Coup: Gambia sentences soldier to 12 years jail term

Coup: Gambia sentences soldier to 12 years jail term

A Gambian court sentenced a soldier to 12 years in prison for conspiring to stage a coup in the West African country that has restored democracy after 22 years of dictatorship.

According to a judgment viewed by AFP on Wednesday, the court found Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera guilty of treason on Tuesday.

While the area has seen a series of military coups since 2020, Gambia has had a democratic re-establishment.

Former dictator Yahya Jammeh held sway over the tiny state for 22 years until he was unexpectedly defeated in presidential elections in December 2016 by political newcomer Adama Barrow.

The court judgment said Fadera — who denied the charges — had wanted to involve several low-ranking soldiers, an officer and some civilians.

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Out of around 10 people initially questioned last December, four were charged and went on trial.

Three of those were acquitted on Tuesday on the charge of not reporting what Fadera was planning.

According to the judgment, Fadera was a disgruntled navy laboratory technician, who said he wanted to bring the people out onto the streets to support him.

It said that during the planning he had consulted a marabout, or religious leader, in both Gambia and Mali.

The judge, in his sentencing, said, “There was no violence employed in the commission of the offence,” and took into consideration the defendant’s young age, which was not given, and lack of previous convictions.

Coup: Gambia sentences soldier to 12 years jail term

AFP