Former ‘death squad’ leader appears in military trial in The Gambia
Summary
Sanna Manjang, the former leader of a Gambian paramilitary group called the “Junglers,” has appeared in military court accused of deserting the armed forces after fleeing in 2017. This trial is part of The Gambia’s efforts to address crimes, including killings and torture, that happened under former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule.Key Facts
- Sanna Manjang led the “Junglers,” a paramilitary group accused by the UN of illegal killings and torture.
- Manjang fled The Gambia in 2017 after President Yahya Jammeh lost power in 2016.
- He was arrested in Senegal in November and returned to The Gambia in December 2024.
- Manjang faces trial for desertion, accused of abandoning the military for nine years intentionally.
- Previous murder charges against Manjang, including for killing journalist Deyda Hydara, were dropped due to lack of witnesses.
- The Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission found that 240-250 people were killed by the state under Jammeh.
- Other members linked to Jammeh’s regime have been prosecuted in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.
- Manjang is also currently on trial for assaulting two men in separate cases.
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