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Trial of key Gambian death squad suspect under Jammeh opens in Germany

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German prosecutors have opened trial in a case of “crimes against humanity and murder” against a member of an infamous death squad in Gambia during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.

The suspect was arrested in the German city of Hanover in March 2021 and is appearing in court in the nearby town of Celle.

The accused, who was said to be a prominent member of the squad, and put to trial on Monday, is accused of belonging to a death squad that killed thousands of Gambians during Jammeh’s notorious regime.

The 46-year-old unnamed suspect is also accused of being involved in at least two murders and an attempted murder while working as a driver for the notorious assassination squad known as “The Junglers,” a special death squad which was used by Jammeh to silence his opponents, between 2003 and 2006.

German federal prosecutors claim the unit was used by Jammeh “to carry out illegal killing orders, among other things, including intimidating the Gambian population and suppressing the opposition.”

Among the crimes linked to the suspect is the 2004 killing of journalist Deyda Hydara, a 58-year-old correspondent for the news agency AFP who was gunned down in his car on the outskirts of the Gambian capital Banjul on December 16, 2004.

The case is the first in the world to see human rights violations committed in Gambia during the Jammeh era prosecuted on the basis of “universal jurisdiction.”

Under the principle of universal jurisdiction, a country can prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, regardless of where they took place.

Jammeh who took power in a bloodless coup in 1994, ruled the Gambia as the head of a military junta before transiting into a civilian president in 1996.

His 22-year-long rule was characterized by massive human rights violations, including assassination of percieved enemies and opposition figures before he was eventually forced to flee the country in 2017 after losing a 2016 election to current President Adama Barrow.

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President Tinubu congratulates Trump on US election victory

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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has congratulated USA president-elect, Donald Trump, on his electoral victory after defeating vice president Kamala Harris to stage a return to the White House.

Tinubu, who conveyed the congratulatory message in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he looked forward to working with him and further strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States.

The statement reads:

“President Bola Tinubu extends his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

“President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

“President Tinubu says, ‘Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.’

“According to President Tinubu, Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He congratulates them on their commitment to democracy.

“President Tinubu believes that, given President Trump’s experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

“Acknowledging the United States’ influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.”

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Zambia’s ruling party UPND warns against personal attacks on President Hichilema

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Zambia’s ruling party, the UPND, has warned opposition politicians and critics against personal attacks on President Hakainde Hichilema as his meekness should not be mistaken for weakness.

Secretary-General of the UPND, Batuke Imenda, who gave the warning in a statement in Lusaka on Monday, urged political opponents to always engage in mature and issue-based discourse.

Zambia Monitor reports that Imenda’s warning, was directed at the leader of Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) party, Kelvin Bwalya Fube, whose recent remarks Imenda described as “provocative” and a “feeble attempt to mislead citizens.”

“Provocative words uttered by Kelvin Bwalya against our party and President Hichilema are a clear demonstration of naivety,” Imenda said in the statement.

He further advised Bwalya to abandon personal attacks and focus on substantial political issues.

The UPND Secretary suggested that Bwalya’s attacks stemmed from a desire for relevance amid declining political fortunes, hinting at a possible alignment with former President Edgar Lungu.

“It appears KBF is hoping that Edgar Lungu might support his embattled political career by unjustly attacking President Hichilema,” he said.

Imenda defended the President’s record, highlighting that under Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia’s democratic space had expanded compared to the previous PF administration, which he accused of stifling freedoms.

He noted that while criticism was welcome, it should not devolve into baseless attacks, warning that opposition figures should not misinterpret Hichilema’s restraint as weakness.

Imenda also criticized Bwalya for overlooking the gains in transparency and justice since the change in government, claiming that past regimes were marked by resource mismanagement and corruption.

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