Former ‘death squad’ leader appears in military trial in The Gambia
Sanna Manjang, a former leader of a Gambian paramilitary unit, is facing a military trial for desertion following the end of Yahya Jammeh's regime. The trial is part of a broader effort to hold individuals accountable for human rights abuses committed during Jammeh's 20-year rule.
Why it matters
This trial is a significant step in The Gambia's post-authoritarian transition and its commitment to justice for state-sponsored violence.
Sanna Manjang faces a military court for deserting the country’s army in 2017 after the end of Yahya Jammeh’s 20-year rule.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Sanna Manjang arrives at the High Court in Banjul in January last year where he was accused of shooting an AFP correspondent [File: Muhamadou Bittaye/AFP] By AFP Published On 21 Sep 2026 21 Sep 2026 The former head of the Gambian paramilitary unit known as the “Junglers” has appeared in a military court to face charges of desertion.
Sanna Manjang is accused of deserting the armed forces when the lieutenant colonel fled the country in 2017 after the end of the 20-year rule of President Yahya Jammeh.
The case in the capital, Banjul, marks another official bid at accountability for killings which happened when Jammeh was in power, after a murder case against Manjang was dropped in July.
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