the period of the rape accusations.

He will also argue that many of the alleged crimes against humanity, including the rape charges, happened before a relevant Swiss law took effect in 2011 and are not admissible.

Sonko, 54, was arrested in early 2017 in Switzerland, where he was seeking asylum. Jammeh's 22-year repressive rule ended in January 2017 after he lost an election and was forced to flee.

Sonko could face a life sentence as the maximum possible penalty.

Currat says his treatment in Swiss jails has been cruel and that he was denied food and given inadequate medical care.

Fatoumatta Sandeng, the daughter of Solo Sandeng, a Gambian opposition activist killed in custody in 2016, said she is eager to look into Sonko's eyes in court. "If we don't hold people accountable, things like this will keep happening in Gambia, in Africa, all over the world," she said.

Switzerland will try a former Gambian minister under ousted dictator Yahya Jammeh for crimes against humanity on Monday in a milestone case where a serial rape victim will testify after a multi-decade wait for justice.

Switzerland will try a former Gambian minister under ousted dictator Yahya Jammeh for crimes against humanity on Monday in a milestone case where a serial rape victim will testify after a multi-decade wait for justice. Former interior minister Ousman Sonko will become the highest-ranking official to be tried in Europe under the principle of universal jurisdiction that allows grave crimes to be prosecuted anywhere, said Swiss campaign group TRIAL International which filed the complaint against him. Nine Gambian plaintiffs will travel to Switzerland for the scheduled Jan. 8-30 trial at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona in a case rights activists see as ensuring global accountability for the worst atrocities. Sonko, 54, faces charges including murder, multiple rapes, and torture between 2000-2016 in what is Switzerland's second trial ever for crimes against humanity. He denies the charges. "It has been a long period of waiting, waiting with anger, anxiety. But I am very optimistic now and I feel so happy. I am smelling justice," said Madi Ceesay, a 67-year-old plaintiff who says he was detained and tortured under Sonko. The defendant's lawyer Philippe Currat plans to ask the court to abandon the case, citing problems with the investigations and hearings. "Since the beginning, I have been stupefied by the way this file has been handled," he told Reuters, saying some of the evidence in the indictment was based on "secret" hearings in Gambia and that interviewees had not been informed of their rights. 'Struggling for 25 years' One of the plaintiffs is Binta Jamba who, according to the indictment, was raped multiple times by Sonko between 2000-2002 after he murdered her husband in connection with an alleged planned coup attempt. Once, in 2005, he held her captive for five days, beating her and raping her repeatedly, the indictment said. She fell pregnant by him twice and he paid for the abortions. "Me and my family have been struggling with this for almost 25 years now," she said in a message sent to Reuters. "Without justice, I will never have peace in my life." Currat says he can prove that Sonko was abroad during much of the period of the rape accusations. He will also argue that many of the alleged crimes against humanity, including the rape charges, happened before a relevant Swiss law took effect in 2011 and are not admissible. Sonko, 54, was arrested in early 2017 in Switzerland, where he was seeking asylum. Jammeh's 22-year repressive rule ended in January 2017 after he lost an election and was forced to flee. Sonko could face a life sentence as the maximum possible penalty. Currat says his treatment in Swiss jails has been cruel and that he was denied food and given inadequate medical care. Fatoumatta Sandeng, the daughter of Solo Sandeng, a Gambian opposition activist killed in custody in 2016, said she is eager to look into Sonko's eyes in court. "If we don't hold people accountable, things like this will keep happening in Gambia, in Africa, all over the world," she said.

Gambian ex-minister Ousman Sonko faces rape, torture charges in long-awaited Swiss trial

From Aung Sang Suu Kyi to Omar al-Bashir: Fate of ousted leaders

The Gambia&#39;s longtime former ruler Yahya Jammeh stole at least $50 million from the state, the country&#39;s justice minister said Monday, in the first major anti-corruption move by the country&#39;s new president.

It is the first time the new government of the small west African nation&nbsp;has put a figure to the amount it believes Jammeh plundered from state coffers before leaving for exile in Equatorial Guinea in January after 22 years in power.

&quot;President Yahya Jammeh personally or under his instructions directed the unlawful withdrawal of at least $50 million,&quot; said Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou, describing withdrawals from The Gambia&#39;s central bank and linked with state-owned Gamtel between 2013 and 2017.

&quot;We have today obtained a court order freezing or placing a temporary hold on the known assets in the country of former President Yahya Jammeh and companies directly associated with him,&quot; Tambadou added.

The court order concerns 88 bank accounts in Jammeh&#39;s name or those of his associates, Tambadou told journalists, along with 14 companies linked with the former strongman.

Jammeh ran everything from bakeries to farms during his tenure and was regularly accused of taking over successful businesses for his own gain.

Monday&#39;s order was designed to prevent Jammeh &quot;liquidating or dissipating assets,&quot; the minister added, confirming the order applied only to the former leader&#39;s assets in The Gambia.

Last Tuesday Gambian police said three cousins of the former president would face theft charges after selling off his cattle, raising suspicions that his contacts still in the country were under scrutiny.

&quot;These discoveries are just a tip of the iceberg,&quot; Tambadou told a press conference.

Interior Minister Mai Fatty accused Jammeh of taking $11 million after leaving in January, adding he also took luxury cars piled onto a Chadian cargo plane, but the claim was not backed up by the rest of the cabinet.

The Gambia&#39;s longtime opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections in April, easily defeating Jammeh&#39;s party which has been cast into the electoral wilderness by his departure.

That came after the stunning ouster of Jammeh by President Adama Barrow in a December presidential election, a result which the defeated leader fought for weeks until the threat of a regional military intervention.

Meanwhile police continue to investigate dozens of forced disappearances under Jammeh&#39;s rule, with victims clamouring for justice.

The Gambia&#39;s National Assembly was long derided for acting as a rubber stamp for Jammeh&#39;s decisions, but hopes are high for a revitalised chamber with a raft of fresh faces elected.

(AFP)

It is the first time the new government of the small west African nation has put a figure to the amount it believes Jammeh plundered from state coffers

The Gambia's longtime former ruler Yahya Jammeh stole at least $50 million from the state, the country's justice minister said Monday, in the first major anti-corruption move by the country's new president. It is the first time the new government of the small west African nation has put a figure to the amount it believes Jammeh plundered from state coffers before leaving for exile in Equatorial Guinea in January after 22 years in power. "President Yahya Jammeh personally or under his instructions directed the unlawful withdrawal of at least $50 million," said Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou, describing withdrawals from The Gambia's central bank and linked with state-owned Gamtel between 2013 and 2017. "We have today obtained a court order freezing or placing a temporary hold on the known assets in the country of former President Yahya Jammeh and companies directly associated with him," Tambadou added. The court order concerns 88 bank accounts in Jammeh's name or those of his associates, Tambadou told journalists, along with 14 companies linked with the former strongman. Jammeh ran everything from bakeries to farms during his tenure and was regularly accused of taking over successful businesses for his own gain. Monday's order was designed to prevent Jammeh "liquidating or dissipating assets," the minister added, confirming the order applied only to the former leader's assets in The Gambia. Last Tuesday Gambian police said three cousins of the former president would face theft charges after selling off his cattle, raising suspicions that his contacts still in the country were under scrutiny. "These discoveries are just a tip of the iceberg," Tambadou told a press conference. Interior Minister Mai Fatty accused Jammeh of taking $11 million after leaving in January, adding he also took luxury cars piled onto a Chadian cargo plane, but the claim was not backed up by the rest of the cabinet. The Gambia's longtime opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections in April, easily defeating Jammeh's party which has been cast into the electoral wilderness by his departure. That came after the stunning ouster of Jammeh by President Adama Barrow in a December presidential election, a result which the defeated leader fought for weeks until the threat of a regional military intervention. Meanwhile police continue to investigate dozens of forced disappearances under Jammeh's rule, with victims clamouring for justice. The Gambia's National Assembly was long derided for acting as a rubber stamp for Jammeh's decisions, but hopes are high for a revitalised chamber with a raft of fresh faces elected. (AFP)

Gambia's former ruler Jammeh stole $50 million: Justice minister

An aide to new Gambia President Adama Barrow has alleged that Yahya Jammeh, the former president who left the country Saturday after 22 years in power, plundered millions of dollars in his last days in power, AFP reported.

Barrow, who is in the Sengalese capital Dakar, is preparing to take office.

A West African military force has entered Gambia to secure his return.

Jammeh will now live in exile in Equatorial Guinea.&nbsp;

Mai Fatty, an aide of President Barrow&#39;s, alleged the new administration has found 11 million dollars were recently withdrawn from the country&#39;s coffers.&nbsp;

&quot;As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are largely empty,&quot; he told reporters in the Sengalese capital Dakar.

Former president Jammeh had refused to step down after Barrow won the election on December 1 last year.

&quot;The state of security in The Gambia is still fragile,&quot; Fatty said, adding that Barrow is eager to return.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Says, "As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress"

An aide to new Gambia President Adama Barrow has alleged that Yahya Jammeh, the former president who left the country Saturday after 22 years in power, plundered millions of dollars in his last days in power, AFP reported. Barrow, who is in the Sengalese capital Dakar, is preparing to take office. A West African military force has entered Gambia to secure his return. Jammeh will now live in exile in Equatorial Guinea. Mai Fatty, an aide of President Barrow's, alleged the new administration has found 11 million dollars were recently withdrawn from the country's coffers. "As we take over, the government of The Gambia is in financial distress. The coffers are largely empty," he told reporters in the Sengalese capital Dakar. Former president Jammeh had refused to step down after Barrow won the election on December 1 last year. "The state of security in The Gambia is still fragile," Fatty said, adding that Barrow is eager to return. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Gambia: New president's aide alleges Jammeh plundered millions of dollars before leaving office

Nigeria has sent 200 soldiers and air assets including fighter jets to Senegal as part of a regional force to enforce the result of Gambia&#39;s contested election, the country&#39;s air force said Wednesday.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had &quot;today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopter as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia&quot;.

The Economic Community Of West African States has repeatedly called on leader Yahya Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power.

Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as President-elect Adama Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil.

Nigeria said the forces were part of an ECOWAS military standby intervention force &quot;tasked by ECOWAS heads of state to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in The Gambia&quot;.

&quot;The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia,&quot; it added in a statement.

(AFP)

President Jammeh has refused to step down after the Dec. 1 elections results and declared a state of emergency in the country on Tuesday

Nigeria has sent 200 soldiers and air assets including fighter jets to Senegal as part of a regional force to enforce the result of Gambia's contested election, the country's air force said Wednesday. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had "today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopter as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia". The Economic Community Of West African States has repeatedly called on leader Yahya Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power. Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as President-elect Adama Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil. Nigeria said the forces were part of an ECOWAS military standby intervention force "tasked by ECOWAS heads of state to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in The Gambia". "The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia," it added in a statement. (AFP)

Gambia: Nigeria sends troops, jets to Senegal to 'enforce' election results

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Gambian ex-minister Ousman Sonko faces rape, torture charges in long-awaited Swiss trial

From Aung Sang Suu Kyi to Omar al-Bashir: Fate of ousted leaders

Gambia's former ruler Jammeh stole $50 million: Justice minister

Gambia: New president's aide alleges Jammeh plundered millions of dollars before leaving office

Gambia: Nigeria sends troops, jets to Senegal to 'enforce' election results