Gambia: Alleged Death Squad Leader on Trial for Desertion
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Hauling the alleged Junglers boss before a court-martial for desertion shows the rule of law is finally working in Banjul. The proceedings are open to the media and public; the accused can pick his own lawyer and a judge advocate sits on the panel. That is real accountability taking shape, built step by step, charge by charge, through due process rather than rushed justice. After years of impunity, even incremental accountability matters.
Government-critical narrative
Trying a suspected death squad leader for skipping out on the army instead of for killings is a bad joke for victims' families. Murder charges were dropped in July because prosecutors could not sort out key witness issues, even though a truth commission already found the state killed 240 to 250 people. Foreign courts in Germany, Switzerland and the United States have already delivered more justice than Banjul has managed at home.