By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
First to be held accountable even before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission submitted its reports to the government was former Junta member Yankuba Touray who refused to cooperate with the Commission. He was sentenced to death by hanging on July 14th 2021 which was commuted to life imprisonment because of The Gambia’s moratorium on the Death Penalty. Now former Jungler Driver Bai Lowe is next on the line as German courts are set to conclude his trial on 30th November 2023.
Touray was alleged to have contributed to the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former Finance Minister working under the Military Junta which took over power through a coup in 1994. Ceesay was allegedly killed in Touray’s house.
Since Touray’s conviction, the arm of Justice has been slowly tightening its grip on three alleged perpetrators mentioned in the Gambia’s Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). The TRRC is a defunct commission which investigated the human rights violations that occurred during the leadership of former President Jammeh from 1994 to 2016.
The long, slow arm of Justice stretches outside The Gambia’s borders, as the international community has shown significant interest in prosecuting perpetrators of “crimes against humanity” committed in The Gambia. At least two Junglers and a former Minister of Interior will face prosecution with the Bai Lowe case nearing completion.
- In the U.S., alleged former Jungler Michael Correa was indicted for torture in June 2020 and his trial should open in September 2024. He was alleged to have been involved in the death of two young Gambian-US citizens Alhagie Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe.
- In Switzerland, former Minister of Interior Ousman Sonko was indicted for crimes against humanity in April this year and his trial will open soon, in January 2024. Sonko is alleged to have provided directions leading to the death of Deyda Hydara.
The two cases set to start in 2024 are the Micheal Correa case in the United States and the Ousman Sonko case in Switzerland. It’s important to understand how these three perpetrators are linked. Ousman Sonko rose up the ranks from an officer to the Inspector General of Police to the Minister of Interior. He collaborated with the Junglers on numerous killing sprees against former President Jammeh’s perpetrators and perceived perpetrators.
Bai Lowe Case Nearing Completion
The Junglers were a killing squad who reported to Tumbul Tamba one of the former President’s Generals who was under the complete control of the former President. The Junglers worked outside the rule of law and committed an untold number of murders, executions, enforced disappearances, tortures and all kinds of “crimes against humanity”.
- The Bai Lowe case is now nearing completion. Information reaching Gainako Online Newspaper indicates that Bai Lowe’s Lawyers made their closing statements yesterday 24th November 2023 in Celle. The verdict on this case is scheduled to be announced on Thursday 30th November 2023 when the case should conclude. Bai Lowe was indicted for crimes against humanity in March 2022 and his trial subsequently started in April 2022.
Bai Lowe was a former member of the Junglers and drove killers to numerous destinations for executions of former President Jammeh’s opponents and perceived opponents. Some of his victims include the assassination of Deyda Hydara, the attempted murder of Lawyer Ousman Sillah and the execution of some 50 West African migrants and their Gambian counterparts.
In an exclusive interview with Freedom Newspaper, Bai Lowe told now-deceased journalist Pa Nderry Mbai that “when the guys go to receive orders, I am usually not aware of it. The command, Tumbul Tamba will just come and say we should finish this person, then the operation begins. But Ousman Sonko usually coordinates such operations. He tells where the target is situated at any particular point in time. Ousman Sonko does everything. The guys took the taxi’s, we went to where Deyda Hydara was approaching from, the guys blocked him with the taxis, Manjang shot him and Malick came and finished him”.
This is just one example of the heinous crimes that Bai Lowe confessed his involvement in. You can read more about the Bai Lowe case in the link below. https://gainako.com/german-federal-prosecutors-request-life-imprisonment-for-former-jungler-bai-lowe/
Universal Jurisdiction
All three of these cases are made possible through Universal Jurisdiction (UJ) and the application of International Law.
UJ is a legal principle allowing for the prosecution of the most serious crimes regardless of the nationality of the victims and perpetrators. International crimes are considered offences to humanity a as whole, which is why UJ is intended to make sure that there is nowhere for perpetrators to hide and escape their responsibility.
Stay updated by visiting Gainako Online Newspaper for more information on these cases taking place across the globe.