Former 'death squad' leader appears before military trial in The Gambia
A military trial has opened in The Gambia against Sanna Manjang, a former so-called 'death squad' leader, who is charged with deserting the army in 2017 around the time Yahya Jammeh's 20-year rule ended.
Sanna Manjang, described as a former leader of a so-called 'death squad,' has appeared before a military trial in The Gambia. He faces a charge of deserting the country's armed forces in 2017.
The alleged desertion occurred around the time Yahya Jammeh's 20-year rule over The Gambia came to an end, a period marked as a major turning point in the country's recent history. The military court is now examining the circumstances surrounding the case.
Manjang's reported ties to the so-called death squad place the proceedings within a broader context of accountability tied to the Jammeh era and the transition that followed it. The trial is ongoing, with the military court set to continue reviewing matters connected to the desertion charge.
The case is being heard in a military court, which in The Gambia handles matters involving armed forces personnel. The proceedings draw attention to wider questions about how the country's institutions are addressing issues inherited from the previous political era.
