In accordance with the procedural code, Ousman Sonko was given the opportunity to address the Court before it began its deliberations.
In particular, he stated in English that he regretted that the Court did not provide simultaneous interpretation of the closing arguments of the other parties, as he was not able to understand what had was argued.
For this reason, he could not comment on the conclusions presented by the parties.
The lack of translation was a problem for him throughout the course of the trial, since 8 January 2024, for him but, above all, for the people interested in the proceedings: The Gambians.
He also stated that he was the subject of violations of his rights throughout the proceedings, in particular by not receiving the transcripts of his testimony in a timely manner.
He further stated that some plaintiffs have adapted their statements during the trial to make them fit the charges brought against him and that he regretted that they have discredited themselves in this way by lying. However, he did not blame them and understood how important this trial was for them.
Torture was unacceptable to him.
In the responsibilities that he had exercised, he had always taken care to prevent this as far as the forces under his control and authority were concerned, and this was the reason why the NIA had kept the police at bay, and denied them access to the persons whose transfer to the NIA had been ordered in April 2016.
There was never any attack on the plaintiffs as political opponents, journalists or for any other reason. Some plaintiffs or victims were involved in attempted coups and it was legitimate to investigate these events. However, he had not been part of the investigation panel in 2006, even though he has visited it once, twice, perhaps more times, to see if any information was useful for his mission as IGP.
The use of torture by people now known as the Junglers was clearly unacceptable, but the police – forces under his control – had not been involved. He would not have accepted their involvement.
He was not involved in the killing that took place in October 2011 by the hands of the Junglers and there was nothing serious in the case file to support the contrary.
The demonstration of 14 April 2016 was illegal and it would have been sufficient for the organizers to apply for the authorization required by law in order to avoid the police intervention. The police intervened in a professional, proportionate and legal manner. However, he was not present at the PIU at the time of the arrests.
The crimes that followed at the NIA left a lasting mark of shame on The Gambia which he strongly condemned.
He has been detained for seven years without trial and in degrading conditions, including almost two years in solitary confinement, which has affected his physical and mental health.
| “You seem to be interested in what has happened in my country, the conditions in its prisons, the actions of its police and its authorities. You take a condescending view of the resources available to us in government to try to ensure its development. Naturally, and probably without really thinking about it, you are part of a history of colonialism and racism. You have to understand that we can’t work miracles under these conditions. If a country as rich and developed as yours is unable to provide its prisoners with dignified conditions of detention, how do you expect us to be able to do so?” (…) “You have let me express myself to you more than at any time in the last 7 years, but I don’t know if you have heard me”. (…) My country does not need expiatory victims immolated before foreign judges. I hope that through my testimony I have been able to contribute to the work of reconciliation that the TRRC has begun, and I hope that all of us Gambians will be able to build the future of our country with respect for everyone, by honoring the memory of those who have disappeared and by assuring all those who have suffered of our compassion and our desire that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated”. Ousman Sonko’s final words to the FCC, 7 March 2024 |
Final: The court informed the parties that the verdict date would be communicated at a later stage.