Ex-Jammeh death squad leader pleads not guilty as landmark Gambia trial opens

The Gambia has commenced its first trial against a member of the "Junglers" paramilitary unit.

On Thursday, Sanna Manjang, former head of the unit, appeared at the High Court in Banjul, pleading not guilty to two counts of murder.

In December, Manjang faced additional charges related to other killings, including that of journalist Deyda Hydara. However, these cases were not part of Thursday's proceedings.

The current charges involve the murder of Kajali Jammeh, allegedly a member of the MFDC rebels, and another individual, Samba Wurry. Prosecutors claim Manjang killed Kajali Jammeh by slitting his neck and Samba Wurry by stabbing him in the chest.

A witness had previously testified to the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that Manjang decapitated Kajali Jammeh, threatening to feed his body to crocodiles.

The Junglers operated independently of The Gambia's regular army and have been implicated in extrajudicial killings and torture, as reported by the United Nations and various rights organizations.

Manjang was arrested in Senegal in November and returned to The Gambia in December. He had been evading capture since Yahya Jammeh, the former dictator, was exiled in 2017.

Jammeh's regime, from 1994 to 2017, was characterized by human rights abuses and misappropriation of state funds. After losing the 2016 presidential election, Jammeh fled to Equatorial Guinea, leading to the establishment of the TRRC.

The TRRC's findings indicate that 240 to 250 people were killed by the state under Jammeh's rule, along with evidence of other abuses such as torture, kidnappings, and witch hunts.

Several of Jammeh's associates, including members of the Junglers, have been detained and sentenced internationally in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.

The next hearing is scheduled for Thu, Feb 9, 2023, which may address additional charges.

Based on reporting by Africanews.