The appeal trial of Ousman Sonko, former Interior Minister of The Gambia, will open on 30 March 2026 before the Higher Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Federal Criminal Court (FCC). The hearing will take place at the Federal Criminal Court, Viale Stefano Franscini 7, 6500 Bellinzona, Ticino in Switzerland.
According to TRIAL International NGO, the appeal trial is scheduled take place from 30th March to 2nd April 2026, and from 7th – 10th April 2026, as well as 14th – 17th April 2026. However, the 20th – 24th April 2026 and 29th – 30th April 2026 are set as reserved dates for the appeal trial.
It would be recalled that on 15th May 2024, Ousman Sonko was found guilty of multiple counts of crimes against humanity for atrocities committed between 2000 and 2016, during the rule of former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. The accused Ousman Sonko, the Office of the Attorney General, and ten plaintiffs have appealed the decision.
His trial was the second for crimes against humanity in Swiss judicial history. Ousman Sonko is also the highest-ranking state official ever to be tried in Europe for international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
A statement from Trial International NGO indicated that the proceedings will be in German and will be open to the public and the media, subject to available courtroom space.
