Reports from local papers in Sweden has it that Jammeh’s fired interior minister Ousman Sonko is seeking Asylum in Sweden. Mr. Sonko reportedly arrived in Sweden’s main airport Tuesday evening and immediately seek asylum from the Swedish government. The local Swedish paper AFTOMBLADET reporting the story confirm to Gainako staffers that someone by the name of Ousman Sonko who is believed to be the former minister of Interior has applied for asylum. Due to the nature of his high profile case the reporter added, Mr. Sonko’s case has be elevated to bypass normal asylum protocol in Sweden. Mr. Sonko is seeking immediate protection and security as he is reportedly worried that his life is at risk even while seeking Asylum. Below is the full story as reported by Aftombladet..
Google Translated
Sacked Gambian minister has sought asylum in Sweden; Described as one of the most vicious Loyalists to authoritarian president
Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has fired Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, who is notorious for its brutality. Now the ex-minister fled the country – and sought asylum in Sweden. It says a source for Aftonbladet.
– I can confirm that a person with that name has applied for a residence permit in Sweden, says Irene Sokolow on the Migration Board’s press department.
Ousman Sonko described as one of President Yahya Jammeh nearest men. But late last week, the authoritarian leader kicking him from the post of interior minister. It reports several Gambian media. The information has not been confirmed officially by the regime in the country.
Since last Friday, it was unclear where Ousman Sonko been. But now Aftonbladet tell that ex-minister has made it to Sweden.
Having searched a residence permit.
According to an informant Sonko landed at the airport on Tuesday evening. Shortly thereafter, he applied for asylum.
Migration Board confirms that an application for a residence permit has been received. Otherwise, however authority reticent about the case.
– I can confirm that an application for a residence permit has been received from a person who has the name you mention, says Irene Sokolow at the Migration Board’s press department.
– What it is due to the application, whether it is asylum or something else, I cannot say. It’s confidential.
Migration Board do not want to go out with details of where Sonko located. Normally, he would have been transferred to the Agency’s arrival accommodation in Singapore. According to Aftonbladet informant, he is not there.
– We make individual assessments in each case in terms of accommodation and other circumstances. But what happened in this particular case, I can not speak about, says Pierre Karatzian at the Migration Board’s press service.
When people who are high-ranking foreign governments seeking residency in Sweden, the Migration Board to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other government agencies.
– In the case of a person who has high positions in another country, we can of course contact the Swedish authorities who may be interested to know that the person in question here, says Pierre Karatzian.
So far, however, UD connected.
– I have heard me for the protocol, the embassies in the area and the Africa Department. We have not received any information on this, says Sofia Karlberg at the Foreign Press.
“Brutal Loyalist”
President Yahya Jammeh took power in Gambia in connection with a military coup in 1994. He runs the country with the help of a number of loyal military leaders. Human rights organizations have for years been sounding the alarm about critics of the regime are oppressed and vulnerable to violence. Last spring was arrested several members of the opposition party UDP. One of the activists died in custody after having been subjected to torture, according to Amnesty International. UN demanded that the death would be investigated. President Jammeh responded by asking the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to “go to hell”. The former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko has been part of the political elite in Gambia long. Dissident media in the country, describing him as brutal and hänsyslös. “He has been known as one of the most brutal loyalists to Yahya Jammeh and his fingerprints in almost all cases of disappearances, extrajudicial executions, torture and detention of Gambian people,” writes the site gainako.com. Yahya Jammeh Amnesty International. This is a developing story…
Source: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article23568209.ab
Note paper has confirmed that the wrong photo was published with the story. This has been corrected.
1 Comment
Ousman Sonko, the former minister for interior is equally a good talented criminal as Yaya Jammeh his boss. If he truly ran away for his life from Yaya Jammeh government to seek Asylum in Europe and is allowed to give him protection, then Yaya Jammeh can also get Asylum in any part of The world including the UK and America that he insults in his public speeches in Gambia.
Mr Sonko is a killer, rapiest and thurturer who killed fare too many people in Gambia including migrants who were in the Gambia. Ousman Sonko is a danger to any peaceful civilised society. Will the Swedish authority not be doing any background study about this Ousman Sonko prior to taking up his Asylum application forward for main interview. The Swedish government will make the biggest mistake in their Immegration application for Asylum seekers when this Ousman Sonko is granted Asylum status in Sweden who is a dangerous man to women and a treat to any peaceful country.
I know he will fight for his Asylum case through the support of human right lawyers but the Swedish authority should set up an independent investigator about Ousman Sonko’s Criminal record before the present government of the Gambia and during Yaya Jammeh government. The truth will be expose to investigators. This sutdy will be important for the security and safety of the citizens of the country Ousman is claiming Asylum from.
Some Gambian who knows Ousman Sonko will not feel safe to be sociable with him especially woman, are highly scared of him.
Ousman is known in the Gambia as addicted to raping woman and had not face any penalty due to his power and influence as a minister. He was in prison after he was found guilty of rape prior to 1994 and was release and appointed by Yaya Jammeh base on their tribal line and pursuiing the criminal intelligent networking goals.
This made him the longest served minister in president Jammeh’s government after the vice-president. Am not saying all this to spoil this man Asylum case and put him down, no. Rather I want the government of Sweden to know how dangerous Ousman Sonko is and should not be surprised when he organise a terrorist attack against innocent people in Sweden or other part of Europe like we have seen in France in recent years. They were also Criminals in there country of origin like Ousman Sonko who present like a genuine Asylum seeker or Refugee. if you refuse to take heed now, Ousman’s true colour will appear to you when it is fare too late, because potential criminals are always 2 or 3 steps ahead that’s why they offer successiful in there criminal actions.