The Gambia’s high court has sentenced a soldier to 12 years in prison for leading a failed coup against President Adama Barrow’s administration. The coup attempt took place on December 21, 2022, in the West African nation, which is surrounded by Senegal and has a population of 2.5 million people. The soldier, Sanna Fadera, was found guilty of treason, while three other soldiers were acquitted of all charges.
In January, eight soldiers were charged with treason and conspiracy for their involvement in the coup attempt. Additionally, two civilians and a police officer were charged with concealment of treason and conspiracy to commit a felony. However, seven of the accused, including the civilians and the officer, were acquitted and released during the trial.
Gambia has a history of coup attempts, as the country is still recovering from over two decades under former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule, which was marked by authoritarianism and alleged abuses. Jammeh had seized power in 1994 and successfully thwarted several attempts to overthrow him until he lost an election in late 2016 to Barrow.
Fadera, the soldier accused of being the coup leader, has denied all charges and has the option to appeal the verdict within the next 30 days. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the turbulent political environment in Gambia and the ongoing struggle for stability and democratic governance.
News source: Reuters
