The Gambian Justice System's Long Road to Accountability

From Death Squad to Courtroom

I've watched as nations attempt to confront their violent pasts, but few cases illustrate the complexity and moral gravity of such efforts quite like this one in The Gambia. Sanna Manjang, once a feared figure in the country's paramilitary Junglers unit, now stands before a military court accused of deserting the armed forces in 2017 after Yahya Jammeh's fall from power.

What strikes me most about this trial is not its procedural mechanics, but what it symbolizes for a nation grappling with its legacy. For over two decades, Jammeh ruled with an iron fist, and those who served under him often operated outside legal norms—sometimes violently. The Junglers were no exception, accused of extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances.

Manjang's appearance in court is a small step forward, but it also reveals the deep challenges facing The Gambia's judicial system. Despite years of effort to establish accountability through institutions like the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), justice remains elusive for many victims.

"The real test lies not just in prosecuting deserters, but in ensuring that those who committed atrocities are held accountable," says a senior human rights lawyer based in Banjul.

Why the Desertion Charge?

Manjang is being tried for his absence of "a continuous period of nine years with the intention of deserting"—a rather technical charge that speaks to how far the Gambian military has moved from its pre-Jammeh days. The fact that he was arrested in Senegal and repatriated just last year highlights just how long this case lingered.

This charge, while not directly addressing past crimes like murder or torture, is symbolic. It underscores the country's attempt to enforce discipline within its institutions—a necessary step toward rebuilding trust in the military's integrity.

But for many Gambians who lost loved ones during Jammeh's era, this case feels incomplete. In July, a separate set of murder charges—related to the killing of journalist Deyda Hydara and others—was dropped due to difficulties gathering witnesses, some of whom may still be hiding or have been coerced.

Unfinished Business

The drop in those murder charges isn't just procedural—it's deeply personal. Hydara was shot by members of the Junglers in 2004 while reporting on Jammeh's regime. His death marked one of the more prominent cases in which journalists were targeted for their work—a reminder that press freedom under Jammeh was not only restricted, but actively suppressed.

Manjang was also accused of personally decapitating another man, a crime so brutal it would have been difficult to conceal even in the chaos of political upheaval. Yet even with such evidence, the prosecution struggled to build cases strong enough to hold him accountable for these acts.

It's important to note that other members of the Junglers have faced justice elsewhere—some abroad in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. Their trials serve as a contrast to what's happening here: the slow, sometimes halting progress of domestic accountability.

Justice in a Post-Jammeh Era

The Gambia has made some strides since Jammeh left power in 2016. President Adama Barrow's administration has worked with international partners to investigate crimes committed during the dictatorship, including through the TRRC. The Commission found that between 240 and 250 people were killed by state forces—some of them under Manjang's watch.

Yet despite these findings, many families still wait for closure. There is a widespread perception that justice in The Gambia remains uneven, often favoring those with resources or political connections over victims. This imbalance raises questions not just about the legal process, but about the broader cultural and systemic changes needed to prevent such abuses from recurring.

What's Next?

The military trial of Sanna Manjang is far from a resolution. It represents a critical chapter in The Gambia's journey toward justice—but also reveals how far the country still has to go. As we continue to follow this case, one thing remains clear: accountability for past crimes must be more than symbolic.

Until all those responsible for human rights violations are brought to book—whether through international tribunals or national courts—the wounds of Jammeh's regime will remain open. For now, Manjang's presence in court is a reminder that the path to justice is long, and the cost of delay can be measured not just in years lost, but in lives never truly accounted for.

• Manjang's trial begins at the High Court in Banjul
• The case highlights institutional weaknesses in post-Jammeh Gambian justice
• International comparisons show that accountability efforts are not unique to The Gambia