Gambia wants former minister to answer charges

Gambia’s new government is seeking the return of former interior minister Ousman Sonko from Switzerland to answer allegations of human rights abuses. Sonko is currently in detention in Switzerland having sought asylum late last year. In an exclusive interview with Swiss public television, SRF, the new Gambian President Adama Barrow called for Sonko to be released into Gambian custody. The West African country is investigating claims of torture and killings under the old regime. As interior minister, Sonko is accused of commanding a special squad known for its brutality against citizens. He fled to Europe last year after being fired from his post by the former president. After failing to find asylum in Sweden, he applied in Switzerland. He was arrested by the Bern authorities last month after Geneva-based group TRIAL International filed a criminal complaint to the Swiss authorities. On February 6, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office said it had taken ...

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